Fred Phelps, personalmoneynetwork.com |
The paradox of protesting Westboro pickets is that it both helps
the pro-gay community by galvanizing the pro LGBT movement, and yet supports
the Westboro Baptist’s goals by bringing attention to their cause. In view of
this, one may ask: What is the best way to deal
with incendiary social movements such as the Westboro? According to the Declaration of Independence of the
United States, all people are equal and "endowed by their Creator with
certain unalienable rights, that among these are Life, Liberty, and the
persuit of Happiness" (Britt 2010:640). Those offended by their
actions may turn to the law. However, despite some attempts to accuse
the Westboro of emotional damage as a result of their speech, the First
Amendment of the Constitution protects the Westboro Baptists. On a broad scale,
all the group is doing is expressing their beliefs and opinions just as any
other religious, or non-religious group can do. Even if most of what they say
is negative and harmful to some, “most forms of speech, even “hate speech” are
protected by the Constitution unless, as in cases of incitement, they are
clearly linked to other kinds of criminal action or injury (Britt 2010:634). What
the Constitution does not recognize is the impact of some forms of “hate
speech” – such as ones the Westboro uses. In his article, “Hate Speech and
Biblical Tradition”, Brian Britt suggests that “hate speech” – or as he calls
them “curses” – of a Biblical nature have a different meaning to those who follow
the Bible; this meaning and subsequent social consequences are not addressed
through secular laws. In the numinous,
magical world-view characteristic of the Bible (and those fundamentalist groups
who follow it) curses are powerful and harmful weapons. He writes: “Powerful
religious speech can be used in a strategic manner and even recanted, despite
the tendency to think of such utterances as irreversible” (Britt 2010:637). This demonstrates that there are loopholes in
the laws of a secular society that is in conflict with an entirely different
and more ancient world-view of fundamentalist social movements such as the
Westboro.
Rick Santorum, addictinginfo.org |
The dichotomy between the secular and religious
world-views is taking an increasingly powerful hold over American politics.
Homosexuality has become a central axis in politics where opposing world-views
play out. This issue has become a feature of the recent election primaries. Louisa
Bertman writes of Rick Santorum, “a consistent and unapologetic homophobia has been one of the central
aspects of his long career in politics” (2012:1). Santorum is increasingly
gaining support over his anti-gay rights but less radical opponent, Mitt
Romney. Anti-gay views of these Politian’s attract other fundamentalists – such
as those of the Westboro Baptist Church.
The rise of such fundamentalist, religious perspectives may
have economic roots. Amy Adamczyk and Cassady Pitt suggest, “when a nation is
regularly faced with political and economic uncertainty and insecurity, people
are more likely to support values and norms that emphasize the familiar. As a
result… people may be less tolerant of non traditional ideas and lifestyles”
(2009:340). Since the U.S. is in an economic crisis, it now makes sense why
strong fundamentalists such as the Westboro, and Rick Santorum are appearing
and gaining support.
armytimes.com |
In the end it is
important to remember that, what seemed at first to be a black and white issue
depicting a radical and pernicious social movement, turned out to be a multi-colored,
complex matter. As Rebecca Fox wrote of understanding and interpreting
movements such as the Westboro, “the goal is not to create an apologetic portrait of racists or
anti-Semites or homophobes, but one that captures the complexities of their
lives” (2011:16).
Works Cited:
Adamczyk, Amy, and Cassady Pitt
2009 Shaping Attitudes About Homosexuality: The
Role of Religion and Cultural Context.
Social
Science Research 38(2):338-351
Bertman, Louisa
2012 Bigots and Enablers. The
New Republic Journal of Politics and the Arts 243(4916):1
Britt, Brian M.
2010 Curses Left and Right: Hate Speech and
Biblical Tradition. Journal of the
American Academy of Religion
78(3):633-661
Brouwer, Daniel C, and Aaron Hess
2007 Making Sense of ‘God Hates Fags’ and ‘Thank
God for 9/11’: A Thematic
Analysis of
Milbloggers’ Responses to Reverend Fred Phelps and the Westboro
Baptist Church.
Western Journal of Communication 71(1):69-90.
Fox, Rebecca Barrett
2011 Anger and Compassion on the
picket Line: Ethnography and emotion in the Study
of Westboro Baptist Church. Journal of Hate Studies 9(1):11-32.