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Remember that the main goal of the Westboro group, is that
they want to preach the word of god and save those condemned. In order to
achieve this, they need to spread awareness of their cause. They do this in
part by carrying signs with eye-catching colors and messages. The location of
the protest is equally – or even more important. These locations are typically
ones that are emotionally sensitive, and heightened with strong feelings –
including Ground Zero, soldier’s funerals, etc. They justify their presence at
these locations by explaining that God is punishing those who have died for
supporting a gay-supporting nation, and that they need to spread the word of
God. Westboro does not tend to picket the same locations twice or picket events
that are permanent. For instance, a funeral may only last a few hours, but the
emotional results of their protest may last months.
By varying locations and selecting ones that are already
heightened with emotion, the Westboro group are effectively achieving their
goal; they are spreading their beliefs and raising awareness in many areas.
Danielle Endres and Samantha Senda-Cook (the authors of “Rhetoric of Place in
Protest”) describe how using the same locations for a protest can be constraining.
They use the example of free speech zones on college campuses, they “often have
the result of framing free speech as something that happens only in specific,
designated areas” (2011:277). By altering their picketing locations, the
Westboro avoid these constraints and imply that their beliefs apply everywhere
– making everyone a vulnerable victim. Cook and Endres acknowledge that using the
same or designated protest locations can also have benefits; it can remind
those attending of previous powerful memories, and gives permanent meaning to the
location. However, considering that the main objective of Westboro is to spread
the word of God among diverse communities, using the same location would not
aid in spreading their beliefs, and achieving their goal.
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Combined with select locations, the attitude and emotion of
the group creates a strong effect on those around them. Compared to the Westboro
church members, Canada and United States can be considered a liberal society.
Members of the group use this to their advantage: their strong fundamentalist
and conservative beliefs - as well as the way they express them - are so powerful
and emotionally stimulating that they create a ripple of emotions. As a result,
some people respond instinctively with anger, confusion, and frustration. However,
some react to Westboro with humor. For example, I would like to draw attention
to two particular interviews. In the first video, Tyra Banks attempts to
understand Westboro’s motives and is willing to have a discussion, but emotions
take over and as a result of the Westboro’s harsh and accusatory tone, Tyra begins
to respond in frustration and annoyance. In the end she is more successful in
obtaining information from them than the second video, where the
reporter is not very respectful of the protesters, and treats them entirely as
a ludicrous joke. Both of these interviews are examples of how Westboro’s
hatred towards the “fag enabling” nation offends others, but they use this offense to create awareness of their views and thus achieve their main goal. This creates a dilemma for those who are
pro-gay, and against the Westboro’s beliefs. By protesting against them, and
giving them more media coverage, they are unintentionally helping the Westboro
achieve their goal in spreading “God’s word”, and hatred towards homosexuals. The
Westboro members have effectively created a cycle that is difficult to break.
Works Cited:
Endres, Danielle, and Samantha Senda-Cook
2011 Location Matters: The Rhetoric of Place in Protest. Quarterly Journal of Speech
97(3):257-282.
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