The Westboro Baptist Church

The logo for the Westboro Baptist Church website

The Westboro Baptist Church is a church based in Kansas that has raised extreme controversy in the Unites States.  This church is described as a homophobic, anti-Semitic hate group.  The people who support this church are constantly arranging protests around the country.  Often times they arrange several protests around the country in one week.  What do they protest?  The church pickets institution, individuals, and other religions that they think support homosexuality or don't follow the rules that they believe God created for all of us.  These people believe that every single American and also every American institution is "sinful", this means that any group could be targeted to protest by this group.  This group just recently used the iPhone to announce a protest at the funeral of recently deceased Apple representative, Steve Jobs.  Protesting on somebody's funeral, and using the technology that the person created to announce the protest is just immoral.  How can you criticize somebody for not being moral when you are immoral yourself.  

Young member of the WBC protesting

This church is mainly made up of members of the Phelps family members.  However, this church has gained national recognition and controversy for their protests on the funerals of celebrities and American soldiers.  Why do these people do the things that they do?  The churches members believe that God punishes Americans for their tolerance for sin, which includes the acceptance of homosexuality.  These people claim to follow the teachings of the bible, and they preach against all forms of sin.  When this group protests at funerals and events they hold up signs that say things like "God Hates Fags" and "Fags Burn in Hell".  These signs that they protest with are offensive to many groups of people.  That is why this group is almost nationally hated.  This group crushes the human dignity of many different groups.  

Group mocking the protests of the Westboro Baptist Church

If these people claim to follow the teachings of God and the bible.  Then I have one question for you; "Why do you not follow one of Gods most important teachings in the bible, which is to love all others?"  The members of this church should treat others the way that they would like to be treated.  I think that what these people protest is just wrong.  America's soldiers fight to keep our country safe and free for all Americans and these people are protesting the death of soldiers.  Now keeping in mind that everybody is entitled to their opinion.  I believe that these people can believe whatever they want.  It's going to far when you are expressing hatred to almost all people for not believing in what you believe in.  What makes you think that what you believe is what God wants for all of us.  


I was brought up as a Roman Catholic.  I know that Christianity is not the only religion, that other religions believe in different thing.  However, I think that I would have trouble finding a different religion that agrees with most of the things that the Westboro Baptist Church does.  I attend church on a regular basis.  I do express my opinions about my religion calmly and rationally with other people.  I would never fight with somebody to try and convince them that what they believe in is wrong.  I was taught that God loves all people unconditionally.  That he forgives us for our sins if we are willing to ask for his forgiveness.  The Westboro Baptist Church believes that everybody is a sinner; and they would be correct.  According to Roman Catholic teaching, every human being is born with original sin, which is humanity's state of sin resulting from the fall of man.  Even the members of the Westboro Baptist Church were born with original sin.  So I have to ask "What makes you think that God hates all sinners, when you yourselves are sinners just like the rest of us?"  Why don't you help support a charity like almost any other religion, instead of criticizing those who need.  

WBC member protesting

One of the main slogans of this church is "God Hates Fags".  First of all, a fag or faggot is defined as a bundle of sticks.  So the slogan of this church, when broken down is "God Hates a Bundle of Sticks", which makes no logical sense (what does God have against a bundle of sticks?).  The word fag is often used to describe a homosexual.  This is because of the fact that in the distant past, societies used to beat homosexuals with a bundle of sticks.  Another slogan of this church is "God Hates Sinners".  In my mind, I interpret all people to be sinners because of the teaching in the bible that all people are born with original sin.  That means that, if God hates sinners, then he hates all people, including the people of the Westboro Baptist Church.  Ergo, if God hates sinners, he hates the members of the Westboro Baptist Church and the rest of humanity.  If I were creating a slogan for an argument against these people it would be "God most likely isn't a huge fan of you either".  


Keeping in mind the golden rule that God gave us, do unto others as you would have them do unto you, are the members of the Westboro Baptist Church trying to tell people that they want people to protest at their funerals with signs that say things like "You're going to Hell" and "God hates you".  That is one of the hints that I get from the actions of the members of the Westboro Baptist Church.  If God hates us (regular Americans) then he must really find the members of this church to be extremely irritating.  I know I do.  After learning about this group from the things on the internet, I am easily able to see why nobody likes this group.  The members of the Westboro Baptist Church deny people to have the human dignity that each person is given.  These people want everybody to believe what they believe.  We all know that this would never happen until these people are the last people on earth.  

Person mocking the members of the Westboro Baptist Church

In conclusion, the members of the Westboro Baptist Church raise extreme amounts of controversy in the United States because of the protests and unchangeable opinions that they have.  Everybody is entitled to have their own opinion.  However, I believe that these people have violated the privacy of some Americans and celebrities by protesting at a funeral.  I just recently learned about this church, and already I am angered by all of the things I have read about them online.  In my opinion, they are childish, hardheaded, narrow-minded, and somewhat annoying people.  Who do these people think they are, to judge other people based on their personal beliefs.  If they were following the teachings of the bible correctly, they would leave the judging up to God, for he is the ultimate judge of souls at the end of time.  


Information for this post was found on the following websites:
 ~ http://www.godhatesfags.com/
 ~ http://www.adl.org/learn/ext_us/WBC/default.asp?LEARN_Cat=Extremism&LEARN_SubCat=Extremism_in_America&xpicked=3&item=WBC
 ~ http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/under-god/post/westboro-baptist-church-uses-iphone-to-announce-steve-jobs-funeral-protest/2011/10/06/gIQAJqBjPL_blog.html

Cyber Bullying

This is a message that was sent by a bully

Cyberbullying is becoming a new way for bullies to target others without bullying them face to face.  For some bullies it is easier to bully another person on the internet because they do not have to confront the person face to face.  Cyberbullying is a way for a bully to harass, humiliate, threaten, or torment others by using the internet and social networking sites such as facebook and twitter.  This new form of bullying has led to many teen suicides because of the comments that bullies have made about these teens.  Cyberbullying is usually not a one time communication, in most cases, the threats and nasty comments made by bullies over the internet occur over an extended period of time.  Cyberbullying includes but is not limited to just the internet and social networking site, it can also occur between cell phones by txt messages or also by email.  Many schools have tried to prevent the cyberbullying that occurs outside of school hours, but have been sued for exceeding their authority and violating the freedom of speech right that all students have.  This problem makes the end of cyberbullying difficult and it is up to the parents to stop this problem.  

The affects of cyberbullying can change a persons life

There are two different types of cyberbullying.  Direct cyberbullying is when a bully directly sends messages to the person they are bullying without involving other people.  The second type of cyberbullying is cyberbullying by proxy, which means using other people to help bully somebody.  Cyberbullying by proxy can occur with or without the other person knowing about it.  Bullies who cyberbully are often motivated by anger, rage, or frustration.  Sometimes bullies begin to cyberbully just for their own personal entertainment.  Also cyberbullying can be done by accident, by sending a message to the wrong person.  This is a growing problem that is only getting worse.  As more and more people join social networking sites they are subject to cyberbullying.  In my opinion, we need to stop cyberbullying at the source, which is the social networking sites that it occurs on.  These social networking sites should be banning those who bully others.  Also parents need to take action to make sure that their children are not being cyberbullied and are not cyberbullying others.  


Information for this post was found on the following websites: 
~ http://www.stopcyberbullying.org/index2.html
~ http://kidshealth.org/parent/positive/talk/cyberbullying.html

Bullying

Every school around the world experiences some form of bullying.  Whether its verbal bullying or physical bullying.  There was an article in the Democrat & Chronicle recently that talked about a girl who was bullied by a group of her friends because they were not invited to a party that she was having.  She was receiving hateful texts, voicemails, and calls at all hours.  She was getting death stares in the hallways.  It got to the point where she felt the need to get help from the schools psychologist.  After meeting with the schools psychologist, things started to get better for the girl.  After first the first meeting, the bullying started to get worse.  But she reported the people who were bullying her, and it soon stopped.  This student believes that there should be more awareness surrounding the definition of bullying, because this will make it easier for students to come forward about it.  


There was another article in the Democrat & Chronicle that discussed the bullying that a boy experienced everyday at school.  The boy refused to report the bullying problems to his teachers, so there was little that could be done to help him.  He went to the school counselor who told him that he should get tested for mental health.  These mental health tests showed that the boy had a syndrome called asperger's, a condition characterized by having significant social issues.  The boy is now a senior, and says that he remembers little of the bullying when he was younger, it is all a blur to him.  He found a peer group and his social skills have improved.  The boy now speaks to groups of parents whose children are currently being bullied.  He shares his story because he says that it is important to speak about bullying to prove that you can become a better person.  


Bullying is not a new problem.  It has been occurring for many many years.  According to an article in the Democrat & Chronicle, local and national experts see that reports of bullying are on the rise.  Some blame the increasing social media programs for the increase of bullying.  Others blame the economy for the increase of bullying incidents, saying that more stressful home lives leads to more acting out at school.  Also the smaller faculties in schools, means less eyes to observe bullying in schools.  Local school officials say that newly issued anti-bullying programs have raised awareness of the issue.  

14-year-old Jamey Rodemeyer

A recent bullying problem among a 14-year-old living in Buffalo, NY has raised awareness for cyber-bullying and torment on social networking websites.  This 14-year-old boy, named Jamey Rodemeyer, was overwhelmed by the constant bullying that he was experiencing, to the point where he committed suicide.  Jamey was bullied on a daily basis for more than a year with gay slurs and endless torment on social networking sites.  Jamey's idol, Lady Gaga, was one of the many people that expressed outrage about the torment that Jamey was constantly experiencing.  According to Jamey's parents, the bullying had started in middle-school.  He told his family and friends that he endured hateful comments in school and online, mainly based on his sexual orientation.  Jamey sent out many signals on social networking sites that he was struggling with his sexuality.  He encouraged others on blogging websites to fight off bullies.  After the death of Jamey Rodemeyer, his idol, Lady Gaga posted on twitter "Bullying must become be illegal.  It is a hate crime".  

Lady Gaga met with President Obama to discuss bullying

Many of Jamey's friends had reported the bullying to the schools counselor.  However, everybody, including Jamey's mother, believed that he had become stronger.  His friends described him as "happy" and "strong".  


My school has no tolerance at all when it comes to the subject of bullying or harassment.  The policy states "Bullying, intimidating, harassing, hazing, name calling, verbal and/or physical confrontations will receive disciplinary consequences including but not limited to suspension or dismissal, depending on the severity of the incident".  The dean of students at my high school said "bullying will not be tolerated".  Bullying happens everywhere, and can be verbal or physical.  But whether the bullying is verbal or physical, it is still wrong.  


Inspirational quotes about bullying:

• "If hurtful words or hurtful fists are coming at you everyday, it is bullying" ~ Zondra A.
• "Bullying comes in many forms.  If it makes you uncomfortable, it's bullying.  BE A BETTER PERSON!" ~ Courtney W. 
• "Bullying is bad" ~ Francesca O.

Banning of Handguns

Handguns can be dangerous in the hands of the wrong people.  However, they are extremely useful in self-defense if used safely and correctly.  Handguns are helpful to those people who need self-defense and are not physically able or knowledgeable to defend themselves without a handgun.  I believe that handguns should not be banned.  

Animal Experimentation

I believe that animal experimentation is cruel to the animals that are being experimented on.  However, I think that animal experimentation is also good for the humans who use the products that are being tested.  I am neutral on the subject of animal experimentation.  It is cruel to animals but on the other hand it is beneficial to humans.