Hate and evil in middle America

Recently, while bored on YouTube, I came across a BBC documentary entitled, "America's Most Hated Family." Intrigued, I clicked. Before the video had even started I could see that I had gotten myself into something that was going to make me angry. All the comments under the video were full of expletives and furious words, lashing out at the family in the video. It was the first time I had ever seen unanimous agreement on YouTube, a venue known for its incessant and unnecessary arguments.

Then, the video started. The opening shot was on a line of dancing girls in modest and drab clothing, in a low-ceilinged brown room. The girls began swaying and clapping, and I could scarcely believe my ears when I heard what came out of their mouths in the next second.

"And I'm ashamed to be an American, where the [insulting term for a homosexuals]s can freely roam..."

The song was to the tune of "Proud to be an American."

This is the Westboro Baptist Church, a hate group masquerading as a Christian group that hails from Topeka, Kansas. They were founded in 1955 by Fred Phelps, who remains their leader today. In fact, the majority of the WBC's membership consists of members of the Phelps family.

The church is known for their pickets, during which they carry offensive signs with a range of slogans such as "God hates [offensive term for homosexuals]s," "Thank God for dead soldiers," "Homosexuality = Death," and "1,2,3,4, God hates the Marine Corps." These are just a few of the endless signs and slogans they've created throughout the years.

The church often pickets the funerals of dead soldiers, those who die of AIDS, those who die of hate crimes related to homosexuality, and even those who support homosexuality in general. They picketed Gordon B. Hinckley's funeral last February, on the basis that he preached that God loved all of his children, "even the gay ones." They carried signs saying things like "Hinckley rots in hell."

I don't think I can even express how upsetting this to me.I consider myself a Christian, I consider myself a believer in God, and I believe that people are, by nature, good and trustworthy. I, like Gordon B Hinckley, believe that God loves all of his children. But I cannot possibly imagine the evil that boils in these people's souls, the hatred that fuels their anger, their insensitivity. These people are not Christians. Though they may believe otherwise, I don't think I've seen or heard of anyone else who is truly as condemned as they are. To preach against one's country, and those who defend your freedoms for you? Those soldiers died just so people like them would have the right to stand across the street from the funeral home and celebrate their death.

I don't what I would do if I saw these despicable creatures in person. I don't want to think about it. I don't like to think of myself as a violent person.

There's been so much talk lately, about change, about hope, about optimism, about love. We have a new president who is breaking barriers, and people in America are more united than ever, even in the face of great adversity. Most mornings, I wake up to a summery and warm America, where there is more understanding among human beings than ever before.
But when I see things like this, my America becomes dark and dismal, gray and unwelcoming. How can some one possibly believe that they are guaranteed eternal paradise by being so hateful, evil, and horrid? I'm not usually one to judge a religion, but to me, the Westboro Baptist Church is nothing but insane and nonsensical - and I lament for America that people like them are lurking below our peaceful cover of hope and unity.

I don't know if they can be destroyed but I know they can't be ignored. I also know that any true American, or even any true believer in humanity, would be just as shocked by this as I am. For the Westboro Baptist Church, judgement day is coming - and it very well may be coming from the American people before it comes from God.