Protests at the funerals of those killed in Iraq

An odd trend has developed in recent months. Protestors have been disrupting the funerals of soldiers killed in Iraq. Even more odd- at least some of the war protestors are apparently not protesting the war, but somehow claiming that the war deaths are God's punishment on the US for homosexuality in our nation. Religion News Blog carries that angle on the story.

I'm not going to deal with the protesting because of homosexuality beyond saying that religious groups that do that simply do not understand the tenants of the faith that require us to act with love towards all humanity. They are entitled to believe that homosexuality is wrong, even sinful. They are not entitled to make other people suffer for their beliefs.

Regarding the protests in general, I believe they are also fundamentally wrong. I have opposed the war in Iraq since the moment it came into view as a possibility. That said, I do not think it is fair to pile on to the suffering of families who have lost loved ones. As a parent, I can only imagine what the parents of the dead soldiers are going through at that moment. Their suffering must be extreme. Their pain beyond anything I have ever experienced. How can anyone in good conscience choose to add to that pain?

Furthermore, the parents are not directly responsible for the decision to go to war. In fact, they may not have even supported the war or their son's/daughter's decision to go. The protestors almost certainly do not know the politics of the families involved. Protest at the Capitol, at the White House, but not at the grave site.

There is a difference between being an advocate for peace and an anti-war advocate. To advocate for peace, we must create the conditions for peace, not the conditions of suffering and anger and hostility. Peace will come through love. Those who lose sons and daughters in the war deserve our love and compassion for their loss, even if we do not believe in the cause that caused that loss.

When we can love even those with whom we disagree, we stand a chance then at creating peace.

GP