Freedoms must be protected no matter how much we ‘hate’ them

Apparently, God hates homosexuals.

At least that's what the Westboro Baptist Church wants you to think.

The Topeka, Kansas-based church, which is not affiliated with any other Baptist group, is very vocal and passionate about this alleged hatred God has for homosexuals. They say the homosexual lifestyle is destroying America and God is punishing us for it. They also allege Jews and Catholics are evil.

The church is most famous for picketing funerals of servicemen and women who died protecting our country. They say God allowed those men and women to die because they are protecting an immoral country.

However, funeral home protests aren't limited to soldiers. In 2006, some members of the church protested the funerals of the men who died in the Sago mine disaster, holding up signs reading, "Thank God for Dead Miners." Now, in the midst of the current mine tragedy, Westboro Baptist Church is at it again.

The church planned protests in West Virginia beginning today and ending April 11, but added a stop to the Upper Big Branch mine. "God reached down and smacked one of those mines, killing 25," the church Web site reads.

Needless to say, people in the mining community are angry. The disaster at the mine has drawn national attention, but grieving families should be left alone. They should not have to contend with attention-seeking hate mongers who pass themselves off as Christians.

This is America. Speech is protected, as is religion. But how far can we push those boundaries? At what point does free speech become hate speech? And what can the victims of this hate speech do about it?

Although we may disagree with the church's message, they do have the right to protest. To date, all of the church's protests have been peaceful. Though their words are violent, their actions are not.

It is important for us to remember that free speech applies to everyone, not just those with whom we agree. We can't stop Westboro Baptist Church, or any other group, from spreading their messages. They believe what they're saying is the truth. We may disagree with that, but they are protected by the U.S Constitution.

The very men and women whose funerals this group protests died in war to protect the freedoms we as Americans enjoy. The miners whose funerals this group protests died trying to provide for their families and keep the lights on for everyone else. It is important for us to make sure these deaths were not in vain.