How Could They

This must be a small, twisted percentage of the population.
I don't know O. living person that does not respect the troops and the job they do....seems to be the O. thing most people agree on.
Sorry there was such ugliness ..

must be the westboro baptists. i've counter-protested them, and it felt like it took days to shower away the stench of hatred. yeah, it was the laughter and mockery that was the hardest to stomach.
but i do support their right to protest. i loathe them and wish horrible retribution on them, but am glad we live in a country where even ugly free speech is protected.
khairete
S.

There will always be people like that in the world. You just can't let them affect you & how you respond. You let it go & move on to a more positive mindset.

Please try not to let a very SMALL group of ignorant, hateful people make you feel bad! The majority of people in this country, from all political viewpoints, have nothing but admiration and respect for our troops. Even those of us who don't always agree with the use of military force ALWAYS respect the men and women who serve our country. THAT'S the reality. So hold your head high and ignore those on the fringe!!!

Its a double edge sword. Blood and tears have been given so that these a$$holes can protest like this. That is the cost of being an American. I am so very proud to say I'm an American and my son is proud to serve this Nation.

I don't care if you don't believe in this War. I don't. BUT don't you DARE demean our soldiers. They are doing THEIR JOB!!!

You know the irony of this...we send our brave troops overseas so people like that CAN have the right to free speech in our country. Sucks. I know. They are selfish and ignorant...and not brave.
It's sorta like the trolls on here - ignore and move on (even though you want to strangle them..)
I thank your friend for serving.

You know how people say "Don't feed the trolls" about annoying stupid people on here? It's the same thing when dealing with them. I am assuming that it was probably the Westboro Baptist Church you are referring to. You need to understand that these people are VERY evil. Most of the people they send to the rallies have legal training. They can afford to travel all over the country and protest because they are sue happy. They have people who antagonize the crowds and try and get people to attack them. Then they sue.
It's hard, REALLY hard, but these people must be ignored, plain and simple. If no one paid attention, if no one gave them a second glance, they would eventually go away.

I agree that is it pathetic. However, one of the freedoms that your BF's brother is going to defend is their right to be obnoxious idiots. I think our founders understood that it is the speech that makes us angry and pisses us off that has to be defended as much as the speech that we like. By showing your anger, you just gave them what they wanted. As hard as it is, ignore them when you see them and when you pray (if you pray) for your BF and brother, pray for those idiots too...they need it!

You must be talking about the "Christians" from the Westboro Baptist Church that even protest at soldiers funerals? Yeah - they actually hold signs saying things like "Thank God for Dead Soldiers". They are full of hate. Our country's soldiers would fight and die for their "right" to express what they want to express, but I agree with you. Isn't what they are doing infringing on other people's rights to exist free of their hate? But we also allow Nazi groups and KKK to march and protest, so how can we not allow "Christian" groups to do the same even if all these are motivated by hate?

I don't know... I am just a regular person. I am glad I am not responsible for having to make these morally complex decisions because it is not clear cut. This is a murky area with shades of grey. I only know that what they are doing is despicable.

Someday, you might disagree with the majority and be thankful for the right to protest against what the majority believes. That's not to say their views are correct, but even lies are protected speech in our country. What they say (and I'm guessing it was the idiots from Westboro) doesn't change the fact that soldiers deserve our respect for what they do. And it's not pathetic or sad, and it doesn't "suck", that what they fight for gives people like those from Westboro the right to protest, it's GOOD that we can see those loonies for who they are, they don't have to hide underground pretending to be something they aren't.

"I disagree strongly with what you say, but I will defend to the death your right to say it." -Voltaire

That said, I have to be honest. I don't believe for a second that the war in Afghanistan and Iraq saved any American lives or protected our rights in any way. Do I think the soldiers are wasting their time over there? Yup, but it's disrespectful to say it out loud (so I don't), and I certainly do not believe any of them should have died for this cause, but that's the fault of the politicians in Washington, not the soldiers.

I've never understood this attitude - to take their political views against soldiers!! It makes no sense.

Thank you to your BF's brother for his service along with all of the other men and women fighting for our country!

I think it's disgraceful and horrible...but I don't worry about it too much. Most of America hates those freaking losers! Especially the westboro freaks... They will get theirs some day... even if they live long happy lives here, if God truly does exist he will hold them accountable. Every time my brother is deployed (he is a Marine, and has been to Iraq 2x, Saudi Arabia 1x, and Afghanistan 1x... so I know your fear well...) I feel better knowing that MOST of our country appreciates what he is doing for them.

I know that in my hometown, and in several others, there are 'angel gangs' (I can't remember what they are actually called...) who will come to the funerals of fallen service members when there are protesters, and form a line so that the mourners won't have to see the idiots during their time of mourning. I think it's a very nice gesture. :)

Unfortunately, it is their right to protest... It doesn't make it right, but there really isn't any way to stop them without infringing on their rights, and opening a can of worms.

The people that put their energy into doing these negative things.. will be rewarded with terrible things happening to the people they love the most. Karma is real..

You put out good energy, good things will come back to you over and over.

Put out hateful mean energy and you will get it back in the most heartbreaking way possible.

Indifference and a lack of attention for these people is the best way to handle them and keep your sanity. ..

Excuse my language but screw those people. They are small minded idiots. Thank you to your boyfriend's brother and his family for sacrificing to keep us all safe. God bless and we will pray for his and all the others safety.

We are an active duty military family and my husband has served two tours in Iraq. Unfortunately, some people are like that. Fortunately, it doesn't really phase the brave, selfless men and women in uniform! I feel so proud every time I see Patriot Guard Riders!

And, no I don't think my husband's time away from our family was a "waste"!

I really wish we had a "like" button on here too.

I appreciate our troops and what they do. God Bless Each and Every ONE of them.

Politics aside, these men and women carry out orders that are dangerous to life and limb. I don't care about the politics - these are my neighbors, their children, nieces, nephews, grandchildren. No matter why we are there - whether I agree with it or not - these people are fighting for America and Americans should show them the proper respect. No, I don't think the protesters should be there; these men and women are not choosing to be deployed there - they are following orders.

My nephew did two tours in Iraq as a Navy medic. He said what shocked me the most and made him the most sad were the suicides/attempted suicides. He said he expected to see combat wounds, but he did not expect so many suicides.

Let's all pray for all American soldiers no matter where they are or what they are doing!

Two wrongs don't make a right! Stop wishing bad/pain on others who don't believe as you do. It is difficult for some people to understand why we send our young men and women to fight and die in countries who "clearly" do not want us there, when there is so much need in our own country and other countries that would welcome our aid.

They are fringe thinkers in our society, mom. I wonder how they came to think the way that they do. I'll never understand it.

The troops know that they are supported. America won't let what happened to the Vietnam vets happen again. There are even commercials on TV welcoming our troops home.

You keep letting your BF's brother know that you are thinking of him. It will mean a lot to get cards, notes and care packages.

Dawn

Please thank him for me for his service.

I'm so sorry those people were ugly about it. They are the cowards that qon't sign up themselves.

Most of the time it can be arranged ahead of time to set up a 'buffer' area. There is also a group of Guardian vets that if you call them will come be a buffer.

As for your 'brother' and his company. They can register at www.soldiersangels.org where they can be 'adopted' and sent support letters and care package during their deployment.

You don't mean they can go live in a communist country? I would! Fortunately I think the vast majority of the country respects and appreciates our soldiers tremendously. My family does.

i can understand, two days ago a car full of teenage boys tried to run me off the road because they thought i was a veteran, thankfully my daughter wasnt in the car. when we allow people who call themselves christians to taunt funeral attendees, including the soldier who has just been shipped home in a box, everyone loses. this is not free speech and it certainly isnt christian, so what is it ?how we respond to our service members should not depend on who is in the white house at the time, and/or their personal service record, or religion. these service members are OUR brothers, fathers, sisters, grandfathers,grandmothers, uncles and, yes, sometimes, even our mothers. who is in the white house will change, but how we respond to our service members will CHANGE them
K. h.

What sick people. I am sorry you had to go through that experience. While I believe in peace and peace movements, they should never be at the expense of the soldiers who risk their lives. Clearly those protesters are not FOR anything, they are simply haters. Unfortunately hate seems to be a common political tool these days in many arenas. I hope your friend's brother and his fellow soldiers stay safe.

Regardless of how I feel about the war, the soldiers deserve our utmost respect, and I would personally want to kick the a$$es of those protesters.

I was walking through the parking lot and saw a car with a veteran sticker on it. The driver was old enough to have served, so I walked up to the car and thanked him. Two of my uncles served in Vietnam, and came out less whole then they went in. I hate war.

Protest the war, fine, but not the soldiers. I hope I never run across these kinds of people.