I’ve done a few odd things in service to my country. Shined combat boots to a fine lustrous sheen. Got lost in Saylor Park. Hunted young cadets who were themselves lost in Saylor Park. Jumped out of perfectly good aircraft, repeatedly. But I’ve rarely been prouder to be an American than on the 14th of March 2008, when the Westboro Baptist Church came to town to provoke everyone with their own unique brand of faith-based hate-speech.
The provocation did manage to upset a few people, one of whom was moved nearly to tears and violence by WBC’s desecration of an American flag.
At this point, the local constabulary patiently explained to the angry patriot in question that the hateful display was indeed protected speech. Our flag symbolizes many freedoms, and one of those includes the right to denigrate soldiers and desecrate flags, however sacred these might be to others.
The Westboro Baptists performed their little hate show. No one was allowed to forcefully interfere with their awful message. It was a perfectly American afternoon.
