Hatred

I came across this tonight:

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20110302/ap_on_re_us/us_supreme_court_funeral_protests

I understand that there is free speech. I just don't understand why it's such a great thing. Kindness, compassion, patience, love; these are good things. Why is free speech such a good thing? And what does it mean anyway?

Someone will chime in with, "That's why it's so great. We can say whatever we want. We are free!".

From from what? Hatred? Idiots? Retaliation?

What about 'hate literature'? I mean, does it have to be written down? Is that the loop hole that these haters have found and find so great about America? can they say that they hate certain people but just not write it down?

I mean, isn't it something to think about that these protesters obeyed the laws and legally are in the clear? Think about it... they obeyed all of the "protesting at funeral" laws! Just the idea of such laws is lunacy, but the fact that they are in place to keep 'Christians' in line is probably one of the most annoying and sick things about free speech.

These protesters think that they speak for God. Why don't they just trust God to strike down this mourning family with a big, yellow bolt of lightning? Isn't that the traditional way of doing away with people you don't like; tell them they're wrong and threaten them with God's wrath?

Who is this God anyway? An egotistic homophobic bully? Does he wield a machine gun? Does he have vises? Bad habits? An inferiority complex? Is he a smoker? Someone who's sick of his children? On welfare? Is he ready to pack it in and start over, but first set fire to the whole thing? Does he pick favorites? Does he need us to hate others to get his point across? Does he have a list and you're not on it? His he messing with us? Is he trying to trick us? Does he tell the truth? Does he love us? Is he patient? Is he mad at us? Did we hurt his feelings? Does he hurt our feelings? Is he too perfect and holy to become one of us? Does he hang out with sinners? Does he still believe in us? Would he ever wash your feet? Will he ever stop pursuing us? Will he ever stop being Good? What is good anyways? Is it good like "free speech" good, or does it benefit everyone?

What of these haters? Do we cry for justice? Do we demand punishment and wrath?

My hope is that these haters will one day soon experience an overwhelming abundance of the mercy and love of the true God who came to redeem us from our messes and bring us into eternity with Him.

I may not attend funerals with a picket sign and my middle finger raised in the air, but I am not without sin so I shall refuse to cast stones.