Westboro Baptist Church to Picket Heath Ledger Memorial Services in US
Like many, I was saddened to learn of Heath Ledger's death on Tuesday. My thoughts go out to his family and friends, and movie goers like myself will miss his vibrant screen presence.
My sadness turned to outrage when I read a Fox new report that the Westboro Baptist Church (WBC) is spreading the message that Ledger is "now in hell" and plans to picket memorial services in the US. Such hate mongering is repulsive, and church spokespeople such as Shirley Phelps-Roper should remove themselves from the public limelight and take the time to return and read the Gospels. Somehow I don't think Jesus would approve of their actions.
posted by chazzercise at
1:13 PM
2 Comments:
My thoughts and prayers go out to his family and friends. This is so disturbing to hear that this "cult" would do this. I agree, I do not think Jesus would approve.....
By
Anonymous, at Thu Jan 24, 05:32:00 PM PST
I too felt outrage. I thought this was a talented actor with a promising future although I wasn't aware of his split with his finance. That must have hurt him deeply. Although we grieve his death, I believe his life (what little I know of it) was one to be celebrated. I feel sad for his little girl who won't have her daddy in her life. I hope her mother keeps in close contact with his parents and sister for her sake. They will have many fond memories and stories of him to share.
I think it's despicable for people to picket a memorial, burial, etc. Mourners should be left to grieve in peace no matter who the deceased is. Is not every human life of value enough to mourn? Is it okay for one group of people to decide who can be mourned and who can't? Should they have power to degrade people who choose to celebrate a life? By declaring that they know for a fact that his spirit is in hell translates to me that his life was worthless, lacked goodness and doesn't deserve respect. How can they be so cruel? How can it make sense to negate every good thing about a person because of one thing? This would signify to me that they know little about this person and therefore have no justification for being around to picket. I'm beginning to wonder if this hurtful sort of behaviour should not be considered freedom of expression, but assault, and should not be condoned by law.
Unfortunately, we have to accept that some people exist in this world who are fearful of change and/or who are blind to kindness when their mission is to evangelize biblical words and judgements rather than biblical wisdoms. I wonder how they'd feel if their loved one's funeral was picketed by people claiming hell was their loved one's destination because they hadn't always observed the Sabbath, hadn't honored their father and mother, had taken the Lord's name in vain, had committed adultery or had broken some other biblical law. I'm sure they would ignore us, as we should them.
In the mean time we should focus on "the positive" and share our loss with those who offer kind words, like Daniel Day-Lewis and Ellen Degeneres, among others who have recognized the gifts of such a promising young man.
By
Anonymous, at Fri Jan 25, 08:57:00 PM PST
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