Opinions Editor Ryan Obradovic explores Westboro’s money making tactics
By: RYAN OBRADOVIC
Opinions Editor
We have all heard about the passings of Robin Williams, Joan Rivers and Michael Brown in the news or on social media. It is everywhere and Westboro Baptist Church is everywhere as well; picketing and preaching unnecessary hate.
At William’s funeral they said “Robin is in Hell” for no reason. I am sure Robin Williams has never done a thing to offend the church besides being hilarious.
Westboro also put a picture on their Instagram account labeling Rivers a “Fag Enabler in Hell” and said she did not give a care about her children or God. Sure, Rivers did make a living making fun and crushing other people’s self-esteem, but that is no reason to try and disgrace her by saying she “enables fags.”
A part of me wants to believe that these people at Westboro are not so insane that they actually believe what they preach. Rather, they do it for attention and make money off of the people who cannot contain themselves over Westboro’s vicious comments and those who use force to display their own emotions.
That is how Westboro gets a lot of their money. They spend around $200,000 in travel fees, said Dan Morris a documentary photographer, to go picket these funerals. They sue people for assault which technically violates their freedom of speech and religion rights. After all the long court dates the loser, which is typically not Westboro because their congregation contains a mass of lawyers, has to pay for the court fees and all other fines.
Does anyone else see this as ridiculous? Why would a loser in a case against a hate group have to give money to that hate group? If I was not involved in a case and I decided to give some money to al-Qaeda or the KKK I would be in a lot of trouble with the law. But not when I lose a court case. Then it is okay for me give them money? That is America.
Although it is hard to contain ourselves from saying something or even physically doing something to the people of Westboro Church, you have to. They want you to get mad and defensive because they are a bunch of slimy individuals.
If you want the Westboro pickets to end or at least lessen, then do not give them the time of day. Do not get sucked into their scheme or else you might be the one paying their court fees or more.
