Tolerance Only Goes So Far

There seem to be limits to America's tolerance.

The Westboro ("God hates America") Baptist Church (WBC) in Topeka Kansas has been, ah, picketing funerals of GIs for several years.

The guy in charge of WBC, Fred Phelps, is under the impression that the American military and America itself is some sort of homosexual conspiracy. "Thank God for dead soldiers" and "God hates fags" are some of the epithets his followers use. There's more at "Does Free Speech Include Disrupting Funerals?"

The answer to that post title's question is, for now, "no." A federal jury in Baltimore, Maryland, awarded $2,900,000 (USD) to Albert Snyder, father of Lance Corporal Matthew Snyder, who was killed in Iraq.

The American Judicial system being what it is, I suspect that there will be a seemingly-interminable series of appeals.

Albert Snyder has a website, www.matthewsnyder.org, where he spells out how you can help. As I said, even with the verdict (this time) going his way, Mr. Snyder is far from being a millionaire.

And, as for donations made to Mr. Snyder's cause:

"In the event that more money is received than necessary to pay for the costs associated with my lawsuit against Phelps and his clan, any excess money will go to benefit veterans returning from the war, in the form of a scholarship. No donations will be paid to me. Your money will be put to good use. First, we will be able to fight back against Phelps and his followers when they retaliate (they have already threatened to do so). Second, if there is excess money, a well deserved veteran will receive help to further his or her education. Again, I will not personally receive ANY money." (from www.matthewsnyder.org/help.html)

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