For with what judgment ye judge, ye shall be judged

Fortunately, for this nation and possibly the world, we elected Barack Obama the 44TH President of the United States this past Tuesday, not only renewing what it means to be an American in our nation but the world’s view of America. Unfortunately, what may be one of Obama’s first major struggles to deal with before even taking office on January 20TH, or at the very least the most personal may end up being the rights of protesters.

The Westboro Baptist Church, a small congregation comprised mostly of family members based in Topeka, Kansas, is the same church, led by Fred Phelps, that sends protesters to the funerals of veterans of the Iraq war. Their message of hate is spread, however disgustingly, legally through the First Amendment of the United States Constitution. Despite enjoying this freedom, they run sites like www.godhatesamerica.com and condemn homosexuality, Roman Catholics, Muslims, and Jews and anyone they believe to support those groups.

Now, according to a recent press release from the church, they are planning on protesting the funeral of President-elect Obama’s grandmother. Claiming her influence on Obama led to his support of abortion and same-sex marriage.

Abortion rates, by the way, have decreased during democratic administrations according to records kept since the Roe v. Wade case.

So now we’ll have to see how the Obama family and friends deal with this tough time in their lives. Suggestions through out social web networks have urge for counter-demonstrators to be present, not unlike the Patriot Guard Riders, a motorcycle group that attends the funerals of veterans and other service workers upon invitation to physically shield funerals from the Westboro Church. After the tragedies of September 11TH, a counter-protester stood outside the church in Kansas. He held a sign simply stating “Not Today Fred”.

Eighty-six others joined him in the days to follow.