Letting Them Rest

The House of Representatives recently advanced a bill that would limit protesting at funerals. Protests would not be able to take place within 300 feet of the ceremony. Thirty-two states already have laws like these in place, according to the National Conference of State Legislatures.

But more needs to be done.

The bill was introduced after members of a Kansas-based Baptist Church protested several military funerals by dragging American flags on the ground and carrying signs saying "Thank God for I.E.D's." I.E.D's are the homemade bombs that frequently kill soldiers in Iraq.

As with most bills born after the beginning of the war in Iraq, this one swells with controversy. Families argue over their right to grieve in peace while protesters feel it's their First Amendment right to express their opinions at that particular time.

The Senate has already approved the bill. The House will continue its legislative process Friday.

It is very disconcerting that people who call themselves Americans have the audacity to disturb the final resting place of individuals who gave their lives for them. It's one thing to be against the war... but to bring those arguments to a funeral is not only distasteful, it's inhuman.

This bill has been called an infringement on the First Amendment's Freedom of Speech clause. But where is the line drawn? When does protesting become an invasion of privacy?

Defending such protests as Freedom of Speech is ridiculous. It's taking advantage of an overly generous law for the purpose of expressing extremist, chauvinistic opinions.

And being labeled as an extremist in this country is not a good thing. They are the kind of people who plot the destruction of the free world and plan for the deaths of millions of innocent people.

This legislation needs to be passed; but more steps need to be taken out of respect for the men and women who give their lives for this country. Protesting should be banned altogether from taking place anywhere near military funeral services.

No grieving family should have to deal with the scornful opinions of soulless protesters at a time when silence is needed most.

Iranians call ‘300’ an ‘obvious insult’

The Iranians have an obvious gripe over the adaptation of Frank Miller's graphic novel, 300.

In an associated press article, Javad Shamghadri, cultural adviser to Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, said the movie was an attempt by the United States to humiliate Iran. Shamghadri also said the U.S. was trying to “compensate for its wrongdoings in order to provoke American soldiers and warmongers” against Iran.

Some Iranians also say the Greeks-vs-Persians action flick insults their ancient culture and provokes animosity against Iran.

The movie itself raked in $70 million over it's first weekend and is based on the battle of Thermopylae in 480 B.C. In that battle, a force of 300 Spartans held off the massive invading armies of the Persian Empire at a mountain pass in Greece for three days.

The movie is as gruesome as Miller's other graphic novel-turned-movie, Sin City.

But this time it is not the violence that's drawing attention. It's the sexually flamboyant and almost homosexual depiction of the Persians that has the Iranians up in arms.

Director Zack Snyder has said he never intended to insult the Iranians or add to any hostility amongst the country and the United States.

But Iran suggests actions speak louder than words.

“It is a new effort to slander the Iranian people and civilization before world public opinion at a time of increasing American threats against Iran,” said the Ayende-No newspaper.

But do they have a right to be angry after the aggravation they've caused the world?

Plain and simple: The country is looking for scapegoat. They know most of the world is against their nuclear plans and they are looking for a way to pit other countries against the United States, the prime antagonist against Iran's program.

The movie is not likely to open there because of the government's restrictions on western films. So what's the big deal?

Western countries tolerate the harshly hypocritical and frequently advertised middle eastern views toward western civilization all the time. In fact, nearly 3,000 Americans died as a result of an extremist form of that view six years ago.

Hamshahri, another Iranian newspaper, has predicted that 300 will spark protests all over the world and that Iranians living in the U.S. and Europe will not be indifferent about this obvious insult.”

Good. Because The U.S. and Europe will not be indifferent to the building of nuclear weapons for genocidal reasons; not to mention the supplying of weapons to known terrorists.

I'll be owning this movie when it comes out on DVD.