Shoulder-to-Shoulder, a Barrier Against Hate

The so-called Westboro Baptist Church is a church of hate. I'm not sure it deserves the name church. But even haters have First Amendment rights to exercise their religion and to speak and be heard. This cesspool of haters claims those rights.

They boast in their literature that they hate everyone and everything, yet they pretend to await the return of Jesus, a man of peace and love.

The group and its followers make a joke of the very U.S. Constitution that protects them. But the First Amendment - in my view - also gives listeners some rights. And I'm here to speak for them.

Who am I to do that? I'm an American, an old one, 83 in August. I'm also an Army vet of the Korean War and a lifelong newsman who knows a bit about the First Amendment and press freedom. I am also a father and a grandfather.

By name, I'm Wesley G Hughes. Some of you may remember that moniker. For several years, I wrote a column called Planet Wes that was carried regularly in The Sun, San Bernardino County's largest newspaper. I spoke my mind then and I speak it now. My main issue is children: their rights, well-being, education and their protection from harm to the extent possible.

But kids aren't my only issue. Others are decency and fair play, basically doing the right thing.

That's where these haters come in. They want to disrupt the funeral of by a roadside bomb. They can't hurt Davis. The young soldier has already paid the ultimate price, but the haters want to heap on the grief suffered by Davis' loved ones and poke their fingers in the community's eye.

Yes, the haters have their rights but so do we. If they are on radio or TV, it's our right to switch it off. If we are face to face, their right ends at my nose and yours. Touch it at your peril.

We don't have to admit haters into our homes or our yards. That too is our right.

I would like to attend the paratrooper's funeral Friday at 1 p.m. at Yucaipa Christian Church at 12954 Bryant St. and the burial at Sunnyslope Cemetery, 40 S. Pennsylvania Ave. in Beaumont.

Yes, I would like to but I'll be outside instead at the church perimeter ready to stand shoulder-to-shoulder with other vets, active soldiers, caring citizens - as many as can make it - to honor Private First Class Davis, who gave his life for his country. But I - and those who join me - will be outside at parade rest facing outward toward anyone who might attempt to disrupt the sanctity of this sad and solemn occasion. Let's empty the American Legion and VFW halls, fraternal lodges and neighborhoods for this one.

Join me, please.

And finally, I want to thank The Patch for lending Planet Wes a platform to comment on this issue in desperate need of comment.