What is so great about free speech?

paul_valaru

paul_valaru

100% Pure Canadian Beef
ok ok ok, it is a good thing, but...

'Can-do' soldier killed in Iraq honored at West Alex funeral

Christie Campbell
Staff writer

One of the last letters Matthew Hunter wrote home from Iraq included a request for veterinary supplies. A medic with the U.S. Army, Sgt. Hunter also wanted to treat animals he saw in the war zone.

It's unknown if Hunter received those supplies. The 31-year-old with the big, wide grin lost his life when a roadside bomb exploded near Baghdad Jan. 23, four months after his deployment.

Those who knew Hunter well recalled his zest for life, his positive attitude and fun-loving manner that included a passion for wearing Hawaiian shirts. Hunter, they said, was committed to serving his country and died doing what he loved.

Friends spoke at his funeral Saturday morning in West Alexander Presbyterian Church. It was the same church Hunter had joined as a teen, where he had been a member of its youth group, youth choir and later the adult choir.

"He was the can-do man," said Edward Gunter, one of Hunter's friends in the military. While the two served in Korea, Gunter said Hunter could always be relied on to accomplish any task set before him.

Hunter was so outgoing that when Gunter returned several weeks after leaving his Siberian husky dog in Hunter's care, everyone would stop him while he was walking the animal and ask, "Why do you have Matt's dog?"

The Rev. Jeri-Lynne Bouterse, pastor of the church, said Hunter was a true leader. He went to Iraq because he had long felt called to serve his country. His family chose Isaiah 40:31 for Bouterse's meditation. The Bible verse says those who depend on God will someday rise up on the wings of eagles, fitting since Hunter was a member of the 101st Airborne Division, known as the Screaming Eagles and based at Fort Campbell, Ky.

A representative from West Virginia Gov. Joe Manchin's office awarded the family the Bronze Star and Purple Heart, as well as other combat and military badges for Hunter's service.

Among those attending the funeral were members of Patriot Guard Riders, a veterans motorcycle group that provides an escort and color guard at military funerals. Lately, the group has been serving another purpose, that of shielding family members from a Topeka, Kan., church whose members have been protesting at military funerals, saying soldiers are dying because God is angry with America's tolerance of homosexuality.

About eight people from Westboro Baptist Church stood on the sidewalk across from the church, holding signs such as "God Hates America" and "Thank God for Dead Soldiers." The Patriot Guard members stood with their backs to the protesters and held up a large tarp so Hunter's family would not have to see the protesters as they entered the church.
"We believe our fallen heroes deserve a respectful service," explained Rick Gifford of Parkersburg, W.Va.

Michael Hamilton of Elm Grove, W.Va., agreed. He and three of his friends held signs reading "love, joy, peace," in what they called their own "rally of respect and reverence."

"My father is buried in West Alexander Cemetery, and I just could not let this go down without some type of representation," Hamilton explained.

The Kansas protesters left under a state police escort 45 minutes before the start of the funeral. They have plans to conduct a similar protest at Tuesday's funeral of Coretta Scott King.

A native of Valley Grove, W.Va., Hunter's funeral also was attended by members of American Legion Post 656 of West Alexander and Valley Grove and Clearview fire departments. American flags were hung from poles all through town, and many residents also had taken the time to display their own flags.

In addition to his wife, Wendy, and stepdaughter, Meredith, he is survived by his parents, Kathy and Joe Kinney of Valley Grove and Fred and Debbie Hunter of Glen Dale, W.Va., a sister and a brother.
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standing ovation for this "patriot guard" bike club
 
There's gonna be a flash-over as people finally have enough of the liberal agenda and these placard-carrying hate-mongers are gonna get burned.
 
paul_valaru said:
standing ovation for this "patriot guard" bike club
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Echo that sentiment.

Freedom of speech is a grand thing. It also demands tolerence of opposing viewpoints, and that seems to be in short supply sometimes. I'm as guilty as anyone else on certain topics. For example, I was watching a college basketball game recently. One of the players has changed his name to Jihad Mohammed. Personally, I think that should be grounds for dismissal from the team if not the university as a direct afront to common decency. An athlete represents his university which is likely providing a college education free of charge in exchange for their athletic skills. As such, to call oneself Jihad Mohammed while wearing the university's name across your chest is just wrong in my book. But libraries house a lot of books.
 
The freedom to speak (unless you live in Connecticut) does not guarantee the right to be heard. Protesting government is quite a far cry from telling a family their child died because God is pissed at us.

May the bikers remain vigilant.
 
If a certain intellectual level (doesn't even have to be a particularly high level) were required to qualify for freedom of speech you'd probably eliminate 90%-95% of this crap.

People who ride motorcycles are just naturally cooler than other people. ;)
 
In Atlanta traffic, we just call 'em "organ donors". I can see where a bike would be fun, but it has no place in the disaster that is commuting down here.
 
HomeLAN said:
In Atlanta traffic, we just call 'em "organ donors". I can see where a bike would be fun, but it has no place in the disaster that is commuting down here.
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I used to commute on one all the time in Tucson. It was about six miles by the most direct route from home to work, but it was usually fifteen or more on the bike. Less travelled, more interesting roads. In Cali they even let you split lanes. :D
 
HomeLAN said:
In Atlanta traffic, we just call 'em "organ donors". I can see where a bike would be fun, but it has no place in the disaster that is commuting down here.
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That's why they are so big in "this" area. :)
 
More on the sickos

I'm a church-going Christian. I do my best to adhere to God's teachings, and fail miserably in the process, daily.

These people do not represent the God I worship. They do fulfill a prophecy of the end of times, however: Beware false prophets will arise and deceive many.

How some people can interpret the Bible never ceases to amaze me.
 
SouthernN'Proud said:
Echo that sentiment.

Freedom of speech is a grand thing. It also demands tolerence of opposing viewpoints, and that seems to be in short supply sometimes. I'm as guilty as anyone else on certain topics. For example, I was watching a college basketball game recently. One of the players has changed his name to Jihad Mohammed. Personally, I think that should be grounds for dismissal from the team if not the university as a direct afront to common decency. An athlete represents his university which is likely providing a college education free of charge in exchange for their athletic skills. As such, to call oneself Jihad Mohammed while wearing the university's name across your chest is just wrong in my book. But libraries house a lot of books.
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Why? By changing his name does that change his ability to play basketball? Does his religous preference change his ability to play?
 
It's what he changed it to. Wanna be known as Goatkiller Jones? Slutmaster Piemaker? Be my guest. By taking the name Jihad, his statement of choice amounts to treason in my opinion. We all kow opinions vary.
 
chcr said:
I used to commute on one all the time in Tucson....In Cali they even let you split lanes. :D
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I didn't own a car when I left AZ & for years in California. When my wife joined me, it made grocery shopping MUCH easier. :D

Lane splitting=What traffic jam :D
 
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