OT This Country lost a Health Care Advocate this week.

Saturday I stood in the cold rain for four hours to be a human shield for Elizabeth Edward's Funeral. She was a great health care advocate because of her experience with Breast Cancer. She was the real deal in caring for people. She worked with the Southern Poverty Law Center to try to make health care a human right.

A hate group threatened to protest her funeral. The same one that has all the horrible signs at the Military funerals. A call was put out for folks to show up to act as a human shield. To not bring signs or call attention to yourself. Many answered the call. Unfortunately many wanted there 5 minutes of fame and brought signs, dressed up  in costumes, decorated there cars and blasted music, or drove motorcycles with weird get ups. After wards they posted the pictures of themselves on the internet and patted themselves on the back. They kinda missed the point. The day was to honor Elizabeth.

I arrived early and stood right across from the church. The police put the hate group blocks away. As other people came to the block with the church I simply said it was disrespectful to have signs, it was a funeral. By doing so I drove all the people with signs down the block as well. I guess people listen to an assertive person with crutches. LOL.

It was amazing I stood shoulder to shoulder with strangers of all different backgrounds all with the same goal to maintain dignity for the Edwards family and friends. We were not there to call attention to ourselves. We were there to maintain dignity. Something everyone is owed at there funeral.

If only the media would not show these hateful people or the people on the other side, who are just as guilty with their signs and attention getting behavior, may be all of this madness would stop. People ask why does a church in Kansas pick these funerals, it is simple the media attention.

I was happy because when the family arrived the Circus was down the street. Near the church were hundreds of people quietly standing in the rain. None of us were on TV and that is the way it should be.

Alex

[RedFlame]

Thank you for being there for Elizabeth.  Such a loss to her children and to our nation.  She was a fierce, unceasing advocate for our country and our need for healthcare.  So sad, when I learned of it I was deeply moved.

Thank you for being one in the group of people showing up to shield the mourners from the Fred Phelps idiot.  

Red

[beema36]

I agree with Red, thank u. those people r terrible and.I.wish they would stop their protests.
. I just finished reading her book Resilience. Very uplifting and good for.those coping with illness. She was quite a lady. She will be missed.
Beema

[Lulu54]

Alex, we just had a military funeral here last week and this group made so many headlines just on the possibility of coming.  Then they didn't show.  Like you I wish we could take the headlines and news cameras away and I think they would evaporate into the background.

-L

[Sparkysarah]

I know that you have shared this not for your own contribution, but as a way of expressing your own feelings in a dignified way. Your presence at the funeral was a silent tribute to a someone who obviously had wide admiration (although I have not heard of her here in the UK) and your ability to talk to the protestors in a calm manner sent a message that appeared to be heard so well done for your courage and determination.

[lovemy6monkeys]

Thank you for doing this. My thoughts are with the Edwards family.
~Jess

[jensequitur]

I believe in the right of free speech, but I also am very much in favor of citizens standing together and making a non-violent 'human shield' against the Westboro Baptist Church folks.  Thank you for doing that!

[PastorDan]

I agree, Alex.  No matter how a person feels about the politics surrounding the health care debates, or any other issue touched by this beautiful lady's life, your action in this instance has my ringing endorsement.  This was neither the time nor the place for the display of anything but respect and sympathy.  May God bless you for taking this stand.

I also agree (heartily) with the criticism of the so-called pastor Mr. Phelps and his family who are the bulk of their so-called church.  They seem to have missed a few pages in studying their Bibles.

[rendean]

Alex,

Thank you for literally standing up for health care rights and helping a grieving family have a dignified funeral. Like Jen , I believe in the freedom of speech and you exerted yours in a professional manner and stood your ground while others expressed theirs . Thank you!!!!!

Ren

PS Hope your cold gets better!

[Guitar_grrrl]

Alex, I love your spirit in trying to keep the dignity of a family intact.  This event demanded nothing more.  "Pastor" Phelps and his ilk make me ashamed of our country. Free speech notwithstanding.

Take good care of yourself - stay warm and dry.  Go to the barn and hug your horse.  You do such good work for all!

Cheers,
Lisa

[johnniebear]

that group offends me,  Hat's  off to you for your support of her.

We have two son's serving our Nation,  some may not like it, or may .  My wife and raised funds for  both our sons units,  and instead of having us on stage at this convention we asked that they read this poem to the civilians.

                                   It's The Soldier
                              -Father D. E. O'Brien

It's the soldier, not the reporter
Who has given us freedom of the PRESS.

It's the soldier, not the poet,
Who has given us freedom of SPEECH.

It's the soldier, not the campus organizer,
Who has given us the freedom to DEMONSTRATE.

It's the soldier, not the lawyer,
Who has given us the right to a FAIR TRIAL.

It's the soldier who salutes the flag,
Serves under the flag
And whose coffin is draped by the flag,
Who gives the protester the right to burn the flag.


Now let me ask you,  where does that group get it's Priority  from?

john