Dallas Holocaust Museum & Westboro Baptist Church

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m8cwI5J0VJU

I remember seeing something about this on the news not too long ago, where I thought how insane could a group be that would protest a fallen soldier. It seems like everyone traditionally puts their differences aside when a solider has lost his life defending our country. No one says "oh but he was Mexican," his life is respected and the entire community comes to lay them to rest. I know that in San Antonio, on the nightly news if someone is killed in battle, they run several stories to inform the community of their death, return to their hometown for burial, and the funeral arrangements, and sometimes coverage of the funeral. It's a way for the community to pay respect to the fallen soldier and thank them for giving their life for our freedom. It sickens me that a group like Westboro would attempt to disrupt the last memorable honor that person is due. I'm so thankful that the Patriot Guard Riders show up to make a civil, peaceful, statement to them. How could a group want to push someone when they are at such a low point into physically harming them just to get a reaction?

I feel the same about the protest that took place at the Dallas Holocaust Museum. First of all, what on earth are these people thinking, or what drugs are they taking to think this is acceptable? Second, we are usually looking to seeking community coverage and PR, but in this case, that is what the adversary wanted so it was interesting to see a group like the DHM trying NOT to get PR. It seemed like from what Nannette told us it was a PR snowball and enticed so many emotions, there was just no way to control the situation from happening. From a PR student's side, I found it interesting to see how they attempted to control the crisis and the counter protesters. From my point of view, it seems like the protest went successfully. The WBC people did not successfully stir up any physical reaction from either the counter protesters or the DHM. I think the ADL's advise to ignore them completely is not truly effective, but I don't think any interaction with them is necessary as to prove that they are not having any effect on the museum.