Anti-gay church protests at GI's funerals

[Engineer]

Click me!

Talk about radical? IMO, people like this are completely fvcked! Regardless of whether you support gays or the Iraq war, the soldiers and fallen deserve everything decent. These people will rot in the hell that they so want to avoid.

EDIT: REMOVED Frist reference because these stupid people are from Kansas.

Anti-Gay Church Protests at GI Funerals By BETH RUCKER, Associated Press Writer
1 hour, 26 minutes ago



SMYRNA, Tenn. - Members of a church say God is punishing American soldiers for defending a country that harbors gays, and they brought their anti-gay message to the funerals Saturday of two Tennessee soldiers killed in Iraq.



The church members were met with scorn from local residents. They chased the church members cars' down a highway, waving flags and screaming "God bless America."

"My husband is over there, so I'm here to show my support," 41-year-old Connie Ditmore said as she waved and American flag and as tears came to her eyes. "To do this at a funeral is disrespectful of a family, no matter what your beliefs are."

The Rev. Fred Phelps, founder of Westboro Baptist in Kansas, contends that American soldiers are being killed in Iraq as vengeance from God for protecting a country that harbors gays. The church, which is not affiliated with a larger denomination, is made up mostly of Phelps' children, grandchildren and in-laws.

The church members carried signs and shouted things such as "God hates fags" and "God hates you."

About 10 church members protested near Smyrna United Methodist Church and nearly 20 stood outside the National Guard Armory in Ashland City. Members have demonstrated at other soldier funerals across the nation.

The funerals were for Staff Sgt. Asbury Fred Hawn II, 35, in Smyrna and Spc. Gary Reese Jr., 22, in Ashland City. Both were members of the Tennessee National Guard.

Hundreds of Smyrna and Ashland City residents and families of other soldiers turned out at both sites to counter the message the Westboro Baptist members brought.

So many counterdemonstrators were gathered in Ashland City that police, sheriff's deputies and state troopers were brought in to control traffic and protect the protesters.

The church members held protesting permits, and counterprotesters in Smyrna turned their backs to Westboro Baptist members until time expired on the protest permits.

"If they were protesting the government, I might even join them," Danny Cotton, 56, said amid cries of "get out of our town" and "get out of our country."

"But for them to come during the worst time for this family ? it's just wrong."

 

[Cerb]

Cliff's version of protest: "Your son died because we think God hates fags; and we are insecure enough to rub it in your face while you grieve."

Well, this is the land of the free...

 

[stateofbeasley]

These people are completely off the deep end. They can't possibly have logical evidence that what they claim is true.

 

[Zysoclaplem]

Don't worry bout good ol' Fred Phelps. This isn't the first time, and won't be the last time he is in the news.

 

[cwjerome]

Truly disgusting. We definately have our share of freaks and retards.

 

[Rainsford]

Originally posted by: Zysoclaplem
Don't worry bout good ol' Fred Phelps. This isn't the first time, and won't be the last time he is in the news.

I remember a year or so ago he was doing a tour of colleges, and when he came to Iowa State, I got the pleasure of having him yell directly at me. And my impression was of nothing so much as a small, small man trying to make up for it. I'm not a Christian myself, but this is one of those times I hope the Christians are right, because then Phelps and the rest of his idiot patrol are heading straight for hell. For my part, I'm convinced Karma will get them, if it hasn't already.

 

[jackschmittusa]

I'm not a Christian either, but I find it hard to believe there are those who believe Jesus would have said "I hate fags" or "God is killing G.I.s because the U.S. supports fags.". They are of the same ilk as Robertson and Falwell, who claimed 9-11 was a punishment from God. All shining examples of "Christianity gone Wild".

 

[Whaspe]

Yah it's stuff like this that makes me sick, and I am proud to be a Christian. I hope you rational ones out there realize what a bunch of BS this is, and that not all Christians find espousing hate to be in the Ten Commandments.

 

[dahunan]

seriously disgusting....

They have a lot to learn about Jesus and I am fairly certain that they will not learn it before they die (which I hope is not too far away)

 

[imported_tss4]

This is why it bothers my when liberals of conservatives point to a disguisting protest by the oppisition as a reason to discredit them. Both sides have their nut cases.

 

[Whaspe]

BTW here's some history on this wacko Fred Phelps. Personally I think anyone who runs websites entitled godhatesfags, godhatesamerica shouldn't be labelled a Christian.

 

[bamacre]

The church, which is not affiliated with a larger denomination, is made up mostly of Phelps' children, grandchildren and in-laws.

:laugh: What a bunch of fvcking idiots. Well, I guess it's not funny b'c of what they are doing. One of these days, they will piss off the wrong group.

 

[Red Dawn]

Originally posted by: bamacre

The church, which is not affiliated with a larger denomination, is made up mostly of Phelps' children, grandchildren and in-laws.

:laugh: What a bunch of fvcking idiots. Well, I guess it's not funny b'c of what they are doing. One of these days, they will piss off the wrong group.

Yeah maybe Pat Robertson will call for Phelp's assassination.

 

[BBond]

The church, which is not affiliated with a larger denomination, is made up mostly of Phelps' children, grandchildren and in-laws

Fred Phelps and his clan are a perfect example of why we have laws against incest and inbreeding.

 

[Rainsford]

Originally posted by: tss4
This is why it bothers my when liberals of conservatives point to a disguisting protest by the oppisition as a reason to discredit them. Both sides have their nut cases.

Exactly. It's really easy to pick and choose the idiots to help make your case, especially if you really don't like the "other guys". But hopefully we're all big enough to avoid doing that...

Edit: And at the risk of pointing out the obvious...we have no less than 3 threads on the front page about Cindy Sheehan...just something to think about

 

[ShadesOfGrey]

Originally posted by: Whaspe
BTW here's some history on this wacko Fred Phelps. Personally I think anyone who runs websites entitled godhatesfags, godhatesamerica shouldn't be labelled a Christian.

Yeah, it's interesting to note Phelp's history and ideology. A communist/dictator loving cult leader who bastardizes Christianity for his own personal gain.

 

[suse920]

thats stupid

 

[BoberFett]

Originally posted by: Red Dawn

Originally posted by: bamacre

The church, which is not affiliated with a larger denomination, is made up mostly of Phelps' children, grandchildren and in-laws.

:laugh: What a bunch of fvcking idiots. Well, I guess it's not funny b'c of what they are doing. One of these days, they will piss off the wrong group.

Yeah maybe Pat Robertson will call for Phelp's assassination.

Not likely. A snake like Robertson probably agrees with Phelp's message.

 

[judasmachine]

every culture, every country has "harboured gays" even if they didn't know it. so is god going to kill us all?

btw isn't this disgracing a soldier, and his family's grief?

 

[Cerb]

Originally posted by: judasmachine
every culture, every country has "harboured gays" even if they didn't know it. so is god going to kill us all?

btw isn't this disgracing a soldier, and his family's grief?

Yes, he will kill us all. That hurricane was just a start. Soon there will be famine, pestilence, and M:tG will get popular again. So, um, yeah, you're gonna get some hellfire and brimstone, dude; and it's all because of harboring them fairies and other perverts!

"By Fred's own admission, he never dated, possessing no interest in members of the opposite sex."

2 + 2 = 4.

 

[Proletariat]

Originally posted by: ShadesOfGrey

Originally posted by: Whaspe
BTW here's some history on this wacko Fred Phelps. Personally I think anyone who runs websites entitled godhatesfags, godhatesamerica shouldn't be labelled a Christian.

Yeah, it's interesting to note Phelp's history and ideology. A communist/dictator loving cult leader who bastardizes Christianity for his own personal gain.

Now hes a communist?

Isn't that... convenient?

 

[ShadesOfGrey]

Originally posted by: Proletariat

Originally posted by: ShadesOfGrey

Originally posted by: Whaspe
BTW here's some history on this wacko Fred Phelps. Personally I think anyone who runs websites entitled godhatesfags, godhatesamerica shouldn't be labelled a Christian.

Yeah, it's interesting to note Phelp's history and ideology. A communist/dictator loving cult leader who bastardizes Christianity for his own personal gain.

Now hes a communist?

Isn't that... convenient?

Well, I'm not sure he himself is a communist but he sure did have some dealing with Saddam and Castro. Dealings that normal Americans wouldn't ever be involved in.

He also had some pretty close ties to Tipper and Al Gore. So lets be clear here - this nut was no right-winger by any stretch of the imagination.

 

[PatboyX]

Originally posted by: ShadesOfGrey

Originally posted by: Proletariat

Originally posted by: ShadesOfGrey

Originally posted by: Whaspe
BTW here's some history on this wacko Fred Phelps. Personally I think anyone who runs websites entitled godhatesfags, godhatesamerica shouldn't be labelled a Christian.

Yeah, it's interesting to note Phelp's history and ideology. A communist/dictator loving cult leader who bastardizes Christianity for his own personal gain.

Now hes a communist?

Isn't that... convenient?

Well, I'm not sure he himself is a communist but he sure did have some dealing with Saddam and Castro. Dealings that normal Americans wouldn't ever be involved in.

He also had some pretty close ties to Tipper and Al Gore. So lets be clear here - this nut was no right-winger by any stretch of the imagination.

what kind of dealings?
selling them weapons?

 

[Proletariat]

Originally posted by: ShadesOfGrey

Originally posted by: Proletariat

Originally posted by: ShadesOfGrey

Originally posted by: Whaspe
BTW here's some history on this wacko Fred Phelps. Personally I think anyone who runs websites entitled godhatesfags, godhatesamerica shouldn't be labelled a Christian.

Yeah, it's interesting to note Phelp's history and ideology. A communist/dictator loving cult leader who bastardizes Christianity for his own personal gain.

Now hes a communist?

Isn't that... convenient?

Well, I'm not sure he himself is a communist but he sure did have some dealing with Saddam and Castro. Dealings that normal Americans wouldn't ever be involved in.

He also had some pretty close ties to Tipper and Al Gore. So lets be clear here - this nut was no right-winger by any stretch of the imagination.

Phelps is a wierd guy hes had affiliations with a lot of people including hard right groups. The only connections he appeared to have with Saddam were when his request to come to Baghdad and mock America was granted. I'm pretty sure Saddam only accepted his request because his country was being bombed to hell at the time. As for Castro... nothings been proved there except that he likes Castro's stance on homosexuality, which has evolved throughout the years.

 

[slurmsmackenzie]

Originally posted by: Whaspe
Yah it's stuff like this that makes me sick, and I am proud to be a Christian. I hope you rational ones out there realize what a bunch of BS this is, and that not all Christians find espousing hate to be in the Ten Commandments.

rest assured....

the ten commandments were replaced by jesus... that should be apparent to anyone with even a basic understanding of christianity. the only people jesus ever rebuked were the false teachers of the jewish religion that were using their position for monetary gain. he didn't even rebuke his murderer, judas, or pontias pilate, or the rapist that shared his death toll. jesus brought love, and only love... so for someone to use the word "hate" and "christian" in the same sentence is falsly proclaiming so.

it's god's place, and god's place only to judge. til then, christians have one job...

to spread the good news of jesus' return, with a message of love and forgiveness. if anyone ever tells you that you're going to hell, they're retarded. that is not a christian view.