Stupid Bastards

[ABSTRUSE]

Church: God Punishing GIs Over Gays
By BETH RUCKER, Associated Press Writer




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."

 

[cloudy]

Oh, shit, the idiots are breeding again, aren't they?

According to the bible, God doesn't "hate," right? Where do they come up with this dumbass shit?

 

[ABSTRUSE]

Oh, shit, the idiots are breeding again, aren't they?

According to the bible, God doesn't "hate," right? Where do they come up with this dumbass shit?

They needed a cause so they threw a dart and it landed on "Persecute Gays and blame the military".

 

[rgraham666]

Reverend (said in a snide manner) Phelps just shows how clever Satan is.

Old Nick can twist any message to serve His purpose.

I do hope Reverend (said in a snide manner) Phelps is a masochist. He's going to need it.

Done being funny. What a bunch of assholes. If God hates anybody, a doubtful proposition, it's scumbags like that.

 

[Kassiana]

For what it's worth, Fred Phelps' "church" is mostly made up of his immediate family members, and I have yet to see a Christian say they endorse his habit of going to funerals and telling grieving people that their loved ones are in hell.

He is an extremist hatemonger.

 

[ABSTRUSE]

For what it's worth, Fred Phelps' "church" is mostly made up of his immediate family members, and I have yet to see a Christian say they endorse his habit of going to funerals and telling grieving people that their loved ones are in hell.

He is an extremist hatemonger.

He needs a flaming bag of poo thrown at him.

 

[oggbashan]

Gay Pride

This weekend, at a Gay Pride march in Manchester, the Army had gay and lesbian participants in the march in uniform following an RAF float proclaiming 'RAF rise above the rest'. The Army had asked for 10 volunteers - and got 30.

The Army had a recruitment stand doing significant business with the marchers.

Three Police forces, Greater Manchester, Cheshire and North Yorkshire also sent uniformed gay officers to participate in the march.

Og

 

[ABSTRUSE]

This weekend, at a Gay Pride march in Manchester, the Army had gay and lesbian participants in the march in uniform following an RAF float proclaiming 'RAF rise above the rest'. The Army had asked for 10 volunteers - and got 30.

The Army had a recruitment stand doing significant business with the marchers.

Three Police forces, Greater Manchester, Cheshire and North Yorkshire also sent uniformed gay officers to participate in the march.

Og

Let's send this to Fred Phelps.
Thanks Og, that's great to hear.

 

[oggbashan]

Note that the NAVY did not participate. They don't need to.

During World War 2 when the Battle of the Atlantic was at its height, and we were losing more ships than we could build, Churchill asked a Navy representative what could be done. That representative replied:

"We will continue to carry on the traditions of the service."

Churchill replied (he had been Head of the Navy in part of World War 1):

"I don't see which of Rum, Bum and the Lash will help us now."

Og

 

[Svenskaflicka]

"God hates you."

Now THAT's something to put on a T-shirt!

 

[oggbashan]

Let's send this to Fred Phelps.
Thanks Og, that's great to hear.

The report was from today's Sunday Times, page 10. The picture accompanying the article is of Warrant Officer Lutha Magloire looking very macho.

Og

 

[Svenskaflicka]

Note that the NAVY did not participate. They don't need to.

...because it's one giant Pride Parade in itself?

 

[Guest]

Their home base is in Topeka, Kansas, very close to me. They've been doing this for years. This article contains a great deal of information.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rev._Fred_Phelps

You should see their signs. Horrible.

We've been able to prevent our children from viewing their hate-filled rhetoric thus far, but they are becoming much more visible these days because of the war.

They tend to picket a church, a business, or sometimes a university that has dared counter their views publicly. In Topeka they have picketed most activities at the Performing Arts Center - including Sesame Street Live and any theatrical or musical show.

(I remember the last time we saw CATS. The traveling cast, still in costume, had their pictures taken with the picketers. The cast and the theater goers loved it. The picketers were not amused.)

They've picketed Palm Sunday every year. Several churches get together for a morning service and then process off to their own churches. And there they always are, same old signs. I recall one pastor saying (I was choir director for one of the churches at the time) "I'm surprised nobody has mistaken Fred for a deer."

At any rate, "Media Whore" is a term that describes them well, as they don't care which event they picket. They are only there because of large numbers of people. And they make money. Despite how horrifying many of us believe them to be, people send their "church" donations.

It's a sad world.

 

[oggbashan]

I've added the Rev Fred to the list of US Citizens to be banned from entering the UK as an instigator of hatred and supporter of terrorism.

Og

 

[cloudy]

I've added the Rev Fred to the list of US Citizens to be banned from entering the UK as an instigator of hatred and supporter of terrorism.

Og

You go, Og.

~ Cloudy GoingSnake

 

[oggbashan]

Our new laws on radical clerics do not distinguish between Muslims, Christians or any other form of 'religion'.

Rev. Og (as me and as jeanne d'artois)

 

[Guest]

I've added the Rev Fred to the list of US Citizens to be banned from entering the UK as an instigator of hatred and supporter of terrorism.

Og

You just made my day.

Thanks, Og.

 

[Liar]

Phelps and posse are coming to Sweden in the beginning of September. For some incomrehensible reason, he's here to manifest against...get this...the king. Anyone with more than two brain cells and any reason to look into it knows that our king is a non-political figurehead, so why he goes after him is beyond anyone's guess.

There might be some answers here, if I could make sense of half of it...

http://www.godhatessweden.com/

His aversion to this country has to do with us prosecuting a christian preacher, Åke Green, for some major gay bashing. The irony of it all is that even Green think Phelps is a complete fucktard.

Well, the response to his visit is already beginning to stir in the Swedish gay community. The plan is to show up wherever he makes public appearances and greet him with hoards of gay men and women making out as if there was no tomorrow.

 

[Guest]

Phelps and posse are coming to Sweden in the beginning of September. For some incomrehensible reason, he's here to manifest against...get this...the king. Anyone with more than two brain cells and any reason to look into it knows that our king is a non-political figurehead, so why he goes after him is beyond anyone's guess.

There might be some answers here, if I could make sense of half of it...

http://www.godhatessweden.com/

His aversion to this country has to do with us prosecuting a christian preacher, Åke Green, for some major gay bashing. The irony of it all is that even Green think Phelps is a complete fucktard.

Well, the response to his visit is already beginning to stir in the Swedish gay community. The plan is to show up wherever he makes public appearances and greet him with hoards of gay men and women making out as if there was no tomorrow.

I'm so sorry he's spreading his evil across the globe.

He gets no press in Kansas. Unless there is a court case against him (or the family has brought one against someone else) there will be nothing in the paper. And you never see the picketers on TV or in the newspapers. Ever.

One reason they've been able to flourish is that they are brilliant people. Many of the children are lawyers, some have run for city council (and didn't succeed) but they are unafraid to push their agenda. And, they understand the legalilties behind what they can and cannot get away with.

 

[Liar]

I'm so sorry he's spreading his evil across the globe.

Thing is... I'm not so sure it's working. At least not here. Even the most rabid homophobes on this side of the Atlantic agree that he is a freakshow clown ready for the bug house, doing more damage for their cause than good.

 

[Quiet_Cool]

Thing is... I'm not so sure it's working. At least not here. Even the most rabid homophobes on this side of the Atlantic agree that he is a freakshow clown ready for the bug house, doing more damage for their cause than good.

You're lucky to be there. Here, the freakshow clowns are common enough that I've never heard of the guy until just now.

*shrug*

When he gets there...

Keep him!

Q_C

 

[Goldeniangel]

I've been in "The Laramie Project" which is about the 1995 hate crime where Matthew Sheppard was beaten and tied to a fence and left to die. most of you probably remember that, i do even though i was only in Middle School at the time.

Anyway, Fred Phelps is IN that, he showed up at Matt's funeral with signs saying "God Hates Fags" and "Matt's Burning In Hell".

Fred Phelps ALSO showed up at the Univ Of Maryland while I was there when THEY did the Laramie Project (not hte production i was in) to protest that a major university was doing the show.

Afterwards, talking to one of my friends who was in the show, she told me that she thinks Fred Phelps is an angel.

And her reason is VERY profound.

By running around with his hateful message, spitting rage and intolerance, he actually opens up people's minds. Those who wouldn't have cared about the gay issue look at him and go "I don't want to be like that." Those who are against it look at him at these funerals and go "That's wrong... am I like that?" and suddenly they examine themselves. That man has brought more publicity to the gay "issue" than most homosexuals, and it opens up forums of talking. and not only that, but it gives those who are intolerant a look at what they might look like to the rest of the world. and a lot of the time they realize, 'i don't want to bel ike that'.

so by running around, spreading his message of hate, Fred Phelps gets the attention of so many people that otherwise might not have ever noticed; and the message that he is really spreading as he shouts about hate and intolerance and bigotry, is a message of love and acceptance.

becaues no one wants to be like him.

 

[Svenskaflicka]

Afterwards, talking to one of my friends who was in the show, she told me that she thinks Fred Phelps is an angel.
QUOTE]


That reminds me of something I read in a book called "The Princess: Machiavelli for Women" - apparently, there was this rock band that was very much against an extremist political party (don't remember which country this was), and they had several songs about how sick and twisted this so called party was. Then, when the party was elected into power, the band changed their tactics. They turned 180 and started praising the party and their politics, calling them gods and geniuses.
People were confused by this sudden change, and started thinking. Were the singers sarcastic? Had they really changed their minds? Just what type of politics DID this party have, anyway? Was it really that good?

 

[scheherazade_79]

Why are churches always so obsessed with sex? More to the point, why are churches always so obsessed with the kind of sex that other people are getting? Is it me, or is there something ever so slightly fucked up about it? I mean, come on - if you had a butcher, or a doctor, or local politician who kept making references to the sex lives of everyone they served, you'd run a mile, wouldn't you!

 

[impressive]

Why are churches always so obsessed with sex? More to the point, why are churches always so obsessed with the kind of sex that other people are getting? Is it me, or is there something ever so slightly fucked up about it?

Because sex is their hook. To control people, control the things about which they're passionate.