Skrappy1 Posted February 21, 2006 Share Posted February 21, 2006 (edited) You know, stuff like this pisses me off. You don't agree with the war...fine. You want to protest the war...fine. You hate gay people...well I suppose that's your prerogative. But you have absolutely no business using military funerals as a venue to push your own distorted religious agenda on to others. What a classless piece of crap this Phelps guy is. It is pretty cool that the bikers are trying to shield the familys from this nonsense though. Bikers roll to military funerals to oppose anti-gay protestsTuesday, February 21, 2006; Posted: 7:55 a.m. EST (12:55 GMT) FORT CAMPBELL, Kentucky (AP) -- Wearing vests covered in military patches, a band of motorcyclists rolls around the country from one soldier's funeral to another, cheering respectfully to overshadow jeers from church protesters. They call themselves the Patriot Guard Riders, and they are more than 5,000 strong, forming to counter anti-gay protests held by the Rev. Fred Phelps at military funerals. Phelps believes American deaths in Iraq are divine punishment for a country that he says harbors homosexuals. His protesters carry signs thanking God for so-called IEDs -- explosives that are a major killer of soldiers in Iraq. The bikers shield the families of dead soldiers from the protesters, and overshadow the jeers with patriotic chants and a sea of red, white and blue flags. "The most important thing we can do is let families know that the nation cares," said Don Woodrick, the group's Kentucky captain. "When a total stranger gets on a motorcycle in the middle of winter and drives 300 miles to hold a flag, that makes a powerful statement." At least 14 states are considering laws aimed at the funeral protesters, who at a recent memorial service at Fort Campbell wrapped themselves in upside-down American flags. They danced and sang impromptu songs peppered with vulgarities that condemned homosexuals and soldiers. The Patriot Guard was also there, waving up a ruckus of support for the families across the street. Community members came in the freezing rain to chant "U-S-A, U-S-A" alongside them. "This is just the right thing to do. This is something America didn't do in the '70s," said Kurt Mayer, the group's national spokesman. "Whether we agree with why we're over there, these soldiers are dying to protect our freedoms." Shirley Phelps-Roper, a daughter of Fred Phelps and an attorney for the Topeka, Kansas-based church, said neither state laws nor the Patriot Guard can silence their message that God killed the soldiers because they fought for a country that embraces homosexuals. "The scriptures are crystal clear that when God sets out to punish a nation, it is with the sword. An IED is just a broken-up sword," Phelps-Roper said. "Since that is his weapon of choice, our forum of choice has got to be a dead soldier's funeral." The church, Westboro Baptist Church, is not affiliated with a larger denomination and is made up mostly of Fred Phelps' extended family members. During the 1990s, church members were known mostly for picketing the funerals of AIDS victims, and they have long been tracked as a hate group by the Montgomery, Alabama-based Southern Poverty Law Center's Intelligence Project. The project's deputy director, Heidi Beirich, said other groups have tried to counter Phelps' message, but none has been as organized as the Patriot Guard. "I'm not sure anybody has gone to this length to stand in solidarity," she said. "It's nice that these veterans and their supporters are trying to do something. I can't imagine anything worse, your loved one is killed in Iraq and you've got to deal with Fred Phelps." Kentucky, home to sprawling Fort Campbell along the Tennessee line, was among the first states to attempt to deal with Phelps legislatively. Its House and Senate have each passed bills that would limit people from protesting within 300 feet of a funeral or memorial service. The Senate version would also keep protesters from being within earshot of grieving friends and family members. Richard Wilbur, a retired police detective, said his Indiana Patriot Guard group only comes to funerals if invited by family. He said he has no problem with protests against the war but sees no place for objectors at a family's final goodbye to a soldier. "No one deserves this," he said. Link Edited February 21, 2006 by Skrappy1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
T_bone65 Posted February 21, 2006 Share Posted February 21, 2006 already posted here linky Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Skrappy1 Posted February 21, 2006 Author Share Posted February 21, 2006 (edited) Sorry, I looked but didn't see it posted already. Thanks for the link. Big John, can you delete this then? Thanks. Edited February 21, 2006 by Skrappy1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
T_bone65 Posted February 21, 2006 Share Posted February 21, 2006 No problem Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Duchess Jack Posted February 21, 2006 Share Posted February 21, 2006 These people need to be thrown into a prison - and the inmates need to be given an unlimited supply of viagra Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Skrappy1 Posted February 21, 2006 Author Share Posted February 21, 2006 These people need to be thrown into a prison - and the inmates need to be given an unlimited supply of viagra 1334763[/snapback] Seriously. How do you pick someone's funeral to protest your beliefs? Particularly when the people's funerals that you are protesting really have nothing to do with your distorted viewpoints? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Czarina Posted February 21, 2006 Share Posted February 21, 2006 Phelps' gang has been up to Massachusetts. Disgusting. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
H8tank Posted February 21, 2006 Share Posted February 21, 2006 Phelps is a big time DEMOCRAT contributor, and has held fundraisers for clinton and gore, I beleive gore has even been in attendance. Amazing that part never gets reported... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Duchess Jack Posted February 21, 2006 Share Posted February 21, 2006 Phelps is a big time DEMOCRAT contributor, and has held fundraisers for clinton and gore, I beleive gore has even been in attendance. Amazing that part never gets reported... 1335013[/snapback] eh... not that this means anything... but you have a link for this? The fact that democrats are a little more gay friendly than the homophobe right makes me question this.. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Yukon Cornelius Posted February 21, 2006 Share Posted February 21, 2006 Phelps is a big time DEMOCRAT contributor, and has held fundraisers for clinton and gore, I beleive gore has even been in attendance. Amazing that part never gets reported... 1335013[/snapback] Wrong he's a member of the 700 club and a personal friend of trent lott Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Randall Posted February 21, 2006 Share Posted February 21, 2006 (edited) "Phelps believes American deaths in Iraq are divine punishment for a country that he says harbors homosexuals. His protesters carry signs thanking God for so-called IEDs -- explosives that are a major killer of soldiers in Iraq." H8tank keeps saying these are democrats? Typical. Phelps' son Fred Jr. was an ally of Gore during the 80's. H8tank has the father and son confued. Edited February 21, 2006 by Randall Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Duchess Jack Posted February 21, 2006 Share Posted February 21, 2006 Wrong he's a member of the 700 club and a personal friend of trent lott 1335051[/snapback] well then. I stand by idea of teaching 700 club members to be suicide bombers in the middle east.... and when they go to heaven - they will be rewarded by 42 neighbors each representing a character played by Michael Landon (Bonanza, Little House, Highway to Heaven, etc) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
H8tank Posted February 21, 2006 Share Posted February 21, 2006 (edited) H8tank keeps saying these are democrats? Typical. We go over this schit at least once a year, how do all you people forget? Oh thats right, typical democrats. Phelps remained prominent in state and local politics, working for years as a major organizer for the state's Democratic Party. (He still calls himself a Democrat, refusing to change just because his party has.) In 1988, Phelps housed campaign workers for Al Gore's first presidential run; in 1989, his eldest son, Fred Jr., hosted a fundraiser for Gore's Senate campaign at his home. Phelps has frequently run for public office -- for governor in 1990, '94, and '98, for the Senate in '92 -- always losing the primaries by a landslide. Because of their years as loyal Democrats, the Phelpses have even been invited to -- and attended -- both of Clinton's inaugurations. http://www.motherjones.com/news/feature/19...3/lauerman.html Lulu you giant diksukin F^GG0T, I expect an apology you dispicable peice of schit humanoid. Edited February 21, 2006 by H8tank Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ursa Majoris Posted February 21, 2006 Share Posted February 21, 2006 We go over this schit at least once a year, how do all you people forget? Oh thats right, typical democrats.http://www.motherjones.com/news/feature/19...3/lauerman.html Lulu you giant diksukin F^GG0T, I expect an apology you dispicable peice of schit humanoid. 1335265[/snapback] This takes up where your quote leaves off: They protested at the second one. But Phelps' campaign against homosexuality actually began in earnest just before the 1992 campaign, when politicians, especially Democrats, began to openly court gay voters. In other words, he's no more a Democrat than you are. Equally, he's no more a Republican than I am. What he is is a complete nutjob who will hopefully piss off the wrong grieving person very, very soon. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Skrappy1 Posted February 21, 2006 Author Share Posted February 21, 2006 What he is is a complete nutjob who will hopefully piss off the wrong grieving person very, very soon. 1335303[/snapback] Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
H8tank Posted February 21, 2006 Share Posted February 21, 2006 In other words, he's no more a Democrat than you are. Yeah, get that schit thrown back in your face and this is what you got? This is ABOUT HIM PROTESTING WAR DEAD. I don't think this is about gay people. Why are you wanting to change the subject? He aligns right up with typical DEMOCRATS from coast to coast, remember the sign... "We support our Soldiers when they Shoot their Officers?" That wasn't a Republican holding it. I swear Fatbear, you're as stupid as lulu. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
borge007 Posted February 21, 2006 Share Posted February 21, 2006 What he is is a complete nutjob who will hopefully piss off the wrong person very, very soon. 1335303[/snapback] Are we talking about H8? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ursa Majoris Posted February 22, 2006 Share Posted February 22, 2006 Yeah, get that schit thrown back in your face and this is what you got? This is ABOUT HIM PROTESTING WAR DEAD. I don't think this is about gay people. Why are you wanting to change the subject? He aligns right up with typical DEMOCRATS from coast to coast, remember the sign... "We support our Soldiers when they Shoot their Officers?" That wasn't a Republican holding it. I swear Fatbear, you're as stupid as lulu. 1335401[/snapback] Y'know, every tax dollar spent on your education was a complete waste. You have less brains than a dildo. He isn't protesting war dead, you f'n tool, he's celebrating war dead as part of his lunatic hatred of gays. Don't you read anything you post? I swear you're only dimly aware you're even alive. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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