Author Topic: These people are out of line (Read 949 times)

Gun Runner · « **on:** August 28, 2005, 05:14:34 AM »

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."

Gun Runner

big medicine · « **Reply #1 on:** August 28, 2005, 07:23:01 AM »

Stupid is as stupid does.

longwalker · « **Reply #2 on:** August 29, 2005, 02:57:07 PM »

I wonder who they would call if they needed help? Because the same country that they say supports gays supports the fire department and police department. And lets their church collect money and not tax it.

I say maybe they should move to a more conservative country like Iran. I bet they would be welcome there.

It would be nice to have the name and address of these people. If their neighbors knew what they were doing they would have sorely disappointed, and might want to enlighten them as to the ways of the vengfull world.

It's to bad they live in the civilized state of Tennessee. They might not have such a nice reception here in South Dakota.

longwalker

riverjackal · « **Reply #3 on:** August 31, 2005, 02:51:51 AM »

Longwalker, this is for your information, they were not from Tenn.

http://www.godhatesfags.com/main/index.html

dukkillr · « **Reply #4 on:** August 31, 2005, 05:58:18 AM »

They protest here in Lawrence weekly. The saddest part is they always have several little kids with them. Teaching your kids to hate like that, in the name of god no less, amouts to child abuse in my opinion.

ironglow · « **Reply #5 on:** August 31, 2005, 01:28:46 PM »

These people seem nearly as full of hate for homosexuals as the far left is full of hate for pres. Bush..
As an evangelical Christian, I am ready to say(judging by the "God hates fags" paper) that they are way off base and should not presume to tell God who he is to hate.
It is my understanding that we are to hate the SIN but not to hate the SINNER...which is the example God himself gives us...
He does hate that sin but as with any other sin , repentance is followed by forgiveness and salvation can be obtained.

I really suspect ANYONE that is so filled with unreasonable hate. Often they are hiding something about their own nature or tendancies.

Some of the worst persecutors of Jews among the Nazis were suspected of being part Jewish..

Some of the politicians that screamed loudest about wrongdoing were doing wrong themselves..." I didn't have sex with...."."

Some folks on the 9/11 commission hearings that were complaining about the FBI not informing the CIA...were the very ones that put up a WALL to keep them from communicating..

Irrational hatred is often somewhat akin to the old tomcat that scratches up dirt in his neighbor's yard...trying to cover his own s__t !