Wow...that's really all I can say about these people. What kind of followers of Christ would ever consider this a viable means of protest, and furthermore, a viable message to send is totally and completely beyond me. And I think these Patriot Guard Riders are studs and a half! Tremendous respect for them, just from reading the article.
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.
Everyone's entitled to their opinion...unfortunately.
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.
Several months ago my family came in town and we took a day to visit DC. Unfortunately we picked the day of a huge, city-wide, war protest. Not that I have anything against people protesting...it's their constitutional right. I was just sad that when I took my family to see the beauty of DC and it's history, it was filled with picket signs and people yelling and exuding negativity. But...so it goes. But while we were there, some people tried to take signs up into the Lincoln memorial and were stopped saying that it was against the law to protest on "memorial ground." Basically they couldn't bring their signs up on the marble of the memorial. And of course they complained about their rights being suppressed. And I wondered for a minute about the right to protest and whether they should have the right to protest where ever they wanted. And I ultimately decided that I agreed with the legislation prohibiting it. It's a small piece of real-estate in a big city. Go protest somewhere else out of respect for the thing being honored. But if I wasn't convinced then...I am convinced now. However they shouldn't have to make a law for it. Human decency should compel you not to celebrate someone's death at their funeral (and I'm not talking about a good celebration).
"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."
mmm...can't argue with that impenetrable logic!
The church, Westboro Baptist Church, is not affiliated with a larger denomination and is made up mostly of Fred Phelps' extended family members.
Some people just shouldn't be allowed to breed. I am of course joking. But seriously...some people shouldn't.
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.
Agreed.
These are some quotes from Fred Phelps' wikipedia page.
Phelps considered the local church to be more than a place of fellowship--for him, membership in the local congregation directly corresponded to membership in the Body of Christ. Phelps may have conceded the point to be ordained, but, for forty years, his family and church members in Topeka have been controlled by his threat that, if they depart his congregation, they must carry a letter of permission from him. In addition, they must join a congregation that he approves. Otherwise...the pastor Phelps draws up the dreaded missive ordering the straying sheep to be "delivered to Satan for the destruction of the flesh."
Nutso!
And just when you thought it couldn't get any worse...
as a means of encouraging the wives and children to "submit to the father's authority in the home," Phelps began encouraging his congregants to beat them if necessary; he was once forced to bail one of his parishioners out of jail after counseling the man to punch his wife in the face until she became "subjugated." Parishioners of Eastside recall one of Phelps' sermons in particular (which ironically references his high-school boxing talent):A good left hook makes for a right fine wife. Brethren, they can lock us up, but we'll still do what the Bible tells us to do. Either our wives are going to obey, or we're going to beat them!
And off the handle and into the deep end we go.
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