skinfan133 Posted April 7, 2006 Share Posted April 7, 2006 http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/04/06/AR2006040601154.html WALTER REED DEMONSTRATION 'God Blew Up the Troops' Kan. Church Group Says Homosexuality to Blame for Deaths By Paul Duggan Washington Post Staff Writer Friday, April 7, 2006; Page B04 Micaiah Phelps-Davis stood across Georgia Avenue NW from the main gate of Walter Reed Army Medical Center, one of a dozen protesters. Squinting in yesterday's late-afternoon sun, he gazed at the hospital and said of the wounded U.S. soldiers inside: "I hope they go to hell. Yup, God's going to kill them all." Micaiah is 14. "I'm with my mom," he said, gesturing at a cluster of pickets. "Right there," he said, pointing to a woman holding two signs, one of them reading "GOD BLEW UP THE TROOPS." Micaiah said, "That's my mom." An eighth-grader, Micaiah was the youngest of the demonstrators who came to Washington yesterday from a small, independent Kansas church, Westboro Baptist, whose believers have stirred anger across the nation in recent months, picketing at funerals for troops killed in Iraq and Afghanistan. They show up on TV newscasts from time to time with placards bearing virulent anti-gay slogans. They think God is punishing the United States, killing and maiming soldiers, because the country tolerates homosexuality. As a result of the picketing, several state legislatures have passed bills restricting protests at funerals or tightening existing limits, and lawmakers in more than a dozen other states are considering such measures. The Westboro protesters, led by their 76-year-old pastor, Fred Phelps, came to picket on Capitol Hill against a proposed federal law limiting funeral protests. Then they marched to Walter Reed. "I'm very proud of him," Rebekah Phelps-Davis, 45, said of her son Micaiah. She is Fred Phelps's daughter. "What he has done, early in life, is chosen to follow the word of God. . . . He has listened all the years of his life to the word of God, and he has learned." She said he has learned, among other things, this: "Every soldier in that building has been maimed by the Lord -- a direct judgment upon this nation for its perversions and its rejection of His word." Across the street, in front of the hospital gate, stood 20 or so counterprotesters, members of the Washington chapter of a group that goes by the name of its Web site, FreeRepublic.com. They are dedicated to conservative political principles. Their placards read "GOD BLESS OUR SOLDIERS" and "THANK YOU WALTER REED FOR HELPING OUR HEROES HEAL." They heard the Westboro protesters shouting "God hates America" and answered with a chant of: "U-S-A! . . . U-S-A!" "All the stuff they're talking about, homosexuality and everything, it's really not an issue with me," said Jim Melville, 64, a Free Republic member. "It's that they're carrying their message against these guys in that hospital. They can believe whatever they want. It's a free country. I just don't like it happening here, in front of these troops." Another member, Buford Demming, 48, said: "You cannot get any lower than this. Lowest of the low. Even some of the liberal groups, the antiwar crowd, I don't think it would even occur to them to protest at a funeral or someplace like this." Phelps and his followers have shown up with their placards at soldiers' funerals in Maryland, Nebraska, Michigan, Minnesota, Iowa, Colorado, Indiana, Kentucky and elsewhere. Yesterday, he said: "They are not heroes. They chose to fight for a sodomite nation. . . . God almighty has killed these soldiers to inflict pain upon an evil nation, a severe stroke of divine judgment, retribution and vengeance." Phelps, 6-foot-3 and frail, wore dark sunglasses and a University of Kansas Jayhawks windbreaker. "I am delivering a message from God almighty to this evil nation, and at your peril do you ignore it," he said. Three counterprotesters sat nearby on Harley-Davidson motorcycles, revving their engines to deafening effect, drowning out the chants of Phelps's flock. The pastor quoted from Bible verses, then stood for a while, holding a placard. It read "THANK GOD FOR DEAD SOLDIERS." On his Harley, Ben Stagg, 47, turned off the engine and looked at one of Phelps's followers, a young woman whose placard read "AMERICA IS DOOMED." "The Bible says Jesus loves me," Staggs told her, shaking his head. "The sad thing is, it says he loves you, too." a big:doh: to these guys, when does their madness stop? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rincewind Posted April 7, 2006 Share Posted April 7, 2006 Micaiah Phelps-Davis stood across Georgia Avenue NW from the main gate of Walter Reed Army Medical Center, one of a dozen protesters. Squinting in yesterday's late-afternoon sun, he gazed at the hospital and said of the wounded U.S. soldiers inside: "I hope they go to hell. Yup, God's going to kill them all."Micaiah is 14. "I'm with my mom," he said, gesturing at a cluster of pickets. "Right there," he said, pointing to a woman holding two signs, one of them reading "GOD BLEW UP THE TROOPS." Micaiah said, "That's my mom." Great, they're brain washing a new generation of hate-mongers. Why hasn't somebody put these idiots in their place yet? :mad: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
skinfan133 Posted April 7, 2006 Author Share Posted April 7, 2006 Great, they're brain washing a new generation of hate-mongers. Why hasn't somebody put these idiots in their place yet? :mad: exactly what i was thinking, and what the guy on the motorcycle said is the best thing in the whole article"the bible says Jesus loves me, unfortunately he loves you too." Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fight_on_til_you_have_won Posted April 7, 2006 Share Posted April 7, 2006 Picketing at soldiers' funerals? That is absolutely despicable. And I'll tell you one thing -- if a loved one of mine was killed and those mother****ers showed up at the funeral, I'd end up in jail. Possibly for a long time. :redpunch: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rincewind Posted April 7, 2006 Share Posted April 7, 2006 exactly what i was thinking, and what the guy on the motorcycle said is the best thing in the whole article"the bible says Jesus loves me, unfortunately he loves you too." That's actually kind of funny, reminds me of that bumper sticker - "Jesus loves you, everybody else thinks you're an *******." :laugh: Describes these people perfect (though maybe even Jesus dislikes these jerks). Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Burgold Posted April 7, 2006 Share Posted April 7, 2006 I agree with all of you. This is intolerable. Regardless of how you feel about the war these guys volunteered to serve and protect us, all of us. They deserve to be respected and honored. To top off their stupidity by teaching hate to their kids is even worse. They should be ashamed of themselves. I have volunteered and helped the wounded in these hospitals because I believe in them, even if I question the war. It may be our right and duty to protest, but they are protesting the wrong thing in the wrong place. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
skinfan133 Posted April 7, 2006 Author Share Posted April 7, 2006 Describes these people perfect (though maybe even Jesus dislikes these jerks). i may be a sinner when i say i really despise these people, especially becuase they are suposedly christians who proclaim to know the will of God as fact (especially when their position is contrary to christianity itself.)but Jesus does love every person, he just doesnt like their sin;) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CandaceM23 Posted April 7, 2006 Share Posted April 7, 2006 This is ridiculous ... Because of the Cynthia McKinney crap and this whole "godhatesfags" garbage ... I'm in a really bad mood now. I think that they should put the people who do this into a small room with Cynthia McKinney and allow me to have a small arsenal ... so that I could just pop these ignorant people off one by one and make our world a better place. And yes ... I'm angry ... and before anyone gets all huffy and puffy about me wanting to rid the world of ignorant people ... I know that two wrongs dont make a right and all of that other crap. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
webnarc Posted April 7, 2006 Share Posted April 7, 2006 Picketing at soldiers' funerals? That is absolutely despicable. And I'll tell you one thing -- if a loved one of mine was killed and those mother****ers showed up at the funeral, I'd end up in jail. Possibly for a long time. :redpunch: No you wouldn't - you know what these people is doing is f-ed up and I doubt you'd do your loved one the injustice of getting into a fight at their funeral. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
skinfan133 Posted April 7, 2006 Author Share Posted April 7, 2006 I agree with all of you. This is intolerable. Regardless of how you feel about the war these guys volunteered to serve and protect us, all of us. They deserve to be respected and honored. To top off their stupidity by teaching hate to their kids is even worse. They should be ashamed of themselves. I have volunteered and helped the wounded in these hospitals because I believe in them, even if I question the war. It may be our right and duty to protest, but they are protesting the wrong thing in the wrong place. and coming from a miltary background i must apluade you, you are the kind of persn that makes america great: you have an opinion and are still able to be a great person as well.:applause: and trust me, people in the armed forces love guys like you. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Major Harris Posted April 7, 2006 Share Posted April 7, 2006 I know that two wrongs dont make a right and all of that other crap. that is, at times, debateable. these people have reached a new low in my book.....8th grade? :doh: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Burgold Posted April 7, 2006 Share Posted April 7, 2006 and coming from a miltary background i must apluade you, you are the kind of persn that makes america great: you have an opinion and are still able to be a great person as well.:applause: and trust me, people in the armed forces love guys like you. Hey, to me volunteering is a huge thing. These guys, many of the young men and women I've delivered supplies to or helped to arrange flights for their families signed up knowing that they were going to wind up in conflict. They signed up as a result of 9/11, not for a free scholarship ride. Signing up because you feel a duty to your country can't be anything but admired. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PleaseBlitz Posted April 7, 2006 Share Posted April 7, 2006 These people make me so ****ing angry. Anyone know if they are still there? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PleaseBlitz Posted April 7, 2006 Share Posted April 7, 2006 No you wouldn't - you know what these people is doing is f-ed up and I doubt you'd do your loved one the injustice of getting into a fight at their funeral. I would wait until the funeral was over. Then it would be on. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fight_on_til_you_have_won Posted April 7, 2006 Share Posted April 7, 2006 No you wouldn't - you know what these people is doing is f-ed up and I doubt you'd do your loved one the injustice of getting into a fight at their funeral. Don't tell me what I would or wouldn't do. You don't know a damn thing about me. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rincewind Posted April 7, 2006 Share Posted April 7, 2006 No you wouldn't - you know what these people is doing is f-ed up and I doubt you'd do your loved one the injustice of getting into a fight at their funeral. Don't tell me what I would or wouldn't do. You don't know a damn thing about me. Hey guys, let try to keep this under control. We all know who the real ***holes are here. Lets not let them turn us on each other. :2cents: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fight_on_til_you_have_won Posted April 7, 2006 Share Posted April 7, 2006 Hey guys, let try to keep this under control. We all know who the real ***holes are here. Lets not let them turn us on each other. :2cents: Don't worry, buddy, I'm cool. Tone and inflection don't really come across on screen, I guess. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
webnarc Posted April 7, 2006 Share Posted April 7, 2006 I would wait until the funeral was over. Then it would be on. Bingo! There is a particular hatrid towards people who protest at funerals from war supporters and war opposers. I don't agree with the war, but I disagree with any piece of crap who brings hatrid to a funeral. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
webnarc Posted April 7, 2006 Share Posted April 7, 2006 Don't tell me what I would or wouldn't do. You don't know a damn thing about me. What kind of tone and inflection are we to take out of this little gem? Okay, maybe you would be the guy who gets arrested at a loved ones funeral because your hate of one group superceds your love of the dead individual. So I take back - you know what these people is doing is f-ed up and I doubt you'd do your loved one the injustice of getting into a fight at their funeral. Sorry for assuming you were speaking tounge and cheek and implying you are capable of rational behaviour. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fight_on_til_you_have_won Posted April 7, 2006 Share Posted April 7, 2006 What kind of tone and inflection are we to take out of this little gem?Okay, maybe you would be the guy who gets arrested at a loved ones funeral because your hate of one group superceds your love of the dead individual. Sorry for assuming you were speaking tounge and cheek and implying you are capable of rational behaviour. Why are you still talking? You're arguing with me over how I would react to a hypothetical situation. God damn..... :doh: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
oriolesfan93p Posted April 7, 2006 Share Posted April 7, 2006 The problem with your argument of someone being capable of rational behavior would be that if you are espicially close to the person who died, then the whole "rational behavior" thing becomes 10 times harder. I know that I am that close with my brother, he has a wife and 2 kids, and fact is I don't know if I would be able to control myself if something were to happen to him and these @#$(*er's showed up at his funeral. I know that I would at least have the control to ask them to leave, I just don't know if I would be able to control myself from forcing them to leave. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Predicto Posted April 7, 2006 Share Posted April 7, 2006 As I said before, these guys should have stuck to tormenting the grieving families of dead gay guys like Matthew Shephard. No one cared about that. Our soldiers, however, well their famalies deserve to grieve in peace. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rincewind Posted April 7, 2006 Share Posted April 7, 2006 As I said before, these guys should have stuck to tormenting the grieving families of dead gay guys like Matthew Shephard. No one cared about that. Our soldiers, however, well their famalies deserve to grieve in peace. And Matthew Shephard's family didn't? I know that's not what you mean, but sure sounds like what you're implying. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fight_on_til_you_have_won Posted April 7, 2006 Share Posted April 7, 2006 As I said before, these guys should have stuck to tormenting the grieving families of dead gay guys like Matthew Shephard. No one cared about that. Our soldiers, however, well their famalies deserve to grieve in peace. Wait, what? Please correct me if I'm wrong -- but are you actually suggesting that Matthew Shepard's family deserves to be heckled because the man was chained to a fence, beaten to death and then left to die? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Predicto Posted April 7, 2006 Share Posted April 7, 2006 OMG. The internet is a dangerous toy. Irony does not come through in type very well. I am saying it is sad that this horrible behavior only became an issue when military funerals were targeted. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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