VIOLATED FUNERALS OF FALLEN SOLDIERS

Fred Phelps and his small group have been in the news garnering disrepute as they cross America and stage vulgar demonstrations at funerals of American soldiers killed in the Iraq war.

Phelps’ zealots hold up offensive and profane placards protesting the war in Iraq, abortion, homosexuality and even the Catholic Church.

As mourners arrive at the funerals of their loved one, they are faced with scripture quotes, vulgar slurs and offensive signs stating that the death of their loved one is God’s wrath on America because of our sins.

Some of their offensive signs read “Thank God for Dead Soldiers”, “The Pope is in Hell”, “God Hates America”, “God Hates You” ”You Are Going to Hell” and “God is America’s terror”. They have other props and descriptive devices depicting obscene homosexual acts

To the tune of “God Bless America” these protestors sing out “God hates America”. Some of their chants even thank God for booby traps and dead soldiers as they deliberately desecrate and walk on American flags.

Anything that would cause these mourning families any more grief than they already have is wrong. Decent people are both angry at the presence of these dreadful morons while they are saddened for the deceased soldiers’ families. To garner attention for themselves by refusing America’s fallen heroes a respectable and quiet funeral is revolting and outrageous.

America has seen before how misfit zealots have selected themselves as the self-righteous militia of God. Many times they have tended to redefine the laws of God to match their actions. Such people actually betray the cause they claim to champion. Phelps claims the deaths of servicemen are part of God’s wrath on America because of our sin, especially the sin of homosexuality and abortion.

Responsible and decent Americans who are against the war still respect the soldiers who fight and sacrifice for us. They have compassion for the families of our fallen soldiers and don’t desecrate the funerals of our countries’ fallen heroes. Decent Americans also respect and appreciate the sacrifices of the families of these soldiers. Because of these dedicated soldiers, we don’t have to put our families or ourselves in harms way, but our soldiers do, and sometimes they and their families pay the ultimate cost.

Phelps’ zealots proclaim at their funeral protests that God hates America. This is ridiculous. To suggest that the wrath of God is on America is lunacy. What is their justification? What do they think they will accomplish?

Yes, America has moral issues that it is dealing with, and God must surely be saddened on how we are letting our culture and values slip, but, no, God hasn’t cursed America. When viewing America from a big-picture perspective relative to the rest of the world, how can any thinking person come to such an assumption? It is just the opposite. What other nation would these people trade for ours?

There is no other country on the face of the globe and in the history of mankind that has ever been so blessed. Decent hard-pressed people from other nations are illegally jumping our borders daily, if not hourly, just to get in to take our menial jobs. America is involved in a cultural war that is changing the fabric of our nation; certainly everyone is aware of that. Moral issues that not long ago in America would have been unthinkable are now reality. Just consider that only a few decades ago abortion, homosexual rights, pornography and attacks on organized religion would never have been considered as commonplace as they are today. Now abortion is the law of the land, those who practice homosexuality are fighting for the right to be married, pornography is poring into all of our homes through cable and satellite, and Christian values are discounted and ridiculed.

Yes, some of the issues that Phelps raises are issues that America struggles with. The problem arises with this group because of their self-righteous methods, lack of compassion, and hate speech, which sets them apart from responsible voices.

Rather then show contempt for America and our fallen soldiers, Phelps and his self-delusional extremists should be on their knees thanking God for this nation, its many blessings and the soldiers brave enough to protect us. There are correct ways to fight for your beliefs, and there are also incorrect ways. These zealots are neither choosing the right time or the right place. It is mean, and it is an un-American travesty for anyone to protest in such a tasteless way. No one attending a loved one’s funeral should ever have to be exposed to a three-ring circus.

These people are hiding behind the very American flag that they stomp on. They protest at the funeral of the very soldiers who gave them the right to protest, but they just don’t get it. To desecrate the funeral of a fallen American hero, who just died to give them the right to protest, is lunacy.

May God bless our fallen soldiers who have paid the ultimate cost! May God comfort and bless their families that are faced with such a horrific loss! May God continue to bless our families and our culture! May God continue to grace our land so it may remain the land of the free!

Two streams of opinion exist about the Phelps crowd.

They are zealots who really believe what they say or they are leftist,athiest,humanists putting on a show to discredit authentic Christianity.

I've never met these people so it's hard for me to say. I'd love to meet them when they're "off the clock" (not protesting) and get a feel for what makes them tick.

For now all I can think of is "Good morning, Mr. Phelps.
I hope you church self-destructs in five seconds...Good bye."

First of all, they're not a church.

Second of all, Fred Phelps is a big supporter of Al Gore.

Nothing else needs to be said.

Wisconsin recently strengthened their laws (in record time; like overnight with NO objections from either party) to keep these creeps away from our military funerals.

So far, they haven't been back. :)

Every time I hear some yahoo has set fire to a church, I think, "Maybe this time it's Phelp's church in Kansas."

I'm in Indiana, Pa. A local soldier, Spc. Randy McCaulley, 44 from Marion Center, Pa. was killed last week in Iraq. I heard today that Phelps group is going to be here. I feel sick thinking about them coming here. I also heard the Patriot Guard Riders (?) will be here to support the family. So far, I haven't heard this information myself. Someone in my office heard it on the radio.

What do nutcases like Phelps get out of these sick displays? I don't understand!

Prayers for the family of this brave soldier. He is survived by his parents and two sons.

Thank you sneakers.
How can we ever repay the family's of these fallen heros? I think Westfall hit the nail on the head with his paper on Phelps.I see that some of the military magazines are publishing his piece.I guess that they understand better then most.
It seems that decency has flown out the window in America. Even when good people do moral writing to sound an alarm there is always someone calling them names.
I posted Westfall's latest letter on free republic this morning and he was attacked, Isn't it interesting?
Check it out. It was tagged LUCIFER STRIKES AGAIN!
Let us all pray for the family of Spc. randy McCaulley.

Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.