Posted on 06/27/2005 4:22:37 PM PDT by raybbr
A Green Beret killed in Afghanistan will be laid to rest in his native Marblehead today as police brace for the anticipated arrival of a Kansas hate group.
``We're in Massachusetts now and we will be in Marblehead,'' said Margie Phelps of the Kansas-based Westboro Baptist Church.
The WBC has blamed the 9/11 attacks and deaths of American soldiers in Iraq and Afghanistan on America's tolerance of homosexuals. The group, which recently demonstrated outside local Catholic churches and public schools it deemed tolerant of homosexuality, has threatened to show up at services today for Army Staff Sgt. Christopher Piper, who was killed by a roadside bomb in Afghanistan this month.
The group's literature proclaims ``Thank God for IEDs (roadside bombs)'' and states that Piper and other slain soldiers were ``cast into Hell to join other dishonorable Americans.'' Officials in Marblehead and Chicopee, home of slain Marine Capt. John Maloney, have denounced the group's plans to demonstrate at the fallen heroes' funerals. Both men's families have said freedom of speech is something they died trying to protect. Maloney was killed by an IED in Iraq this month.
(Excerpt) Read more at news.bostonherald.com ...
I looked the church up on the internet, and their website address is so inflammatory I can't even repeat it here.
These people can't be for real.
After giving this a little more thought, I've refined the idea a bit. Gather a group from the American Legion, VFW, maybe Boy Scouts. Have them walk in, single or double file depending on the number of volunteers, in step.
When they're positioned between the howling mob and the soldier's family, they stop. Right- (or left-) face, toward the family and turning their backs on the protesters. All with a minumum of noise and fuss -- If you've ever seen a military honor guard in action, they coordinate their movements with commands barely above a whisper. An amateur corps obviously won't have the level of skill of the pros, but it could take the same approach.
They then go to parade rest, remove their hats and lower their heads. And remain in that posture for the rest of the service. When the service is over, when Taps has been played and the family has departed, they return to attention and file out as silently as they came. If that doesn't show Phelps up, nothing will. Meet red-faced hatred with compassion and quiet dignity. Let the world see them in their wretchedness, and maybe some of them will begin to see it themselves.
Americans?????
NO WAY!!!!!
I can't imagine why anyone would think these individuals speak for "us," whoever you mean by "us." But if you think that point needs to be clarified, then by all means go right ahead.
ReignOfError
Stop them? No. Free speech isn't always pretty. Shame them? No.
That would depend on the location of the funeral. If the funeral is held at a funeral home located at the cemetery, the funeral home could bar them from the premises. Most cemeteries after all are private property. If they insist on acting up, they could be arrested for trespassing.
You just arrive on this planet?
It's a slow time in the news. The MSM could latch on this crap any time. IIRC, CBS may have already done Fred once before; so they have file footage and get the drums beating quickly. July 4th seems perfect for some bright kid / intern to offer this as a story.
Just heard in a chat room this group will be doing the same thing tomorrow (8/28/05) in Martinsville, IN at a soldier's funeral. Don't know how reliable the info is, but the townspeople are said to be angry over it - and "prepared" whatever that means...
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