Posted on 08/28/2005 12:21:28 AM PDT by Big Guy and Rusty 99
SMYRNA, Tenn. (AP) - 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."
Do these dumbasses realize that Arab countries have a much higher percentage of homosexuals than the US? Every other raghead that we deal with over here is a queer.
This Phelps person and his group of wingnuts aren't Christians. MSM continues to call them Church people
in hopes of creating an anti- Christian backlash I guess.
Good. I hope they kick his arse good, make it hard for him and his members to feed themselves for a while.
Just put the sign where Freddie is sure to see it but can't tear it down. It will drive him nuts, and cause his green toothed congregation to look at him funny.
As someone once said, the only difference between genius and stupidity is that genius has its limits.
They also have a website.
http://www.godhatesfags.com/main/index.html
They have been around a for several years. I always wondered how a Christian could reconcile such vile hate with the love of God. This is their ministry, they go all around the country doing this sort of thing.
http://www.godhatesamerica.com
Just to clarify, since some aren't familiar with Phelp's clan. Their protests are not due to the dead soldier's sexuality. Their angle is that everything bad happens because we allow homosexuals to exist: our soldiers die because America has homosexuals, 9/11 happened because America has homosexuals, etc. It's all God's punishment for homosexuals in America.
""Members of a church say God is punishing American soldiers for defending a country that harbors gays""
harbors gays???
you mean gays are wanted somewhere and the US is giving them santuary?
MORONS
I have to wonder if this guy is in fact, working for NAMBLA or GLAD.
We had a couple of these nutballs show up at a local high-school and here is what it does.
1) Gets the anti-Christian rhetoric in the area at a peak
2) Gets the pro-homosexual-sympathy at a peak
3) Embarrasses people of faith because this guy claims to be working from the Bible
4) Creates an anti-conservative backlash because conservatives oppose creating special rights for homosexuals
Usually, it takes about a month of letters to the local paper from people explaining that Christianity recognizes that we are all sinners and that we should love each other.
why don't they just come up with:
www.godhateseveryone.com
why don't they just come up with:
www.godhateseveryone.com
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.