Fred Phelps. Outrage.

Earlier this month, 10 US marines were killed in Fallujah.

One of them was from my small town of 4,000 people. And not just from my town. He lived on my street. He was one of my neighbors

His family has been through a lot. Some years ago, his sister died in a farm accident. More recently, his father passed away. And now him. His mother and brother have been through more than any family should have to endure.

And now, that asshole the Rev. Fred Phelps (the Matthew Shepherd protestor) is said to be protesting at the marine's funeral today. Why? I don't know. I don't understand it.

I'm angry beyond my ability to express it. How dare he. How can he be allowed to inflict more pain on a family that has already been hurt so much? Why is this monstrous prick still allowed to walk around and breathe air?

I'm angry at G-d for letting him live. I'm angry at myself for not being able to do anything about it.

I don't know why I'm posting this. It just had to be said.

<sigh>

Sorry for your pain. You just have to learn to live with the fact that just because a man calls himself a 'man of god' in whatever form, does not mean he's not a worthless ass. Some people are just good examples of a poor human being.

Fred Phelps is a pathetic excuse for a living organism and his family did not "fall far from the tree". His often wildly apocryphal interpretations ( and when convenient for him, strictly literal interpretations ) are an embarrassment to any sane believer and a wellspring of disgusted wonderment for all.

In short, he's not worth your time. Organise a Phelps-a-thon, where the longer he and his progeny protest, the more money is given to a gay charity.

Lorilei i am sorry and saddened at your pain. I feel sure some of my friends and associates from patriotguard.org will be there to shield the family from this asshole's agenda. Check out this thread I posted a while back and go to the website and join up to give your anger an outlet as well as honoring our fallen patriots. /112/5e/73321/1.html

I am sorry too. But please, please remember that he DOES NOT represent conservative Christians in America. He's the fringe, kind of like Timothy McVeigh.

Trust me, Aaron, I know. He's barely human, much less Christian.

Lecktor, thanks for letting me know about that group. It sounds like they do good work.

I need to walk away from this for a bit or I'll be crying at my desk at work. Or screaming.

Conservative Christians agree with most of what he says, in spirit. I don't see you complaining about him protesting at the funeral of Matthew Shepard.

Most people that call themselves Christians are not christians at all, but evil people using religion to further themselves.

I JUST DID. 99.9999999% of what he does is wrong. He is an idiot and doesn't even come CLOSE to showing the kind of love we're supposed to, to all types of people.

Lorelei,
Patriot Guard has just recently published our first newsletter. You can find it here.
http://pokefans.com/PGR/pgrpage.pdf

Don't paint with such a broad brush. Most everyone I know, Christians or non-, detest this man and what he stands for, and others like him whose mouths, which the Bible says are to be used to bless others, spew curses.

This guy is a prime example of the whitewashed tomb filled with corruption that Jesus spoke of.

P2

Lorelei - I don't know what to say, but I'd hug you if I could and I'd stand with others if I were in your area to block out that horrible piece of inhuman shit known as Fred Phelps.

As Leck pointed out, there are people forming all over the country in their perspective areas to gather at funerals and quietly block his malicious shouting so that he is rendered the same impotent squeaking roach on the outside that he already is in his heart.

All you can do is offer the family your friendship and support. It's all any of us can do.

*shakes her head*

I posted in the previous thread (linked already by L. Hannibal), and I've been aware of Phelps and his travelling menagerie for some time.... first of all, Mr. Hannibal, thank you (and your friends) for doing what you can for the families of the fallen servicemen. I don't support the war in Iraq, but I respect our troops, and what Phelps and his klan are doing is reprehensible enough that the English language doesn't have the words I need to properly express the depths of my contempt for him.

It's a free country. As long as they are staying within the law, they are free to express themselves. In a backhanded way, though, I'm glad that they're targeting the funerals of servicemen now... because the moment they step over the line the law delineates, I fully expect them to be stomped flat. There are many jurisdictions that would turn a blind eye to a minor infraction, involving protest against homosexuals... but with our nation's current political climate, Phelps is tying a noose around his neck. I hate that he's targeting anyone... please don't mistake what I'm saying as actual pleasure that these funerals are being protested... I'm just happy that these worthless creatures are making themselves open to attack from much better-armed enemies.

Good grief, I looked at the newsletter and saw the placards that those 'protesters' were carrying. How can they hold those up with smiles on their faces? They're disgusting. How the riders restrain themselves I don't know.

We absolutely have to Garnet. That is their angle, almost the entire group are litigous lawyers and that is what they would have happen. One of us in leather on tv striking one of them. Happily enough this has not happened.

And additional kudos, Hannibal, to you and your comrades, for your intelligence and restraint. The last thing I want to see is anyone using extralegal means to harm Phelps (... all right, seeing him set on fire, shot, stabbed, poisoned, and run through a treechipper would give me a giggle, but I don't want anyone imprisoned for doing so). I just really look forward to the day his gaggle of morons get buried legally.

Lector, I just heard that some of your guys showed up at the funeral today. Please pass along my thanks. I'm so relieved that such cruelty didn't go unchallenged. Thank you.

Please join up at www.patriotguard.org and then you will have access to the forums and post your thanks personally. I will pass it on though, what was the fallen hero's name ? BTW joining doesn't cost a thing either and you don't have to ride a motorcycle.

let's form a group in SL for this, Leck, in case he shows up at any funerals there?

Lance Corporal David Huhn

Need to correct my previous statement. The Kansas Cowards never showed up. They didn't have a permit and they were told they'd be arrested. I don't know if any of the riders made it -- I work 25 miles away in the city and I'm only going on rumor, phone calls and a few news accounts that are just starting to emerge.

Whichever way it went, Lec, whether riders were needed or not, I'm glad there are people who care enough to show up. I did register at the website.

Here's a TV news story about him.

Local Soldier Laid to Rest
Dec 13, 2005, 04:34 PM EST

A local Marine killed in Iraq is laid to rest here at home. Almost 2 weeks after he was killed Iraq, 24-year-old Marine Lance Corporal David Huhn has been laid to rest in his hometown of Portland. He was buried with full military honors. Church bells welcomed his arrival as Lance Corporal David Huhn was carried into Saint Patrick's Church in Portland.

Sgt. Brad Covert, in Huhn's unit: "He was always in good spirits, he was a Marine's Marine, he was going to go places in the Marine Corps, it was his calling."

A horse-drawn carriage carried the fallen Marine to his final resting place. Hundreds of family, friends and members of the military gathered to support one another and to pay their respects.

Sgt. Brad Covert: "I just hope every one out there recognizes that he is a hero for his country and it is a tragic loss. Everyone should be proud of what he has done."

Sergeant Brad Covert is a Marine is Huhn's unit. He's the only one home from Iraq and able to make it to his military brother's side.

Sgt. Brad Covert: "I think it's good to send someone from the unit that can be with him."

Jeff Helmel, Huhn's uncle: "We've lost one of our own and we're paying respects to him in the highest honor we can, and I am so proud of that I can't really find the words for it."

Huhn's uncle Jeff Helmel says his family is slowly making it through this difficult time, and says the ceremony and strong showing support have helped make it a little easier.

Jeff Helmel,: "He was honored the way he should have been, that's something special to the family."

Portland police had extra officers on duty during David Huhn's funeral. It was to deal with protestors who planned to picket. Police Chief Bob Bauer says the anti-military group didn't have a permit and would have been forced to leave, but the group didn't show up. Police say Portland isn't the first city the group has announced plans to protest and not come.

Chief Bob Bauer, Portland Police Department: "We've called most of those locations, including Illinois and Pennsylvania. Yesterday they did the same thing, they sent out these email that are vulgar and profane, saying they're going to show up and protest. They contacted family and media out there and they never showed up."

Officers from Michigan State Police, Ionia County Sheriff's Department and Ionia Public Safety Department were all on hand in case the group did come.