Protesters at Soldier Funerals

[Laxmatt]

http://www.cnn.com/2006/US/02/21/fun....ap/index.html

FORT CAMPBELL, Kentucky (AP) -- Wearing vests covered in military patches, a band of motorcyclists rolls around the country from one soldier's funeral to another, cheering respectfully to overshadow jeers from church protesters.

They call themselves the Patriot Guard Riders, and they are more than 5,000 strong, forming to counter anti-gay protests held by the Rev. Fred Phelps at military funerals.

Phelps believes American deaths in Iraq are divine punishment for a country that he says harbors homosexuals. His protesters carry signs thanking God for so-called IEDs -- explosives that are a major killer of soldiers in Iraq.

The bikers shield the families of dead soldiers from the protesters, and overshadow the jeers with patriotic chants and a sea of red, white and blue flags.

"The most important thing we can do is let families know that the nation cares," said Don Woodrick, the group's Kentucky captain. "When a total stranger gets on a motorcycle in the middle of winter and drives 300 miles to hold a flag, that makes a powerful statement."

At least 14 states are considering laws aimed at the funeral protesters, who at a recent memorial service at Fort Campbell wrapped themselves in upside-down American flags. They danced and sang impromptu songs peppered with vulgarities that condemned homosexuals and soldiers.

The Patriot Guard was also there, waving up a ruckus of support for the families across the street. Community members came in the freezing rain to chant "U-S-A, U-S-A" alongside them.

"This is just the right thing to do. This is something America didn't do in the '70s," said Kurt Mayer, the group's national spokesman. "Whether we agree with why we're over there, these soldiers are dying to protect our freedoms."

Shirley Phelps-Roper, a daughter of Fred Phelps and an attorney for the Topeka, Kansas-based church, said neither state laws nor the Patriot Guard can silence their message that God killed the soldiers because they fought for a country that embraces homosexuals.

"The scriptures are crystal clear that when God sets out to punish a nation, it is with the sword. An IED is just a broken-up sword," Phelps-Roper said. "Since that is his weapon of choice, our forum of choice has got to be a dead soldier's funeral."

The church, Westboro Baptist Church, is not affiliated with a larger denomination and is made up mostly of Fred Phelps' extended family members.

During the 1990s, church members were known mostly for picketing the funerals of AIDS victims, and they have long been tracked as a hate group by the Montgomery, Alabama-based Southern Poverty Law Center's Intelligence Project.

The project's deputy director, Heidi Beirich, said other groups have tried to counter Phelps' message, but none has been as organized as the Patriot Guard.

"I'm not sure anybody has gone to this length to stand in solidarity," she said. "It's nice that these veterans and their supporters are trying to do something. I can't imagine anything worse, your loved one is killed in Iraq and you've got to deal with Fred Phelps."

Kentucky, home to sprawling Fort Campbell along the Tennessee line, was among the first states to attempt to deal with Phelps legislatively. Its House and Senate have each passed bills that would limit people from protesting within 300 feet of a funeral or memorial service. The Senate version would also keep protesters from being within earshot of grieving friends and family members.

Richard Wilbur, a retired police detective, said his Indiana Patriot Guard group only comes to funerals if invited by family. He said he has no problem with protests against the war but sees no place for objectors at a family's final goodbye to a soldier.

"No one deserves this," he said.

I say hats off to these bikers for what they are doing. ****ing rediculous protesters. Give me a break!

[Thinman]

Agreed. That guy Phelps is wacked anyway. He should just crawl back under the rock that he came from.

[jboyd1]

Those same people protested at the sago mine memorial, at wvwc. I was really surpised to know they made it out of town alive, but I hear the state police was keeping people away from them.

[Krunk Fu]

My fave saying : If you don't root for your home team, get the f*** out of the stadium.

[Tamacracker]

LOL Soldiers in Iraq are fightin for our freedom.... WHAT FREEDOM YOU IGNORANT YANKEE FAWKS.

[Krunk Fu]

^^ Shut up you ****ing tool.

[gonuts]

Its very respectable of these bikers to do this. Respect goes out to the soldiers families, and a big mddle finger to the damn church Phelps supporters.

[DJ Hogue]

Originally Posted by akaye47

My fave saying : If you don't root for your home team, get the f*** out of the stadium.

that is my new favorite, too...!

[chad12121]

Fred Phelps had a protest holding anti-gay and "God hates ***s" signs outside my highschool graduation. They were quickly oveerwhelmed by hippies though.

[Tamacracker]

Originally Posted by akaye47

^^ Shut up you ****ing tool.

Ignorant ignorant fool.. go study up the Patriot Act... once you figure that out... go read up the Enabling Act before reppin me negative you blind idiot.

[Thinman]

Originally Posted by chad12121

Fred Phelps had a protest holding anti-gay and "God hates ***s" signs outside my highschool graduation. They were quickly oveerwhelmed by hippies though.

Who says hippies aren't good for something.

[KYUSHO00]

You know I really want to punch some of these jerks(Phelps group) in the face, they were at a funeral for a buddy of mine when he was shot and killed in afgan! However If I did or anyone else did this would just give them more steam in court cases and what not. I trully respect these bikers for what they are doing and how they are keeping their calm!

[Jimineye2.0]

Originally Posted by Tamacracker

LOL Soldiers in Iraq are fightin for our freedom.... WHAT FREEDOM YOU IGNORANT YANKEE FAWKS.

The freedom to say what you just said you dumb ****. And tell me what exactly is illegal about the Patriot act son?

Don't write checks your ass can't cash, cause I'm going to call you on it.

[MantisShrimp]

Any person willing to disturb another person's funeral deserves to be shot between the eyes.

[GoLeafsGo]

Hats off to the bikers for coming out and showing their support. I'm certain that it means alot to the families that lost loved ones in combat.

[Shahin]

Originally Posted by MantisShrimp

Any person willing to disturb another person's funeral deserves to be shot between the eyes.

Yup. Leave the dead alone.

[KYUSHO00]

"Any person willing to disturb another person's funeral deserves to be shot between the eyes."

This is good but, I would rather have four horses attached to their limbs and the crack a whip!

[Stand Ablaze]

Originally Posted by Tamacracker

LOL Soldiers in Iraq are fightin for our freedom.... WHAT FREEDOM YOU IGNORANT YANKEE FAWKS.

I'm not american, but I don't think thats the point of this topic. People killed on any side weither it's a Soldier or Civilian should have at least a bit of respect, and when you have religious homophobes like that priest spouting bollocks, someone needs to stand up about it.

[Tamacracker]

Originally Posted by Jimineye2.0

The freedom to say what you just said you dumb ****. And tell me what exactly is illegal about the Patriot act son?

Don't write checks your ass can't cash, cause I'm going to call you on it.

LOL "What exactly is illegal about the Patriot Act son?" good God, get off my balls you can't hang with it.

[KYUSHO00]

"I'm not american, but I don't think thats the point of this topic. People killed on any side weither it's a Soldier or Civilian should have at least a bit of respect, and when you have religious homophobes like that priest spouting bollocks, someone needs to stand up about it."


Thats the issue Its their right to do this, but we as a society should have some rights to stop them from interfearing with personal matters!

[Tamacracker]

"This is just the right thing to do. This is something America didn't do in the '70s," said Kurt Mayer, the group's national spokesman. "Whether we agree with why we're over there, THESE SOLDIERS ARE DYING TO PROTECT OUR FREEDOMS."

Just because the Patriot Act doesn't affect you... as of now atleast, doesn't mean it's not happening... doesn't mean that many other "AMERICANS" are not being affected by it.

[Tamacracker]

Originally Posted by Stand Ablaze

I'm not american, but I don't think thats the point of this topic. People killed on any side weither it's a Soldier or Civilian should have at least a bit of respect, and when you have religious homophobes like that priest spouting bollocks, someone needs to stand up about it.

Also about the whole religious homophobes... I dont know if you know this... but to be gay is to sin. No matter what, it is a sin. And to burry a dead "gay" human being in a Catholic sanctuarary is practically blasphemy (atleast in that level of sin).

That's is why non-Catholics cannot get married in a Catholic church, or was that Roman Catholic? If they're not that specific religion/belief they cannot be married nor burried in the sactuarary. In my opinion, I dont care... why? Cuz I'm not plannin to get married in a Roman Catholic Church... most likely not even in a church and I'm not gay... nor will I ever plan to be gay.

[KYUSHO00]

Son, a lot of these soldiers are not Homosexual, this group is just using these funerals to get a soapbox!

[PissingQuietly]

The liberal thing to do is to turn funerals into political forums.

Remember Mrs. Kings funeral?

[Laxmatt]

Originally Posted by Tamacracker

Also about the whole religious homophobes... I dont know if you know this... but to be gay is to sin. No matter what, it is a sin. And to burry a dead "gay" human being is practically blasphemy (atleast in that level of sin).

That's is why non-Catholics cannot get married in a Catholic church, or was that Roman Catholic? If they're not that specific religion/belief they cannot be married nor burried in the sactuarary. In my opinion, I dont care... why? Cuz I'm not plannin to get married in a Roman Catholic Church... most likely not even in a church and I'm not gay... nor will I ever plan to be gay.

Learn to read please before you make an ass of yourself in my thread. These soldiers are not gay, but rather fought and died for a country that whack-job idiots like yourself believe should not be as open as we are to the rights of homosexuals.

This thread has nothing to do with gay rights or the patriot act of supposed infringements of YOUR FREEDOM THAT THESE MEN DIED TO PROTECT.

This is about RESPECT. Plain and simple.

[Tamacracker]

Ok... anyways too many brainwashed drones up in here... Ask yourself if the Government itself gives two fawks about soldiers and their wellbeing. Ask a veteran how does he feel about the support that the government has been givin him recently.

Generally some people give a fawk bout a life that is taken away from war... but many don't give a fawk and move on with their lives, but when you ask them... how do you feel about those soldiers? Do they really tell the truth, or do they quickly come up with the same bull**** line just so they can move on with their life.

Anyways I'll unsubscribe.

[GLEX]

Why cant you *******s keep your god damn political views out of a thread just once. STFU.

[riptor]

Originally Posted by jboyd1

Those same people protested at the sago mine memorial, at wvwc. I was really surpised to know they made it out of town alive, but I hear the state police was keeping people away from them.

Yeah, the state and local police had to protect them. Originally Phelps and company wanted to protest on a local college campus, but the college denied them the right to do so. So basically they had to protest in front of the college, and not on college grounds. Phelps goes to these funerals to try to stir up people to attack him or his group. Then they try to sue the person for money. So ignoring them is the best thing to do. But they are nothing but a bunch of scum, not worthy of even giving them the least bit of attention anyway.

[Tamacracker]

Originally Posted by Laxmatt

Learn to read please before you make an ass of yourself in my thread. These soldiers are not gay, but rather fought and died for a country that whack-job idiots like yourself believe should not be as open as we are to the rights of homosexuals.

This thread has nothing to do with gay rights or the patriot act of supposed infringements of YOUR FREEDOM THAT THESE MEN DIED TO PROTECT.

This is about RESPECT. Plain and simple.

I'm not sayin the soldiers are gay... it was an example I had to use.
I don't care if anyone's gay to be quite honest.

[Tamacracker]

Originally Posted by GLEX

Why cant you *******s keep your god damn political views out of a thread just once. STFU.

Okay hold on... this has nothing to do with politics, other than what I said about the Patriot Act and the fact that some idiot thinks we're in Iraq dying for protectin our freedom... Who's taking our freedom away other than the Patriot Act?...