funeral protested by anti-gay group Options

[m6h]

courtesy of yahoo.... i dont know if this belongs in here so yea....you would think people would have more respect especially that damn church why some people this so insensitive these days


Members of the Rev. Fred Phelps' Westboro Baptist Church in Topeka, Kan., are picketing military funerals, KMBC's Micheal Mahoney reported Friday.

The group has made national headlines for traveling throughout the country to picket gay churches, gay weddings, and the funeral of Matthew Shepard, a gay college student who was murdered in Wyoming in 1998. Friday, about 15 members of the group -- some of them children -- picketed the funeral of a St. Joseph soldier who was killed in Mahoney reported that the group stood across the road from the Grace Evangelical Church during the funeral of 21-year-old Spc. Edward Myers.

"The first sin was being a part of this military. If this young man had a clue and any fear of God, he would have run, and not walked, from this military," said protester Shirley Phelps-Roper. "Who would serve a nation that is godless and has flipped off, defiantly defied, defiantly flipped off, the Lord their God?"


One protester had an American flag tied to his belt that draped to the ground. He was holding a sign that read, "Thank God For IEDs," which are explosive devices used by insurgents to blow up military convoys.

Protesters said America has ignored the word of God, and those who defend the nation must pay a price.

"That's the first piece of solid evidence that you have that the young man is currently in hell," Phelps-Roper said.

"The soldier is in hell now, you believe?" Mahoney asked.

"Absolutely," Phelps-Roper said.


'Protesters Were Rude'

About a dozen veterans stood across the road from the protesters, and Mahoney reported that there were some harsh words and insults traded between the two groups. However, sheriff deputies were stationed about 100 yards away and there was no violence.

"The protesters were so rude -- were disrespectful," said veteran Jim Fields.

"Do I like it? No, I don't. But what can you say, it's a free country," said veteran Dave Campbell.

Veterans told KMBC that a member of the soldier's family shouted at the protesters to leave, and they left about 20 minutes after the funeral started. Mahoney reported that there was applause from veterans and other crowd members when the protesters left.

After the funeral was over, one of the mourners commented on the irony of the protesters showing up at a soldier's funeral.

"They shouldn't protest the funeral for a man who was out there dying to protect the rights that they're demanding they receive," said Marvin Russell.

Russell said he thinks the soldier's family saw the protesters.

"I think it saddened them. They didn't say anything outright, but you could tell by the way they looked down that this was a sad thing to do. They're already in mourning, they don't need people like this to make it worse," Russell said.

Myers was buried with full military honors in Leavenworth National Cemetery. He leaves behind a wife and two children.

One of the protesters said the group is planning to picket other military funerals

[pshaa.shauna]

Oh. My. Gawd.

I am getting sick and tired of this shit.

First they run after Harry Potter becuase it's evil and bladdity bladdity bla.
Then Jessica Simpson..bla bla bla.


Now they are going after people's FUNERALS!

(This is not meant to offend anyone of the Christian religion in any way)

I am seriously sick and tired of these over-obsessed Christians. Its should be God made me, he's a great dude, let's pray to him, and go to church to show we love him: END OF STORY. They go and say that you're going to go to Hell because you don't beleive the way they do.

Bullshit.

Dammit I'm going to keep my mouth shut now before I get seriously started on this.

[Chii]

that's f*cking disgusting.

those protestors should go watch Saving Private Ryan (my US history teacher says that it's the most realistic movie about war) and see the sh*t the gay/straight/bisexual/etc soldiers have to face.

that's a huge slap in the face, those soldiers died for us

[YourSuperior]

That's gross. This type of stuff is getting very annoying.

[lyin_in_wait]

i agree. my dads in the military as well as others parents and i am damn proud of the military and the life it has given me. as for the gay thing. wake up and smell the coffee. they arent going away learn to love we are all the same. you cant help who you love

[short_stop08]

That's just sick.

[*RockizLife*]

Yup, those are the kind of people I'd just love to bash over the head and say "LET'S SEE YOUR @$$ OVER THERE FIGHTING!" Idiots are standing there with the right to protest, and they choose to protest against the very people who help keep that right. Do they even realize that? I swear, the world today... Does anyone use their brain anymore? Ugh, issues like these frustrate me more then I could ever debate about...

those protestors should go watch Saving Private Ryan (my US history teacher says that it's the most realistic movie about war) and see the sh*t the gay/straight/bisexual/etc soldiers have to face.

YES! That is my favorite movie! I recommend that everyone watches that movie. If you don't respect our military and what they do everyday after watching that movie, there's something wrong with you.

[pshaa.shauna]

To make things clear, I'm agonistic, but I don't go around telling people that they shouldn't beleive in God because religion doesn't matter. That's not my place. They can beleive what they want. It's like what someone finds pretty, and what someone thinks tatses good. You don't tell people what the y beleive is wrong, and you sure as hell do NOT go to their FUNERAL and DISRESPECT them and their family like that! That is plain REVOLTING. I want to effing hurl. I need to leave now....I am getting way to heated about this.

[azn_r4pf4n]

wow... i heard about that church. they got A LOT against gays... its pretty rude to see them protesting in funerals.

[[Scr3amin][Horro...]

Yes I think I agree with everyone else its sick.

to cheer you up alrightie?

[sadolakced acid]

my opinion? they should all be shot at one of thier protests, and then as they lay on the ground dying, and then all of them will have a meter long metal stake driven through their chests into the ground, with a picket sign on the end that says "i want to go to heavan to f**k jesus"

^ you don't like that? ignore it. it's my opinion. and you've got to admit, people like that do give christianity a rather bad name.

oh oh!

OR, a less violent serial killer/ massacreist alternative!

at every funeral of a radical christian, picket it! scream out things like "you betrayed jesus" or "jesus weeps for your soul" or "lucifer claims another".

hmmmm....

[pshaa.shauna]

my opinion?  they should all be shot at one of thier protests, and then as they lay on the ground dying, and then all of them will have a meter long metal stake driven through their chests into the ground, with a picket sign on the end that says "i want to go to heavan to f**k jesus"

^ you don't like that?  ignore it.  it's my opinion.  and you've got to admit, people like that do give christianity a rather bad name.

oh oh! 

OR,  a less violent serial killer/ massacreist alternative!

at every  funeral of a radical christian, picket it!  scream out things like "you betrayed jesus"  or "jesus weeps for your soul"  or "lucifer claims another".

hmmmm....

I like the "lucifer claims another". If something like that happens here, I hope that someone shoots them, just so I can go and disrespect them like they did the people of our country.

Yes I know I said I'd leave. I lied, get over it.

[*incoherent*]

wow that hits close to home...not in the aspect of the story, but the fact that its so close to where i live. people around here need to learn some respect. people are dying for them to be free...

michael mahoney reports for the news i watch.

[illumineering]

It's ok to protest the war, but that demonstration at a funeral went beyond any opposition to the war. If they really are against it, they should fly to Iraq and stand in front of a military base with their signs. Maybe they could make a human chain in front of a line of tanks. That would be far more effective.

That soldier paid the ultimate price of being a warrior by giving his life. That protest can't change that fact. If this group is so principled, they should realize he will stand before God and be judged. I hope is soul is at peace and his family can heal.

[Saeglopur]

Some Christians they are... think about it, Are they really christians? The truth is they really aren't. If they were true Christians, they would be able to respect other people's beliefs if they want other people to respect theirs.

[lbjshaq2345]

Who would serve a nation that is godless and has flipped off, defiantly defied, defiantly flipped off, the Lord their God

wtf she said somethin dumb then she said somethin dumber and then she put them together to make sort of a gayer-hatin dumbass margarita what a stupid bitch as for the rest of them if they dont like this country then why are they still here f**k religious groups this nation was founded on the belief of God and every president besides clinton has been a God-fearing christian f**k religious groups these ppl are exactly like the KKK except they hatin on gays instead of blacks ok get this God might not approve of homosexuality but he damn sure dont approve of you protesting their f**king FUNERAL...f**k religious groups

[DrSMooTH]

that's f**ked up, seriously. respect the damn dead. do these people think that by doing this they fall closer under the eye of the Lord? They fall closer to the devil's range more than anything.

[..:loveee.NuTTii]

That is seriously disgusting. How can you go to someone's funeral and picket it, after he died to save you? That's f*cking messed up.
I'm tired of these gay-hating god-fearing Christians (no offense here) that have to make life hard for everyone. Have some respect. People are mourning.

[coconutter]

Oh. My. Gawd.

I am getting sick and tired of this shit.

First they run after Harry Potter becuase it's evil and bladdity bladdity bla.
Then Jessica Simpson..bla bla bla.
Now they are going after people's FUNERALS!

(This is not meant to offend anyone of the Christian religion in any way)

I am seriously sick and tired of these over-obsessed Christians. Its should be God made me, he's a great dude, let's pray to him, and go to church to show we love him: END OF STORY. They go and say that you're going to go to Hell because you don't beleive the way they do.

Bullshit.

Dammit I'm going to keep my mouth shut now before I get seriously started on this.



This IS crazy, they think you should follow bush because he's "christian, not for abortion, and blahbalahawblah" THIS IS CRAZY.  He wouldn't be in office if it wasn't for the over obsessed christians.  MY GOD, people aren't even allowed to read Harry Potter because they think it's EVIL.?!?! COME ON IT'S A FICTIONAL MADE-UP BOOK FOR KIDS.  NOT "WORSHIPING DEVIL 101" GET A GRIP YOU DUMB PEOPLE.  Also, they don't want girls to wear bathingsuits but wear just clothes, but the guys get to wear their swimming trunks, and they think that's fair because the guys lust more than girls and that is so sexist it's not even funny.

[*suddenly she*]

these are the people that make people hate christians.
if they're so hardcore about the war, quit being disrespectful towards the dead and go protest in iraq.

[juliar]

what the hell, the dude's dead, quit dissing him. i mean, it's one thing to belive in your religion, its another thing to
1. disrespect the dead
2. disrespect the ones that had for your country and
3. attempt to change others' beliefs.
i mean, the guy's dead already, you can't exactly change his beliefs. and this group definitely is not gonna change the views of the army.

[Ladi!Flipsta]

those disrespectful pricks! the guy is dead! they could be going to hell for this. isn't it due to "love thy neighbor", even if thy neighbor is gay, and/or spent time at the military?!

[*xcaitlinx*]

that is completely disrespectful. how would they like it if a group of gay guys did that at one of THEIR childrens' funerals? they'd end up calling the police even though it's not illegal. these people are complete uneducated idiots that need to get over the fact that there ARE gay people in the world, and they can't do anything to change that.

"They shouldn't protest the funeral for a man who was out there dying to protect the rights that they're demanding they receive," said Marvin Russell.

that's a wonderful way to put it.

[*mipadi*]

Evidently they didn't learn the first time, and decided to do it again.

[oneandonlytammie]

Ok, so soldiers fought in wars for their rights (including the right to dissagree), and without that they'd have never been able to protest...

So they're protesting against what got them the ability to protest? Wow. Dumbasses.

And, they should really lay off the whole gay thing.