Lately, there has been one group in the news that has upset me a great deal. They're called the Westboro Baptist Church. They're led by Fred Phelps. The church has less than 100 members, 80 percent of which are Phelps' famiy, either through blood or marriage.
These people go to funerals of soldiers. Instead of paying their respects, they picket. They hold signs with sayings such as "Thank God For Dead Soldiers" and "America Is Doomed". They also sing their own vulgar versions of patriotic songs.
Now, I am in no way for the war. I do not believe it should be going on, but that is another story. If we didn't have these brave people going to fight (someone has to do it), there would most likely be a draft. As I said, I'm not for the war; but I want our soldiers to come home safely and soon. This is why what Phelps' group is doing is wrong. Someone has died, but they look past it. Instead of being respectful, they hold up rude signs. There are families, friends, co-workers, etc. there mourning someone's death and that's what they do. It disgusts me.
Another thing that disgusts me is what these people believe. I know America is a "free country" and all, and no one can control our thoughts; but seriously. These people believe all gays, gay supporters, and people who don't hate gays are going to Hell. That is ridiculous. And it's not just homosexuals they're against. They don't like Jews. Phelps called the Holocaust "miniscule" and protested at the Holocaust museum.
I believe these people have no respect for anyone or anything at all. They justify September 11 and Hurrican Katrina by saying America is being punished for our sins. So, do they think they don't sin or something? I watched a CNN (I think?) interview with one of Phelps' many children, Shirley Phelps Roper. When one of the men was interviewing her, he said he was a Christian under Mark, Joseph, Luke (I think those were the names he said) and she went on to say he was not a Christian! What do you have to do to be a "Christian" according to these people? Hate everyone and everything and blame Americans for all the disasters that happen while only caring about yourself and the other members of your church?
Give me a break.
I agree.
I find it funny in an odd, sick sort of way that Christianity and other religious teach tolerance, acceptance, and brotherhood, and then exhibit so much intolerance. Believe me, I know they teach that, I went to Catholic school.
I think it's important when talking about Fred Phelps and his followers to understand that they are indeed insane. Most Christians, in fact I'd say 99 % of Christians may not agree with everything that's going on, but only his group professes hate in such a blatent way. I'm a Roman Catholic, and I happen to be a fervent supporter of the Gay Rights movement. In MY religion and personal beliefs this does not clash, not all religions teach hate, it's other people, other human beings who teach hate. Hate is not an aspect in faith. Hate is an aspect of fear. Those who really love and care for a god, or a higher being don't fear others, nor do they hate them. Phelps is sickening, and we must remember that he is ONE person, and his "church" are just a bunch of sicko's trying to make a splash with their hate.
He's a "Democrat". Why are you surprised?
This just makes Bush look bad, that's pretty much all I have to say, he has his country now devided, and who knows how many more will start following this man? When I first heard about this story it sickened me to no end, I'm not a supporter of the war but I am of the troops, someone needs to be praying for them, wishing for a safe return, now I wonder, "How can this man bash so many people that are just trying to make the world a safer place of the children in Iraq?" and it dawned on me, this is exactly how those of racist belief get away with what they do. They yell and taunt and riddicule the "less superior"( Or in this case the families of soliders that have gotten killed overseas, quite possibly for a war they don't even support ) and when someone comes to silence them they hide behind the first ammendment. It's sick, I say someone starts calling him and his followers racist and bring up valid arguements against him because this war is OPK, always has been, always will and if he wants to keep living in this country where wars will always be OPK then he better damn well straighten up. Sometimes I wish we still had the right to throw people who acted like this out of the country, it would be amazing, no?
Alexa
These people do nothing to the Bush administration nor, do their views represent some sort of divide in the US. They are an isolated instance of extremists who's numbers have not increases since the 1980's for any other reason than child birth. People are not joining Phelps and his illogical shouts of hate.
---------------------------------------------
"...She threw her hands up in the air
Jesus take the wheeeeel!"
"I'm not sure she really understands how Jesus works..."
She's mentally deluded & deserves nothing but pity, not hatred. What she & her family are doing is (in my own oppinion) disgusting & completely insensetive, but you have to remember one thing.....
She's nothing but an attention whore. Ignore the yapping & she'll quieten down soon enough. When she has no coverage to show her yapping & no one doing her wrong to yap about, she'll be as pointless & uninteresting as that clump of dust under the couch.
I know exactly what interview you're talking about. It was on Hannity and Colms and can be easily found on youtube... and no, Colms isn't Christian. He's Jewish. He said he prays to "Issac, Abraham, and Joseph" of whom are the three main prophets under Judiasm.
They are sick... in every way. I especially think it's dispicable how they even picket dead gays' funerals with signs saying "Thank God for aids". I really think these people need their church burnt down, if it hasn't been attempted already.
Keep in mind, the Westboro Baptist Church is not directly affiliated with any Baptist sect at all, much less Christian. If anything, they'd sooner be considered a cult, simply using the name "Baptist" to look official. They are delusional, religious fanatics that'd sooner kill everyone different than them to give rise to their own (Aryan) race.
Fucking fascists.