Damn them! Phelps hate brigade turns up for Mn. funeral; confronts mom...

[MnFats]

www.startribune.com

surely if there really is a God he is warming up a very special place in HELL for these wretched bastards!


On her way into the church where the funeral was to be held for her 23-year-old son Thursday morning, Deirdre Ostlund approached six men and women waving signs against gays and America and told them in a cold fury: "I'm Andrew's mother, and I want you to know you are truly hateful people."
As Ostlund turned away, Shirley Phelps-Roper taunted her: "Adulterer! You can't admit you sent your own child to hell! If she does not heed this warning, she will look up from hell with him."

Her small group continued to sing "God hates America."

But across barricades, crime-scene tape and police officers, 20 flag-waving men and women countered with the original, "God bless America, land that I love ... "

This ritual, unfolding across the nation outside military funerals, arrived in Anoka on Thursday an hour before the funeral for Cpl. Andrew Kemple, who died in Iraq Feb. 12.

The six are members of a church in Topeka, Kan., that espouses the belief that God is killing American soldiers because they fought for a country that tolerates homosexuality. The 20 on the other side are affiliated with the Patriot Guard Riders, a rapidly growing nationwide movement organized to counter that very message.

"We're just trying to show honor and respect for families," said John Lutsch, a St. Cloud resident who heads the Minnesota branch of the Patriot Guard. "I was appalled when I read about these protests, that they'd use a solemn occasion like this as a forum for their views."

He was interrupted by Steve Drain, who bellowed across the divide in front of Zion Lutheran Church that God hates gays, their enablers and "so therefore God hates the U.S. military." For nearly an hour, the Kansans chanted a steady stream of crude homophobic slurs.

Phelps-Roper, the coordinator of the Kansas protesters, is the daughter of Fred Phelps, the pastor of the nondenominational Westboro Baptist Church, He has railed against homosexuality for decades. By his own count, church members have conducted 22,000 picketing demonstrations.

[mzmolly]

1. I believe it was Dobbs who covered this yesterday?

These people are nutty beyond belief.

[FreedomAngel82]

13. The BBC had a good documentary on them

They are a scary bunch. :crazy:

[Initech]

2. Phelps is going to the same circle of hell the rest of Bushco are going to

And it's going to be a very large circle, I might add!

[Rocknrule]

11. I wish one of his victims would send him there already

[Mythsaje]

3. It's not enemy bullets and bombs that are killing our soldiers...

it's GOD!

Freaks.

[Bozita]

4. I'm surprised that Phelps hasn't had his ass kicked by now

[JackBeck]

5. Phelps is sue happy.

He got a tomato thrown at him once and he sued the city for not properly protecting him.

And he won.

[BR_Parkway]

15. Put me on the jury, I promise to keep a mind as open as his - the

first time the defense attorney showed a photo of them to ask them if this was the scene of the attack - the first time 12 people in the box saw the hate he prints and displays - the verdict would be done at that moment.

[FreedomAngel82]

18. Seriously?

The whole city?

[terrya]

6. This is why several states are proposing legislation...

to keep these hateful, insane assholes well away from funerals such as this one. Imagine you are a member of a family, who's son or daughter died in Iraq...and grief stricken, you confront these hatemongering lunatics. I'm surprised Mrs. Ostlund didn't slap that creep...said creep deserved it.

[MadHound]

26. And yet as much as I hate these bastards,

I cannot condone limiting free speech in such a way. Not that I agree with Phelps, or what he stands for. But I see such limits sooner or later turning around and biting us on the ass.

Personally, I think throwing down a few bleach/ammonia bombs would be in order here, but hey, that's me.

[TornadoTN]

28. Agreed

Phelps is scum, but opening the door of all forms of free speech starts with Fred Phelps. If these states pass these laws, which are aimed correctly, how long is it before they start enacting legislation on all other types of protest that is offensive to one particular group of people.

We have to tread lightly.

[skypilot]

7. Don't these assholes have jobs???

Where do they get money for travel and signs and for feeding their soon-to-be screwed up kids? I wish I could just travel all around the country holding up signs saying that George Bush is an asshole and he's going to hell. Nice work if you can get it.

[JackBeck]

8. We'd be naive to ignore to fact that

I'm sure people send them donations.

And they sue cities and win.

Most of his kids, including Fred, are lawyers.

[skypilot]

12. I can't quite get my mind around the idea...

...of people sending them money but you may be right. As for them being lawyers, that kinda goes to my question. When do these fuckers WORK. It takes time and effort to sue a city or anyone else but these pricks always seem to be out "picketing". Maybe they rotate. One goes out and sues somebody while the others make asses of themselves. I just want them all to come to a bad end.

[sui generis]

10. they get their money from suing the people who assault them

it's a tidy little business.

[Vinnie From Indy]

19. That is something I have always wondered about as well

How do these people afford to travel all over the US to conduct their madness?

[FreedomAngel82]

20. I'm sure lawsuits and the like

[bunkerbuster1]

9. Gotta like these Patriot Guard Riders

ok, you don't gotta, but I like what i've seen, from

http://www.thebikinglife.com/article.aspx?id=3

Patriot Guard Riders Mission Statement

The Patriot Guard Riders is a diverse amalgamation of riders from across the nation. We have one thing in common besides motorcycles. We have an unwavering respect for those who risk their very lives for America's freedom and security. If you share this respect, please join us.

We don't care what you ride, what your political views are, or whether you're a "hawk" or a "dove". It is not a requirement that you be a veteran. It doesn't matter where you're from or what your income is. You don't even have to ride. The only prerequisite is Respect.

Our main mission is to attend the funeral services of fallen American heroes as invited guests of the family. Each mission we undertake has two basic objectives.

1. Show our sincere respect for our fallen heroes, their families, and their communities.

2. Shield the mourning family and friends from interruptions created by any protestor or group of protestors.

We accomplish the latter through strictly legal and non-violent means.

[realisticphish]

16. i like the idea

funerals should simply not be a place of protest. Bottom line. That is the family's private time of grief, not someone's excuse to shout slogans and wave signs.

[FreedomAngel82]

21. Sounds nice especially the part

about the political views. Reminds me of the "Patriots" during the time we as a country were getting our independence and the malitia men were helping General Washington sorta like this.

[Arkansas Granny]

14. I takes a truly disgusting person to picket a funeral and say such

hateful things. These people are truly dispicable.

I commend the Patriot Guard Riders for what they are doing.

For more info on the Patriot Guard Riders: http://www.armytimes.com/story.php?f=1-292925-1546852.php

[warrens]

17. Phelps = mainstream GOP thought

Hate, lies and filth. Yup, he's got it going on.

[FreedomAngel82]

22. One time Hannity tried to pin him over here

[Jane Austin]

23. When is one of their victims going to sue their sorry asses

back to the stone age?

Grounds? Harrassment, Stalking, Inflicting Pain and Suffering.

[Minnesota Libra]

24. I live in the area and can tell you........

.....no one thinks this is proper. These idiots don't seem to care that someone is burying a loved one who fought to keep their ass safe and sound.

They also don't seem to care about the fact that if someone is setting on the religious fence these demonstrations could turn that person against religion entirely. I personally have too many questions about God/Religion to be particularly religious but I do remember something to the affect of, "If you case one of Mine to fall it would be better than you have never been born." Guess where they are headed if they indeed believe in that God they scream about??

[Ksec]

25. our very own religious fanatics. right here in the good ol' USA

Kinda gives one a warm fuzzy feeling in the pit of their stomach, dont it?

The love. Can you feel the love?

[windy252]

27. Isn't

there a countergroup these families can invite now? I remember it having something to do with bikers.

[newyawker99]

30. Hi windy252!!

Welcome to DU!! :toast:

[pimpbot]

29. Where do these people live/sleep?

The counterprotestors should follow the wackjobs and protest outside their houses or motels. Just annoy them 24/7. Dont let them sleep. Follow them to the grocery store etc with a big sign.