What a bunch of sick people......

[samclemens]

they just passed a law in MI that says people protesting dead soldier's funerals have to be X feet from the grave during the service. that group is just wrong though, I feel so bad for the family of dead soldiers who had to endure their b.s.

[WilliamTell]

Yeah Iowa passed one saying they had to be at least 500 feet away, they were 530 feet away. This was on Hannity and Colmes last night and Hannity to this lady that she is one of, if not the sickest person that they have ever had on the show and that says a lot. Both Hannity and Colmes agreed on this and they usually don't agree on many things.

 

These people go around the midwest protesting funerals I assume. What I wonder is do they even have a job or how do they pay for it. Maybe they use offerings from the church, I don't know.

[Steff]

they just passed a law in MI that says people protesting dead soldier's funerals have to be X feet from the grave during the service. that group is just wrong though, I feel so bad for the family of dead soldiers who had to endure their b.s.

 

 

 

Should be a law against doing this s*** at ANY funeral.

[NorthSideSox72]

Yeah Iowa passed one saying they had to be at least 500 feet away, they were 530 feet away. This was on Hannity and Colmes last night and Hannity to this lady that she is one of, if not the sickest person that they have ever had on the show and that says a lot. Both Hannity and Colmes agreed on this and they usually don't agree on many things.

 

These people go around the midwest protesting funerals I assume. What I wonder is do they even have a job or how do they pay for it. Maybe they use offerings from the church, I don't know.

What is cool is, there is also a group of bikers (from IN I think) who follow the idoits around, and they put up a human wall to shield the funeral from the protestors.

[Rex Kickass]

Should be a law against doing this s*** at ANY funeral.

 

Sorry but there shouldn't be. However, most cemeteries are private property and they can prohibit protesters from the premises.

[Steff]

Sorry but there shouldn't be. However, most cemeteries are private property and they can prohibit protesters from the premises.

 

 

 

You're right, there shouldn't be. People should have enough common effing sense not to be such ignorant assholes.

[Texsox]

^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

[Rex Kickass]

Steff,

 

You're right. But we live in a country where people are free to be pricks and assholes - and we can't rightfully legislate against asshattery.

[Soxy]

counter-protest

 

'Patriots' outnumber protesters at Marine's funeral

 

Tribune staff reports

Published April 19, 2006, 1:43 PM CDT

 

Five members of a small Kansas church demonstrated today outside the funeral of a Marine from south suburban Lansing, but left when hundreds of counter-protesters turned out to shield family members from their display.

 

Members of Westboro Baptist Church of Topeka have been traveling around the country to demonstrate at military funerals, contending that God is punishing America with war casualties for its tolerance of homosexuals and generally welcoming the combat deaths.

 

Today, they came to the funeral of Marine Lance Cpl. Philip J. Martini, 24, who died in combat of a gunshot wound April 8 in Iraq's Al Anbar province.

 

This time, however, the demonstrators were met by nearly 200 "Patriot Guard Riders," a biker group, which shielded family members and other mourners outside Holy Ghost Church at 170th Street and Cottage Grove Avenue in South Holland.

 

When a gray hearse carrying Martini's body arrived at the church, all that could be seen on the street was a sea of black biker leather and American flags waving in the wind.

 

"What's going on across the street is wrong, and this family has every right to be protected from seeing that stuff," said Patriot Guard member Chuck Dryden. "I'm here to make sure they don't see it."

 

Earlier, Westboro spokeswoman Shirley Phelps-Roper told reporters, "This nation is being punished by a raging mad God."

 

Phelps-Roper, who wore a blue T-shirt with an anti-gay message, was surrounded by other demonstrators holding signs that read, "God Hates America," "Not Blessed Just Cursed" and "God is America's Terror." Her group protested for about an hour in front of the church.

 

"I am the only patriot standing here," she said. "I am the only one that has enough concern for the soul of my nation and wrath of God pouring out on her head to tell you what you need to do to fix it."

 

Referring to Martini's parents, Phelps-Roper said, "They brought that pain upon themselves. They raised that child for the devil."

 

Westboro's protests have spurred legislatures in 27 states to pass or propose restrictions on protesting near funerals. The Illinois General Assembly is considering such a bill.

 

"They do cause pain and turmoil for so many families at a time which should be truly sacred and prayerful," Bishop James Wilkowski, head of the Evangelical Catholic Diocese of the Northwest, told CLTV.

 

But the Westboro group left after being interviewed by the media and before the funeral service began, avoiding a confrontation with Martini's family. No arrests were reported by police.

 

An hourlong funeral service followed, attended by Martini's family, friends, veterans and a Marine honor guard. Martini was a 2000 graduate of Thornton Fractional South High School in Lansing and on his second tour of duty in Iraq.

 

He played football and baseball during high school, where he was known as a popular and athletic young man, his father, also named Philip, said. Martini joined the Marines in 2003 because he wanted to make a difference, his father said.

[mr_genius]

Steff,

 

You're right. But we live in a country where people are free to be pricks and assholes - and we can't rightfully legislate against asshattery.

 

 

sure you can

 

you can't burn a cross in your yard

 

you can't have a loud, rowdy protest at 3 Am in a residential neighborhood.

 

you can't yell "fire" in a crowded theatre.

 

ect.

Edited April 19, 2006 by mr_genius

[Rex Kickass]

You CAN burn a cross in your own yard. As long as open flames are allowed in your neighborhood.

 

You CAN'T burn a cross in someone else's yard.

 

You CAN have a protest at 3AM in a residential neighborhood.

 

You CAN'T cause a public disturbance.

[mr_genius]

You CAN burn a cross in your own yard. As long as open flames are allowed in your neighborhood.

 

You CAN'T burn a cross in someone else's yard.

 

You CAN have a protest at 3AM in a residential neighborhood.

 

You CAN'T cause a public disturbance.

 

the Supreme Court ruled that burning a cross is not constitutionally protected speech. you can't burn a cross in your own yard if people that may be intimidated can see it.

 

i would call a protest at someone's funeral a public disturbance and an act of intimidation.

 

 

 

 

 

ps. i can read, can and can't, just fine without the capital letters.

Edited April 19, 2006 by mr_genius

[NorthSideSox72]

Here is a thought.

 

This Phelps moron, who says he is a Christian Fundamentalist, claims that God is punishing America for its values by killing their soldiers in Iraq.

 

Isn't that pretty much the same thing the Islamic Fundamentalists are saying?

 

These extremists are all the same. They are hateful, evil souls who need justification for their lack of humanity. Whether they where white robes with pointy hats, or a keffiyeh and an AK-47, they deserve no quarter.

 

And I love the bikers. Great stuff. If I rode a motorcycle, I'd look to join in on any of their local appearances.

[WilliamTell]

What is cool is, there is also a group of bikers (from IN I think) who follow the idoits around, and they put up a human wall to shield the funeral from the protestors.

 

 

Yeah I heard that too and that's cool and all, but only problem with that was no one could hear anything at the funeral which is kind of sad. But it wouldn't have happened if these idiots would stop protesting at these funerals.

[LowerCaseRepublican]

This is the part of that article that desturbed me most. Forgive my language but what kind of f***ed up church does this. I think then must of missed the part about forgiveness and not judging people.

They're legally a 'church' but it is basically just his family...not to mention that he beats his own kids outside of protesting funerals.

 

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rev._Fred_Phelps

 

Man, you know you're a f***ing douche when even Castro basically calls you one.

 

It is kinda sobering when you realize all these states are just getting around to these bans. Somehow, these states seemed to believe it was okay when it was just families of gays/lesbians getting harassed -- but now that it is soldiers, that's crossing the line. Perhaps that's harsh of me but this rat bastard has been at this for years (protesting funerals) and nobody really got up in arms about it until now. (not saying people on ST...just the general US public)

 

He's got the right to go out and make an ass out of himself as long as he is on public property though, as disturbing as the thought is.