Post by organist89 on May 22, 2007 22:30:11 GMT -5
Today was the day of the funeral for Rev. Jerry Falwell. And, being the insane and hateful folks that they are, the Westboro Baptist Church (www.godhatesf a gs.com www.godhatesamerica.com www.godhatescanada.com www.godhatessweden.com www.priestsrapeboys.com www.americaisdoomed.com and http://www.thesignsofthetimes.net) showed up to picket.
A brief bit of background on them--
Pastor Fred Phelps, whose extended family composes the body of that church (which is held in his basement), has sent his congregants to picket the funerals of all the U.S. soldiers who have died in Iraq, and also the funerals of all major religious leaders. They've been interviewed on CNN, amongst other media outlets. They were going to come and picket all 32 funerals of the Virginia Tech victims, but Pat Robertson (conservative talk-radio host) stepped in and offered them all three hours of his air-time in exchange for their written permission not to protest.
For more, see en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Westboro_baptist
Anyhow, they showed up, and I had to see them in person. So I went, took pictures, and then lead a group of counter-protesters. I stood there for probably an hour, with a "Unitarian for love" sign and a hymnal, and sang songs of Jesus' love right back at them, as they sang songs of hatred (i.e. "God Hates America", a rewrite of 'God Bless America'; "This Land is f*g Land", a rewrite of 'This Land is Your Land'; etc.). It was a very draining, but very good and moral experience.
Anyhow, I took some pictures:
They are some horribly mean people, who use some very strong and hateful words, and have a very ill-advised sense of timing.
It took a lot out of me, especially considering that I'm gay, but I wasn't okay with the idea of them just being allowed to do that without someone standing there and peaceably protesting them.
A brief bit of background on them--
Pastor Fred Phelps, whose extended family composes the body of that church (which is held in his basement), has sent his congregants to picket the funerals of all the U.S. soldiers who have died in Iraq, and also the funerals of all major religious leaders. They've been interviewed on CNN, amongst other media outlets. They were going to come and picket all 32 funerals of the Virginia Tech victims, but Pat Robertson (conservative talk-radio host) stepped in and offered them all three hours of his air-time in exchange for their written permission not to protest.
For more, see en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Westboro_baptist
Anyhow, they showed up, and I had to see them in person. So I went, took pictures, and then lead a group of counter-protesters. I stood there for probably an hour, with a "Unitarian for love" sign and a hymnal, and sang songs of Jesus' love right back at them, as they sang songs of hatred (i.e. "God Hates America", a rewrite of 'God Bless America'; "This Land is f*g Land", a rewrite of 'This Land is Your Land'; etc.). It was a very draining, but very good and moral experience.
Anyhow, I took some pictures:
They are some horribly mean people, who use some very strong and hateful words, and have a very ill-advised sense of timing.
It took a lot out of me, especially considering that I'm gay, but I wasn't okay with the idea of them just being allowed to do that without someone standing there and peaceably protesting them.
