[zmcgill]

I'd heard of these guys before, but it really became real when they protested at a soldier's funeral held at my old high school this morning.

Originally Posted by Des Moines Register

Ogden, Ia. – About 1200 friends, family and neighbors slowly streamed into the Ogden High School this morning for the funeral of Iowa Army National Guard Sgt. Daniel L. Sesker, who was killed in action in Iraq.

Sesker, 22, a gunner, was killed about 30 miles northwest of Tikrit, Iraq, when a roadside bomb exploded near his truck. He was the 36th Iowan to die in combat in Afghanistan or Iraq.

As mourners turned into the high school, a group of nine protestors stood in plain view 530-feet away, on the other side of Division St. The three teenage women, four adult women, one adult male and one young boy left their spot on the windswept road without incident at 10:04, or four minutes after Sesker's funeral began.

Dressed in red, white and blue and displaying placards that declared, "You're Going To Hell,'' "Fag Vets,'' and "Thank God for Dead Soldiers,'' the group was far enough away to be in compliance with legislation enacted Monday outlawing protests near funerals in Iowa.

Gov. Tom Vilsack, traveling in the Middle East, signed the bill into law Monday afternoon. It's the first time that he has enacted legislation while not in the country. The new law bans disorderly conduct, such as abusive language or disreputive behavior, within 500 feet of a funeral, memorial service, funeral procession or burial.

Ogden Police Chief Mick Bailey said he had planned to put the protestors on the spot 530-feet away from the high school even before Vilsack signed the law.

Protestors at this morning's funeral said they were members of Westboro Baptist Church in Topeka, Kan. Members began protesting at soldiers’ funerals in June, claiming that God is killing the soldiers because the United States and U.S. military condone homosexuality.

About 100 members of the Patriot Guard, an organization recently formed by veterans’ motorcycle groups and motorcycle enthusiasts were also present. Members of the group provide a human barrier at funerals to protect mourners from hearing and seeing the protesters.

Keith Calloway of Glenwood, captain of the Iowa Patriot Guard, said they had asked permission of Sesker's family to attend today's funeral. Before the funeral, Calloway said group members on motorcycle would escort the funeral procession to the cemetery for the private burial.

Calloway said even though the Patriot Guard offers to provide a human barrier to protesters, they do not seek confrontation.

"What I tell my people to do is turn their back to them so we don't even acknowledge their existence,'' Calloway said of the protestors. "Anyone that comes to a place like this with hate-filled messages doesn't even deserve to be recognized."

and from their website

Originally Posted by godhatesfags.com

Ogden High School 732 West Division St. Army Spc. Daniel L. Sesker was openly hated by his parents, his family, his "friends," his state, and his country. He grew up in a Sodomite country, where the zeitgeist says that it's okay to disobey the plain commandments of God. All those close to Sesker propagated that soul-damning lie, and in doing so brought the condign wrath of God upon his head. Where in God's name did he get the idea that it was okay to mess around with a woman before he was married? Where in God's name did he get the idea that he could flip off God and openly scorn His Law with impunity? Where in God's name did he get the idea that it was noble to fight in a fag army for a fag nation that's on the short path to eternal destruction? That's right: his parents, his family, his "friends," his state, and his country. They are to blame for the fact that Sesker is now in a million pieces, the appropriate punishment for their filthy manner of life. And now that God has executed His righteous judgment on that family, this is another of God's commandments that they rebelliously refuse to follow: "For thus saith the LORD, Enter not into the house of mourning, neither go to lament nor bemoan them: for I have taken away my peace from this people, saith the LORD, even lovingkindness and mercies. Both the great and the small shall die in this land: they shall not be buried, neither shall men lament for them...neither shall men give them the cup of consolation to drink for their father or for their mother." Jeremiah 16:5-7. WBC will be at the funeral of Army Spc. Daniel L. Sesker to warn all the necromancers in attendence: "Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap." Galatians 6:7. America is doomed.

So they wrote an entire backstory for someone that they do not even know? What makes them think "St. Army Spc. Daniel L. Sesker was openly hated by his parents, his family, his "friends," his state, and his country." He was not gay, he was engaged to a woman, his family, and our entire town is damn proud of him. I don't care if you support the war or not, you have to show respect for those that have lost their lives.

It makes me so frustrated that people take what the Bible says totally out of context and use it to justify hateful actions like this. What they're doing does not express love, respect, or anything else Jesus truly promoted. Sad.

[Dark Helmet]

Great bunch of people.

Question, how many gay folks have protested against religious people in a form of HATE?

[Dakar]

Wait, why do they think he's gay?

[zmcgill]

Originally Posted by Dark Helmet

Great bunch of people.

Question, how many gay folks have protested against religious people in a form of HATE?

I'm not sure how good of a question that is because gay people have no reason to believe religion is wrong. But 'religious' people have the Bible to misinterpret.

[Dark Helmet]

Originally Posted by Gossamer

I'm not sure how good of a question that is because gay people have no reason to believe religion is wrong. But 'religious' people have the Bible to misinterpret.

If gay people are always the victims of such hate, discrimination and flat out dis-respect you would think they would retaliate.

So far the only retaliation has been asking to be treated like everyone else.

Who is the bad person here?

[zmcgill]

Originally Posted by Dark Helmet

If gay people are always the victims of such hate, discrimination and flat out dis-respect you would think they would retaliate.

[joking]But then they might break a nail[./joking]

Originally Posted by Dark Helmet

Who is the bad person here?

Quite obviously it is those who preach a message of hate and back it up by taking scripture out of context.

[abe]

God hates figs.

JESUS REBUKED THE FIG AS AN EVIL ABOMINATION.

"Now in the morning as he returned into the city, he was hungry.
"And when he saw a fig tree by the road, he came to it, and found nothing on it, but leaves only, and said to it, Let no fruit grow on you henceforward for ever. And presently the fig tree withered away.
"And when the disciples saw it, they marvelled, saying, How soon has the fig tree withered away!"
--Matthew 21:18-20

JESUS COMMANDED US NOT TO EAT OF THE CURSED FIG.

"The next day, when they came from Bethany, he was hungry:
"And seeing a fig tree afar off having leaves, he came, if perhaps he might find any thing on it: and when he came to it, he found nothing but leaves; for the time of figs was not yet.
"And Jesus answered and said to it, No man eat fruit of you hereafter forever. And his disciples heard it.
--Mark 11:12-14

EAT A FIG, GO TO HELL.

"He destroyed their vines with hail and their sycamore-figs with sleet."
--Psalm 78:47

GOD PROMISES TERRIBLE VENGEANCE FOR FIG-EATERS.

"Yes, this is what the LORD Almighty says: "I will send the sword, famine and plague against them and I will make them like poor figs that are so bad they cannot be eaten."
--Jeremiah 29:17

http://www.godhatesfigs.com/

[zmcgill]

Originally Posted by abe

God hates figs.

http://www.godhatesfigs.com/

haha, i like that
It just goes to show that you can make the Bible support whatever you'd like it to when taken out of context.

[Millennium]

So let me get this straight: the guy wasn't gay, and the protesters knew he wasn't gay, yet they picketed his funeral anyway?

Geez; so not only are they fiends, they're also stupid fiends. They not only give my faith a bad name, they give a bad name to people who give my faith a bad name. It almost makes me wish I had a motorcycle.

But hey; in a desperate effort to pull something positive out of this, I learned a new word:

condign (kuhn-DYN) adjective

Well-deserved, appropriate.

[From Middle English condigne, from Anglo French, from Latin condignus, from com- (completely) + dignus (worthy). Ultimately from Indo-European root dek- (to take, accept) that's the ancestor of other words such as deign, dignity, discipline, doctor, decorate, and docile.]

[Monique]

This is totally sick. The guy is dead leave his soul alone; thos religious nuts should go somewhere in a very deep hole and never come out.

[Dark Helmet]

Originally Posted by Gossamer

[joking]But then they might break a nail[./joking]

More like mess up their hair. Most gay men don't grow out their nails.

[abe]

Originally Posted by Millennium

So let me get this straight: the guy wasn't gay, and the protesters knew he wasn't gay, yet they picketed his funeral anyway?

Geez; so not only are they fiends, they're also stupid fiends. They not only give my faith a bad name, they give a bad name to people who give my faith a bad name. It almost makes me wish I had a motorcycle.

But hey; in a desperate effort to pull something positive out of this, I learned a new word:

condign (kuhn-DYN)

Which should not be confused with the name of a device the protester's parents might have used to prevent these heartless protests.

[zmcgill]

Originally Posted by Dark Helmet

More like mess up their hair. Most gay men don't grow out their nails.

haha true

[Macrobat]

Unfortunately, even aceholes have Constitutional rights.

But hey, at least they didn't strap an explosive vest on and blow up the funeral, so I guess there's a semblance of a brighter side.


See the difference in "Christian Fundie Morons" and those who shall remain un-named?

[Dark Helmet]

Originally Posted by Macrobat

Unfortunately, even aceholes have Constitutional rights.

But hey, at least they didn't strap an explosive vest on and blow up the funeral, so I guess there's a semblance of a brighter side.


See the difference in "Christian Fundie Morons" and those who shall remain un-named?

Oh please comparing them to other countries the US is supposed to be better than means nothing to its victims.

Why not point the finger at all the gay Americans that have been killed by other fellow Americans?

Even better set an example. Or is not blowing things up but going to a funeral and saying your kid is going to hell for being gay that much better?

[Millennium]

Originally Posted by Dark Helmet

Or is not blowing things up but going to a funeral and saying your kid is going to hell for being gay that much better?

OK, far be it from me to defend the Westboro Baptists, but this argument is absurd. Give the devil his due: what they do is indeed monstrous, but it's not even in the same league as blowing people up. Hurt feelings, while very painful, are generally survivable. Bomb blasts are generally not.

[Dark Helmet]

Originally Posted by Millennium

OK, far be it from me to defend the Westboro Baptists, but this argument is absurd. Give the devil his due: what they do is indeed monstrous, but it's not even in the same league as blowing people up. Hurt feelings, while very painful, are generally survivable. Bomb blasts are generally not.

Who cares either way. Saying "at least they didn't blow the ****ing place up like that country we are currently at war with" doesn't make anyone feel better and is stupid to say in the first place.

You might as well say "at least they just knocked some large buildings down and not lynched woman on the streets". See how that feels.

[yakkiebah]

Ah more religious freaks. Ok they didn't strap a bunch of explosives around their waist and freedom of speech is one thing but celebrating the death of a gay soldier at his funeral? What a lovely bunch.

These soldiers died for their freedom like Jesus died for their sins. Or something like that...

[ghporter]

They do not care who the person whose funeral they protest at was. They do not care that they inflict their hate on the bereaved family of a young man who probably thought he was doing good. They do not care at all.

They DO want to spread their message that our soldiers are dying because (according to them) the United States tolerates homosexuality.

I hope they're right about the afterlife; their brand of intolerance is so un-Christian that I think they'll all burn in Hell. I really hope they do.

[ironknee]

i've heard the g-h-f people on howard stern...if i'm not mistaken, it's run by a mom and her 2 daughters...dumb people...howard just makes fun of them...

cnn has been kind of following these people...last i heard, a motocycle group comes to the aid of the soldier's family by blocking the sickos from them

[FeLiZeCaT]

Originally Posted by ironknee

i've heard the g-h-f people on howard stern...if i'm not mistaken, it's run by a mom and her 2 daughters...dumb people...howard just makes fun of them...

cnn has been kind of following these people...last i heard, a motocycle group comes to the aid of the soldier's family by blocking the sickos from them

She reminds me of that woman in Donnie Darko who could not believe her idol was a child molester...

[Dark Helmet]

Originally Posted by FeLiZeCaT

She reminds me of that woman in Donnie Darko who could not believe her idol was a child molester...

Ha ha ha totally. She was a nut also, do they all look the same?

"Sometimes I question your commitment to Sparkle Motion!"

[FeLiZeCaT]

Originally Posted by Dark Helmet

Ha ha ha totally. She was a nut also, do they all look the same?

"Sometimes I question your commitment to Sparkle Motion!"

LOL!

Yeah. Madness goes by the dozen I tell ya...

[abe]

Originally Posted by ghporter

They do not care who the person whose funeral they protest at was. They do not care that they inflict their hate on the bereaved family of a young man who probably thought he was doing good. They do not care at all.

They DO want to spread their message that our soldiers are dying because (according to them) the United States tolerates homosexuality.

I hope they're right about the afterlife; their brand of intolerance is so un-Christian that I think they'll all burn in Hell. I really hope they do.

Could it be that they exist as a way for us to spiritually "debug" ourselves?

As we walk along life's path and we see these people publicly scorned many of us will take that opportunity to really examine ourselves to see if there is anything in us that is also worthy of scorn.

And if we see within us some things that we don't like we can then grow (by just that tiny bit) to be more loving beings.

[abe]

Originally Posted by ironknee

i've heard the g-h-f people on howard stern...if i'm not mistaken, it's run by a mom and her 2 daughters...dumb people...howard just makes fun of them...

cnn has been kind of following these people...last i heard, a motocycle group comes to the aid of the soldier's family by blocking the sickos from them

[img]http://www.howardstern.com/dtcms/tsimg/f/f_04-05-05_5b.jpg]

Yeah, that's them and I've heard them on his show, also.

[Dark Helmet]

Originally Posted by ironknee

i've heard the g-h-f people on howard stern...if i'm not mistaken, it's run by a mom and her 2 daughters...dumb people...howard just makes fun of them...

She does have some valid points about the pope and "nobody serves God, they only serve themselves".

"Shirley from God Hates Fags .com, called in today to voice her thoughts on the recent death of the Pope. She said the Pope is burning in hell because he ran the largest pedophile machine in history (she actually pronounced it wrong, she said it with a long "e" sound like PETA). She went on to spout off various crazy theories about how pretty much everybody on Earth, now and from the start of time, is going to hell because nobody serves God, they only serve themselves. Howard asked what religion she is, "Meethodist" or "Epeescopalian"? She just said she is a servant of God. She added that, in her mind, each Catholic is either a pedophile or an enabler and the Catholic Church is a monster. Callers had a field day with this one, saying everything from "She's a psycho" to "I gotta bang the stupid out of her." She said she's never kissed another guy, other than her husband, never had sex before marriage, never touched herself in an improper way, and called Howard a pervert. Howard tried to break her flimsy claims down about her past, but the most he could get out of her was that she didn't want to talk about her past sins. Artie said to take it easy on the Pope because he had "meedical" problems."

[zmcgill]

HE WAS NOT GAY.

This needs to be cleared up. He was a heterosexual soldier with a pregnant fiance. The soldier had nothing to do with homosexuality. The protesters were there only because it was a soldier that died, and they claim the iraq war is punishment from God for the Army condoning homosexuality.
Once again: He was NOT gay.

[ironknee]

Originally Posted by abe

Yeah, that's them and I've heard them on his show, also.

hey now

[Person Man]

Two words:

Sue them.*

*Yes, I know they weren't breaking the law, but the fact that they were there where people could see them would be enough for me to sue them for "added pain and suffering." Civil suit.

It's the American Way™

[zmcgill]

Signs saying '"You're Going To Hell,'' "Fag Vets,'' and "Thank God for Dead Soldiers,''' is about as tasteless and you can get.
Why don't they just go to funerals of babies that died of SIDS or something and hold up signs with dead baby jokes on them.

[abe]

Originally Posted by Person Man

Two words:

Sue them.*

*Yes, I know they weren't breaking the law, but the fact that they were there where people could see them would be enough for me to sue them for "added pain and suffering." Civil suit.

It's the American Way™

One way or another we have the will and the way to minimize the harm of those who would spread hatred in His name.

[Helmling]

Those who fight monsters should be very careful that they do not themselves become monsters. For when you look into an abyss, an abyss looks back into you...

These people should stand as a glaring warning to anyone, anywhere who would presume to think they know exactly what the will of God is.

Live by your own light, lead by example, and be humble above all else. That's these people's sin: Pride.

[zmcgill]

Originally Posted by Helmling

That's these people's sin: Pride.

...and desecrating the very words of God.

[NYCFarmboy]

the godhatesfags people have nothing to do with Christianity.

simply a disgusting hategroup disguised as a "church".

[ironknee]

i wonder what is driving this group...you know when a guy is homophobic, it might say something about his own sexualy hangups, well this is run by a mom...what's up with dat?

1/ where is her husband?
2/ was she jilted once by a gay man? ie "honey, i am gay."
3/ was her FATHER into a bi/gay lifestyle that she didn't approve?

[cpt kangarooski]

WBC will be at the funeral of Army Spc. Daniel L. Sesker to warn all the necromancers in attendence: "Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap." Galatians 6:7.

I dunno. If they're really necromancers, and they're at a funeral, and presumably at a graveyard, do you really want to piss them off?

[FeLiZeCaT]

Originally Posted by Gossamer

...and desecrating the very words of God.

So who heard the Dude speak yet?

[abe]

[Kevin]

Originally Posted by Dark Helmet

Question, how many gay folks have protested against religious people in a form of HATE?

You do it in this forum all the time SWG.

You do realize that right?

[ebuddy]

Originally Posted by Person Man

Two words:

Sue them.*

*Yes, I know they weren't breaking the law, but the fact that they were there where people could see them would be enough for me to sue them for "added pain and suffering." Civil suit.

It's the American Way™

Cool thing here in my State; it is now (since they came here trying to protest one of our soldier's funerals) ILLEGAL to protest on funeral grounds for 2 hours before and 1 hour after a ceremony is being held! This won't be happening again in my State. Now, if they want to protest a funeral in my State, they'll have to consider whether or not prison is worth it. They won't be coming back here.

There is a motorcycle gang (Patriot Guard Riders) that travel behind these hate mongers, affirms permission from the family of the deceased, and parks their bikes right smack dab in front of the hate mongers. As soon as the hate mongers begin chanting, these guys open up a giant fabric sheet in the shape of wings and it basically takes the hate mongers out of sight altogether. When the haters get louder, so do the bikes to drown them out.

[Dark Helmet]

Originally Posted by ebuddy

Cool thing here in my State; it is now (since they came here trying to protest one of our soldier's funerals) ILLEGAL to protest on funeral grounds for 2 hours before and 1 hour after a ceremony is being held! This won't be happening again in my State. Now, if they want to protest a funeral in my State, they'll have to consider whether or not prison is worth it. They won't be coming back here.

That's a smart idea. I don't think it is morally correct to protest at ANY funeral.

[Demonhood]

walk up to them with a sign that says "These men have no penis."

or, more maturely, "God hates hate."

[goMac]

They don't think he's gay. That's not the point of their protests.

They argue in since he died for a nation that has gay people in it that he's going to hell.

That's right, they're just that crazy.

[Millennium]

Originally Posted by ebuddy

Cool thing here in my State; it is now (since they came here trying to protest one of our soldier's funerals) ILLEGAL to protest on funeral grounds for 2 hours before and 1 hour after a ceremony is being held! This won't be happening again in my State. Now, if they want to protest a funeral in my State, they'll have to consider whether or not prison is worth it. They won't be coming back here.

See, I'm not sure this is the proper way to handle things.

Let us suppose for the sake of argument that at some future point, a war breaks out and a draft is instituted. Someone known for being outspoken against this draft finds himself drafted, goes to war, and dies. His friends, acting on instructions he left before going to war, decide to use his funeral to stage a big anti-draft protest, with the funeral itself as the centerpiece. Only because of this law, they can't do that now.

Throwing out bathwater is a noble goal, but not if there are babies in it.

There is a motorcycle gang (Patriot Guard Riders) that travel behind these hate mongers, affirms permission from the family of the deceased, and parks their bikes right smack dab in front of the hate mongers. As soon as the hate mongers begin chanting, these guys open up a giant fabric sheet in the shape of wings and it basically takes the hate mongers out of sight altogether. When the haters get louder, so do the bikes to drown them out.

Now this is the proper way to deal with hate-protesters. Don't silence them; counter them.

[Dakar]

I don't disagree with your thinking, Millenium, but I think the majority of the time the mourners would prefer the former to the latter.

[smacintush]

Their type of Christianity is just as twisted as any other Christian denomination. These people are just twisted in a way that displeases most of our society. Not worse, just different. I mean, the God of The Bible™ was vengeful and destructive, and the view on homosexuality was pretty clear. It wasn't a real far stretch for these people to glean what they have out of it.

[davesimondotcom]

Sean Hannity interviewed one of these wackos (actually, their attorney) on Monday. I know some of you probably think Hannity is a religious nutjob, but he ripped this lady a new one.

Basically, she was saying that because these soldiers died for a country that is (slowly) learning to accept gay people, that has accepted divorce and non-marital sex, etc. that God is striking them down.

I don't think that anyone's funeral is a place to protest. Remember the asshats that protested at Matthew Shepard's funeral? These are probably many of the same people and their ilk.

In fact, these people are <this close> to being the Al-Queda of Christianity. Zealots who overinterpret and want to push their views on everyone else. Anyone who disagrees is better as a dead person.

I'm not religious, but I have to think that these are exactly the type of people who are headed to a very warm afterlife, if God has his way.

[smacintush]

Originally Posted by davesimondotcom

I don't think that anyone's funeral is a place to protest.

I think these people are idiots but I would also say that we as a society put too much ceremony into death. Why such formality over something as natural and commonplace as death? It doesn't serve the dead and it doesn't make the loss any easier for the living.

It is the artificial reverence for such ceremonies that creates the opportunity for these nutjobs to display their particular brand of retardedness. If people had a healthy, natural view towards death then starting protests like these would be like trying to light a fire in a vacuum.

[Millennium]

Originally Posted by davesimondotcom

I don't think that anyone's funeral is a place to protest. Remember the asshats that protested at Matthew Shepard's funeral? These are probably many of the same people and their ilk.

Actually, the odds are pretty good that they're exactly the same people. It's definitely the same group.

In fact, these people are <this close> to being the Al-Queda of Christianity.

No, they're not. Even fiends like this are not in remotely the same league as al-Qaeda. Such groups do exist, however: go a Google search for "army of god" and the first response is the Website for one of them. I don't recommend going there, however; the site includes pictures of aborted fetuses and such. Possibly not safe for work, definitely not safe for lunch.

Zealots who overinterpret and want to push their views on everyone else. Anyone who disagrees is better as a dead person.

They're still a very far cry from bombing buildings. Believe it or not, even the Westboro Baptists have someone they can legitimately look down on.

[Kevin]

Originally Posted by Demonhood

or, more maturely, "God hates hate."