| Submit your comments on this article |
| Home Front: Politix |
| Bagpipes drown our protesters at Soldier's Funeral |
| 2005-07-01 |
| LAT EFL MARBLEHEAD, Mass. â This proud old seaport, whose sons and daughters have fought in every American war, was grieving for Army Staff Sgt. Christopher Piper. The 43-year-old Green Beret died after his Humvee hit a roadside bomb June 3 in Afghanistan. When word got out that demonstrators from Kansas planned to disrupt Piper's funeral Monday, residents vowed not to let them interfere with the tribute to their hometown hero. "I was worried that it would fester anger," said Louise Moore, 39, fighting back tears and waving a small American flag. "Instead it got everyone together." The 14 demonstrators from Westboro Baptist Church in Topeka, Kan., picketed Monday on a corner near the Old North Church, a Congregational parish founded in 1635, soon after Marblehead was settled. The followers of the Rev. Fred Phelps, who blame American tolerance of homosexuality for the Sept. 11 attacks and the resulting U.S. military casualties in Iraq and Afghanistan, have targeted Massachusetts for protests because it is the only state where same-sex marriage is legal. Shirley Phelps-Roper, a lawyer for the Kansas church, said Monday that the funeral demonstration was nothing personal against Piper, who was not gay. "We are protesting the sins of this nation," Phelps-Roper said. "That doesn't exclude him." On the corner of a narrow street lined with Colonial-era buildings, the Kansas contingent tried shouting its anti-homosexual message at mourners who overflowed from the church. But every time demonstrators spoke out, the 14-man Boston Police Department bagpipe band broke into thunderous sound. |
| Posted by:Mrs. Davis |
| #16 By their deeds shall ye know them, anymouse. Despite their claims, the Phelps spawn are proved not to be true Christians of any stripe, nor even true believers of any religion, because if they were they would tremble in fear of the consequences of their words and actions thus far. Those who know this wouldn't dream of associating you with such as they, so you should be indignant and perhaps angered at their presumption, but never embarrassed, which would give them much more consequence than they deserve. Congratulations on your son's achievement, and thanks to him and you for all that you have done to keep America and the world safe, and all you both will yet do. Sleep well! |
| Posted by: trailing wife 2005-07-01 23:53 |
| #15 As a born-again Christian, senior Navy Reserve officer and the father of young man who will soon be commissioned a 2LT in the USMC...I am embarrased and speechless. Embarrased to be associated with a bunch of fools who claim to be doing "God's work" and speechless regarding what to say to a grieving family. I am not arrogant enough to tell you I am completely tuned in to His mind and His heart. Certainly the sin of the country breaks His heart. However, in reference to the wornout euphemism "WWJD"...I think I can say with some measure of confidence that Jesus would not use the funeral of a fallen soldier to further his Father's kingdom. The New Testament is replete with examples where believers are clearly implored to be careful not to do things that give the appearance of evil. Regardless of their motives...these people are certainly giving the appearance of evil and and are dragging the name of whom they claim to worship into the mud. That is shameful. |
| Posted by: anymouse 2005-07-01 23:18 |
| #14 Colorado Springs has been "blessed" with two visits from these Westboro nuts and their barrels of bile. The followers of the Rev. Fred Phelps,.... have targeted Massachusetts for protests because it is the only state where same-sex marriage is legal. That's a lie. Phelps and the Westboro Baptists either have protested or are planning protests of other public funerals of soldiers from Idaho, Michigan, Alabama, Minnesota, Virginia and Colorado. A protest is planned for July 11 at Dover Air Force Base, the military base where war dead are transported before being sent on to their home states. For more information on this disbarred lawyer and his nut case family AKA the Westboro Baptist Church read this. And for more on the Westboro Church's views on Jews, gays, Blacks, Christians and the United States. Read WBC's own words which best demonstrate the wide range and disturbing nature of its hatred. Larson,#12, is correct. It's not a church,but a festering den of hatred. |
| Posted by: GK 2005-07-01 22:16 |
| #13 This story made my day. I knew somebody would step up and contain these vermin. |
| Posted by: Xbalanke 2005-07-01 16:48 |
| #12 I so wish they'd stop referring to Phelps's little den o' hate as a church. |
| Posted by: eLarson 2005-07-01 16:15 |
| #11 Bobby___ "A pox on both their houses". |
| Posted by: Mercutio 2005-07-01 15:54 |
| #10 Who's funding all these trips for these idjits? How exactly do they make a living? (and the answer better not be welfare) |
| Posted by: Barbara Skolaut 2005-07-01 14:16 |
| #9 What's with these fools? What in the hell does this guy's funeral have to do with gay rights? "A" definately does not equal "A" in this equation. |
| Posted by: Secret Master 2005-07-01 13:04 |
| #8 Somebody gets soooo far left, and some other clown gets sooo far right, eventually they meet each other, back-to-back, asshole-to-asshole. |
| Posted by: Bobby 2005-07-01 12:25 |
| #7 Fred Phelps is an asshat. His followers are mouth-breathers. Good for the police department bagpipe band. |
| Posted by: Steve White 2005-07-01 11:55 |
| #6 Let em try this shit at a funeral near where I live. We've already thought this one out. There are a whole pile of former Rangers, Marines and the like who have an action plan for this. Its "non-violent". But even at our ages (40+), with a sprinkling of the younger ones coming in now, you dont want to be Fred Phelps and company. They'll be looking at a skirmish line of hard eyed combat veterans, silent, but giving them a hard stare. In our VFW & Legion gear, all uniform, all the same. Especially when we lock arms, lockstep and march in cadence up to a foot from them and cordon them away from the funeral. And dare them to cross OUR line. Plus a mounted ceremonial unit. The horses asses in the face sounds like a plan too, and we have 2 pipers as well. |
| Posted by: OldSpook 2005-07-01 11:45 |
| #5 Oh Lord, Its things like this that reinforce the looney left's opinion that any one of a religious bent is a nut job. While I have a lot of heartburn with the gay liberation agenda, etc., I am embarrassed that these misguided people would choose such an inappropriate venue for their protests. It just goes to show you that when you get out to the far left and the far right, the convoluted thinking and the intolerance of opposing ideas leaves them not too far apart in their means and methods of ramming their ideas down people's throats. |
| Posted by: SockPuppetofDoom2 2005-07-01 11:26 |
| #4 I'm sorry but halfwit loons from Kansas have no business whatsoever screwing around with the funeral of anyone in Mass. It should not be entitled to protection as "free speach" and should not be tolerated. The townfolk, family and friends of Piper are far more forgiving than I could ever be. Phukwit says it's nothing personal to Piper yet the idiots has no qualms about trying to superimpose and interject their sick minds and beliefs on the man's funeral. It's hard to get much more personal. I'd warn him once and allow 5 minutes for the freaks to vacate. After that, God help them and don't let the canes break too quickly. |
| Posted by: Tkat 2005-07-01 11:22 |
| #3 When word got out that demonstrators from Kansas planned to disrupt Piper's funeral Monday,.. Demonstrating at a funeral?? What a classless bunch of pricks. |
| Posted by: Bomb-a-rama 2005-07-01 11:15 |
| #2 The Boston Police Mounted unit was also up there and made it a point to setup in front of them with their horse's asses stuck right in their faces. Must've been like looking in a mirror for these inbred assholes. |
| Posted by: tu3031 2005-07-01 10:39 |
| #1 I'm all for freedom of speech and all that shit, but the guys from that town should have gotten all liquored-up and " worked up a number 6 " on those assholes. I'm sure the bagpipe band would play their hearts out to supress their screams for help. |
| Posted by: bigjim-ky 2005-07-01 10:26 |