Fred Phelps: the Fallout.

[Jake D]

Today I was heading out on my lunch break.  I got held up for like 15 minutes waiting for a funeral to pass by at an intersection. 

It didn't take me long to realize that it was a soldiers funeral.  I had read about him.  He was 23 years old and he gave his life for this country.  What else can you ask of him?  He must have been very brave.

Some people are not brave.  Some are cowards.

Rev. Fred Phelps has been protesting our government at soldier's funeral here in the mid-west.  Him and his clan hold up signs that say  "Fags will burn in hell", "nancy boy lover" etc.  Pardon my language, but you have to understand the tenor of the protest.  They have little if anything to do with the war, and nothing at all to do with any particular soldier.  He protests our government because of it's attitude towards gays.

The familys of the departed have to listen to the chants during the funerals.  Their last moments with their loved ones are drown out by these hateful chants.

This is where motorcyclists come in.  There is a gang of bikers, Harley riders mostly, called the Patriot Riders that also go to the funerals.  They shield the families from the chants by revving their motors.  So instead of these horrible protests, the families hear the Harley engines. 

Some people don't like loud pipes on Harleys.  But they have served at least one very important purpose.
The Patriot Riders, about 50 of them, were in the funeral procession today.  Riding right behind the family on their Harleys to the grave site.  Making sure nothing happened.  You have to respect them for that.  They were all clean cut older guys too.  I was pretty proud of them.

You can read about Fred Phelps, of Topeka, Kansas, at his website.  www.godhatesfags.com  I'm serious.  That is his website.  Don't look at it if you don't want to.  I just wanted everyone to know that there is a guy out there that proclaims to be a Man of God that is willing to attach himself to something so vile. 

[Jake D]

Note: this website has edited the F_G word.  Where is says "nancy boys" it should really say the three letter F word.
So his website is www.godhatesf-gs.com

Language that is inappropriate for a motorcycle website is used at soldiers' funerals.  That isn't very Christian, if you ask me.

</rant>

[RVertigo]

I saw that guy and his website about a year ago...

He's 100% nutter and should die.

[makenzie71]

too bad he's not a little more local...my girl could make a mess of him at 500yds...

I will sa, though, that the patriot riders are pimps.  I'd ride with them.

[Jake D]

Those guys are pimps.  I wanted to ride with them.  There was one person on a sport bike: a girl, on a SV650, naked, with clip ons. 
Much respect. 
Usually, they have to have a ton of cops at these soldiers funerals to keep the Patriot Riders and the Phelps clan from mixing it up.  Whether or not you agree with his message about ghey people, you have to agree he is going about it in a really, really, really horrible way.

[makenzie71]

I'd really love to hit one of these funerals up with a couple buddies and set up a ballon launcher 50 yds opposite the gravesite...then hit the phelps groupies with jello balloons.

[3imo]

Calling all Snipers.....mount up.

Don't you have to have permission to rally a protest?  Who gave it to them?

Jeesus, I just don't get zealots.  just don't make any kind of sense. 

People like that should get raped in ass and forced to say "I love it" over and over again while it's happening.  Then promptly shot in the head.

[Jake D]

Well, it is really hard for cities to use prior restraint to put the clamps on free speech.  Especially political speech.  So they have to allow them to protest.  But I can say with all certainty that they are very watchful of the situation.  But really they have no choice.  They can't chill or restrain Fred Phelps and his daughters (who are attorneys) right to free speech any more than they can restrain mine.

It is the same reason Nazi Skin Heads and the Klan can protest on MLK Day, etc.  Political speech. 

[3imo]

Well, it is really hard for cities to use prior restrain to put the clamps on free speech.  Especially political speech.  So they have to allow them to protest.  But I can say with all certainty that they are very watchful of the situation.  But really they have no choice.  They can't chill or restrain Fred Phelps and his daughters (who are attorneys) right to free speech any more than they can restrain mine.

It is the same reason Nazi Skin Heads and the Klan can protest on MLK Day, etc.  Political speech. 

Sure, No doubt...Let the man speak...by all means.

But not a my Brothers funeral...A man who died defending the country that gave Phelps the right to free speech.

I know you understand me, I don't mean to get on to you.

I think in this case whoever gave him permission to protest shouldn't have let him do it durring the funeral...after, before , who cares.  But during the actual funeral and within earshot of the family.

f%$k NO.

If they want to make a statement, do it somewhere else. 

I served in Iraq, as did both my brothers and my father served in desert storm......Let those basards show up around me and I will end up in prison with multiple life terms, no doubt.

*********
~taking chill pill ~  "WOOOOSAAAAAA"

[pandy]

That's the big irony here. These nutcases are free to protest and disrupt the grief of others at the expense of those who've given their lives to protect that free speech. There aren't enough shameful words for them.

Our fallen soldiers certainly deserve better. Hopefully the grieving families find some comfort in the covering sounds of the supportive motorcyclists. You can bet that we'll go out there and help cover the rantings of the nutcases if they come to our neighborhood. 

[Jake D]

I totally hear you.  If it was my brother's funeral, they'd need a team of pit bulls to pull me off of those jerks.  I'd be seeing red and there would be nothing that could stop me.  

Trust me: many, many people have fought this battle before.  Just look up the name of his church.  They have sued so many different people.  There is just nothing you can do to stop them except rev the crap out of your Harley.  

[3imo]

The Iraqi insurgents have shown us soldiers ingenious little lo-tech ways of getting rid of annoyances.

Anyway, it is so upsetting.   Those soldiers don't make policy within the army, They had nothing to do with allowing Gays in the Army.
Using a funeral to voice Political agendas should be illegal.

[jordanearl]

its just a matter of time before sumbody takes some of them out.  an I won't even bat an eye about the news of it

[makenzie71]

In reality no one will do anything about it.  The people they offend are the people who stand by the graves of those who've they've respected.  How much would your respect for the fallen mean if you opposed those they defended?

[Nydus666]

Ya they cam to my high school graduatio a few years ago because one of my fellow grads got the Matthew shepard scholler ship look at the botom of the page pics of the signs they used in there protest

http://www.godhatesamerica.com/ghfmir/fliers/may2003/Lincoln_High_School_5-17-2003.pdf

[CirclesCenter]

Question:

How do I join up with the patriot riders for one of these deals?

I may not agree with some stuff they may do, but I really disagree with that nutter. All his little groupies...... GRRRRR......... I think I'd take my muffler off, go up next to him and hold it at 10k with an extension on the pipe that would put it approximately in his EAR.

[makenzie71]

http://patriotguard.org/

[Caffeine]

Mr. Phelps has been around for a long time, and is an asshat and a coward of the highest order.   

[Jake D]

Thanks for that link, Mak.

I joined Patriot Guard Riders!

Next time they have a ride in the area, I'll be there. 

[CirclesCenter]

You know on that I'm going to have to hit myself with a "SEARCH NOOB!" 

Lol I am such a dork.