This was supposed to post last Friday. I emailed it to myself, and it didn't transfer. When I got home, it was nowhere to be found. If you just understood that, I'm very frightened for you.
The Westboro Church, led by the inbred Phelps family is back at their anti-gay antics. You may have heard of their plans to picket the funerals of the shooting victims of last week’s massacre at Northern Illinois University. Now the plan to carry it further by going to the University to picket. What is the gay tie in to the shootings, you may be asking? There is none. But in their twisted brand of Christianity, this shooting is the result of God’s revenge and anger at gays and lesbians. C’mon, can’t you connect those dots?!
This group has been picketing funerals of gay men and anyone who died from AIDS related conditions for years. They came to prominence when they picketed Matthew Shepherd’s funeral with their usual megaphones, and placards “God hates Fags”, as well as a number of other ‘catchy’ phrases. Of late, they’ve expanded their funeral picketing to service men and women who have died in the line of duty serving our country. Again, using the same anti-gay rhetoric and transferring it onto the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. Again, you see the connection, don’t you?!
Groups have wanted to travel to Dekalb, to combat this group’s actions. NIU has respectfully asked people to not do so here:
http://www.niu.edu/LGBT/tragedy/RespondingToHate.shtml
They suggest ways in which you can best support them against the hate mongers.
I have had first hand experience with this group. They came to Chicago to picket Broadway United Methodist Church, because the head minister was a (straight man) gay supportive minister who’s ministry involved many social justice issues. There were enough people to create a ‘barricade’ two people deep, surrounding the church property. Although I didn’t attend the actual worship service, it was one of the most meaningful ‘religious’ experiences I’ve ever been a part of. God needs some new spokespeople.
This post could be a corrolary to Sid's post of the past weekend here: http://surgeonsblog.blogspot.com/2008/02/funnyman_24.html
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1 comment:
Oh, good God in heaven.
The thing is: I am straight; but I am an ally. BUT i was in a born-again christian cult for 12 years. ah, yes, cultsville, you know, "the discipleship movement." just about makes me vomit to write about it. So I know the Phelps folks....but from another connection:
for 10 years, i played in the orchestra of the touring company for new york city opera. when we played in topeka, the phelpsies showed up with their God Hates Fags signs. See, god hates opera too, i guess, or opera is for fags, or something.
this new brand of hate where they picket funerals of soldiers who have served their country and picket funerals of kids who lost their lives because of gun violence brings this to mind:
"and Jesus wept."
so, i am sure, did Buddha. what can you say in the face of such ignorance and hate?
r., thanks for bringing this to our attention....
sighing,
kcd
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