I just read that the Phelps family is planning on picketing the funerals of the victims of the VT shooting. The Topeka, Kansas based Westboro Baptist Church, known for anti-gay protests at funerals of military personnel, posted a press release on its website Tuesday indicating that its members plan to picket memorial services for the 32 individuals killed at Virginia Tech on Monday. The release said in part: "WBC to picket memorial services for 32 students massacred at Virginia Tech—in religious protest and warning: God is punishing America for going the way of ancient Sodom and Gomorrah…." The only individual Virginia Tech victim currently on its website’s listing of upcoming picketing is the April 21 funeral of student Ryan Clark, which is scheduled to take place in Evans, Georgia. Luckily, I think a number of states including Georgia have enacted laws to restrict picketing at or near funerals.
[Thanks Howard Friedman for the story]
As my Dad pointed out to me at my sister’s graduation, (at which the Phelpses picketed) the more these nuts trot themselves about, the more they become a symbol of the need for tolerance.
They, of course, think that everything is governed by the will of God, and bad things happen to people who deserve it. Can’t blame them for holding that mythical perspective. I just don't understand why creating more pain in this sinful world helps achieved their religious goals. Is this really the “Good News” to them? They must not be very happy.
2 comments:
What possible point is there to picket a funeral? What are these people trying to acheive? I totally don't understand... to point out their imagined descent of America into hell? I wonder if their absolute faith would extend to themselves had one of their children been killed.
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