Posted on 04/05/2006 8:11:05 AM PDT by StarCMC
They have created a firestorm by picketing the funerals of U.S. soldiers.
Now members of Topeka's Westboro Baptist Church plan to send their message to those wounded in action.
The church has scheduled a protest on Thursday at Walter Reed Army Medical Center in Washington, D.C. Church member Shirley Phelps-Roper said protesters will carry signs that read, "Thank God for maimed soldiers."
"The issue is the wrath of God pouring out on your head," she said. "It's a punishing blow. In some ways, death would be kinder."
The new protest plan comes as 27 states, including Kansas, craft legislation to curb the group's protests at military funerals. Westboro Baptist Church, led by pastor Fred Phelps Sr., believes military deaths are the result of God punishing the United States for tolerating homosexuality.
The church's efforts have been criticized by lawmakers and dignitaries across the country.
"A funeral is a solemn occasion to support those who grieve and to honor the life, service and sacrifice of the fallen. It is not a time or place to hide behind the First Amendment and spout hatred," Jim Mueller, commander-in-chief of the Veterans of Foreign Wars of the U.S., said Monday.
Federal legislation was introduced last week that would ban demonstrations one hour before, during and one hour after a military funeral at a national cemetery. It also would keep protesters at least 500 feet away from mourners.
A hearing on the bill is set for Thursday in front of the House Veterans' Affairs Committee.
Westboro members will protest Thursday afternoon outside the Capitol before traveling to Walter Reed Army Medical Center.
According to its Web site, the Walter Reed Health Care System provides health care to more than 150,000 soldiers, family members and retirees at 10 major treatment centers.
"The point is to warn them," said Phelps-Roper. "People going in there are going to get the message."
DC Freeper Ping - can you guys ping your folks!!
I believe it's about time to lay down some wrath of God on Phelps' screwball head. A little attitude adjustment...by the laying on of hands.
Looks like we have company. The Westboro filth invading Walter Reed.
He's crazy as a rabid bat. He will literally do anything to get his name in the paper. What a sad existence.
So the question is what will Free Republic members - outside of the dedicated patriots of the D.C. chapter - do about this?
Good question!! I wish I lived close enough to help ~ I hope that my posting it here helps somehow!!
If this is not giving "Aid and Comfort" to the enemy during a time of war I don't know what is.
They should be tried and hung for treason...Each and every one of them.
Failure of government to act against these maggots will lead, sooner or later, to a very serious and permanent "disagreement" with some skilled and efficient veterans who will stand faultless before God.
Please FReepmail me if you want on or off my ‘miscellaneous’ ping list.
May the breath of G-d carry these worthy souls, past the indignity of clay headed fools...
Why, took a whole ten posts for someone to blame the President! Easier than looking in the mirror, I suppose.
"We should go down there,get some guys together,y'know, get some bricks and baseball bats and really explain things to them."
(For the record,I'm *not* advocating any sort of illegal act!)
What the difference between this anti-gay preacher and al-Qaida?
Does he rejoice watching those ugly videos from the allahu-akhbar terrorist crowd showing maimed GIs?
I say use aluminum for that rich deep tone of a bat hitting the balls.
This group is so utterly offensive. Not only are they degenerate pigs to picket our wounded soldiers, but they falsely claim to be Christians while doing it. Why don't they just own up to being cultists and get that part over with?
So all in the same month, the left's fifth column buddies are going to provide us not only images of illegals marching with Mexican flags but now of anti-war protests targeted at injured soldiers? Talk about things that are backfiring.
Is it Christmas already?
Phelps-Roper and the followers are pathetic excuses for Americans and human beings. They have taken their crusade to such an extreme they have lost any semblance of credibility in anyones eyes who have any decency whatsoever.
It'd give a new meaning to the word "ping", wouldn't it?
I do not believe these freaks. These people are so far away from God's love it's frightening.
}:-)4
Not affiliated with any Baptist denomination, btw.
I really say this with all sincerity... I strongly believe that Senior Phelps has some hugely deep seeded and strongly perverted homosexual and/or pedophile tendencies. I'll wager his daughter was molested. Wonder if "Perverted-Justice.com" could try to fish this guy out.... Hmmmm.......
These loonies picketing with Code Pink there, too.
If I were Code Pink, I'd be making tracks..
Well you Freepers know this is one rumble I will not miss, even if I have to go alone.
I wish the FR counter protestors could carry big signs saying things like "Fred Phelps Is A Closet Case," or "Come Out Of The Closet, Fred." Something that would get his goat.
I do not blame the president for what the psychos are doing, but for his own inaction.
Maybe a little less time vacationing at his ranch and going to baseball games and a little more time working and the country wouldn't have problems like this.
You're right, it's not the Presidents fault these folks haven't been charged with treason, it's mine. I'll go to law school, and get promoted to attorney general and do it myself. BTW, do you have $10 I can borrow ? My GI Bill check didn't show up for the 18th time in 24 months, and I don't have any money for gas in my car to get to my full time job...to pay for rent and food for my family and tuition...while taking 14 units...
But don't get me wrong, thats not the Presidents fault either.
See, that "What about you?!?" argument is pretty weak when discussing me and Walter Reed. But carry on.
I'll be looking for you and ball bat. You can show me how it's done.
Yes it wood.
Nothing in this world could give me greater satifaction then to beat the ever living snot out of this cretin of the "cloth" while protecting our wounded warriors from him.
We all know who this jerk and his followers are, we've heard about him for years and yes he is a disgrace. Now can we stop giving him the attention he thrives on? It doesnt take a Phd to figure he wants to shock and make people mad, we're his unwitting dupes when we promote his nasty little marches.
With some good advance intel....
We might well get some local PGR members to lend a little "presence" to the day...
Hmmmmmm.... lots of possibilities...
One real quick solution - park an old diesel truck tuned to run *very* rich next to them. The soot, noise and fumes will drive them away.
If ever a church deserved to be burned down....with everyone in it!
This will probably be the only thing that gets them to run for the hills.
Are you bringing a suit or just blowing steam? So you'll be there Thursday night??
I've seen Phelps' signs. How about one with a stick figure of Phelps effing the troops.
GI BILL? You got a GI Bill??
(Hubby didn't : (
I served this country for four years in the USMC infantry including combat action in desert storm. I lost friends to enemy and friendly fire.
I suffered in ways you will never know, of my own free will to serve this country, and I am not the only one. I led by example in all things, and acted at all times when action was my duty.
President Pollyanna has failed to act in nearly all things...It is his nature. He has commented more about the carpet in the oval office than about those committing treason in this country.
I have looked in the mirror, sir, and I have seen an example that Bush would do well to learn from..
You've got a lot of nerve.
Am I going to need to come up and hold you back?
Same argument was used about Code Pink. That was shown to be false.
HELLO! If you don't oppose these jerks the wounded warriors at WRAMC will believe this is normal. Don't believe me? Look at what happened during vietnam. Ain't happening on my watch. But that's ok. You can stick your head back in the sand and pretend it's not happening. We'll CYA.
Coop, I'm in Miami Florida and would love to be there but I got no way to get there except for my car.
Honestly I could not be one of the cooler heads that make me so proud of you guys, I would attack him and get arrested for it, just to inflict upon him some fraction of the pain he has inflicted on others would be worth it.
Of course I would be willing to suspend my "I don't Fly any more" rule if someone were to get me there by other means.
But maybe it's better that distance prevents me from doing what I want to do.
They have been saying that for years. These "protests" are just a more recent attention-getting tactic.
You're right, it's not. You sound like quite the victim, poor thing. But hey, look at the bright side. At least you're not lying in a room at Walter Reed.
A hospital has certain requirements to control the environment of the hospital for the recovery/health of the patients.
WRAMC should be able, by virtue of being a military installation, of keeping any pickets away off their facility. Military bases are also have legal say in any security concern that touches their installation.
However, the issue of health and recovery of their patients is reason to prevent these idiots from doing what they're doing.
I can't imagine them thinking that Jesus would do this same thing and that he would condone it.
Nerve? Shut up.
Somebody needs to shut down this pseudo-"church." It's nothing more than a hate factory.
Phelps, BTW, is a Democrat.
Maybe they should nominate him for President. He's right in line with the tolerance of the Dimmycrap Party.
Westboro and Code Pink -- what a team!
Unfortunately this is about what I expected from this thread.
They're outside the gates if I am not mistaken -- on public property. I'm wondering where they got the permits for.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.