Secret aj man
22-02-2006, 03:47
By RYAN LENZ, Associated Press Writer
Tue Feb 21, 6:11 AM ET
FORT CAMPBELL, Ky. - Wearing vests covered in military patches, a band of motorcyclists rolls around the country from one soldier's funeral to another, cheering respectfully to overshadow jeers from church protesters.
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They call themselves the Patriot Guard Riders, and they are more than 5,000 strong, forming to counter anti-gay protests held by the Rev. Fred Phelps at military funerals.
Phelps believes American deaths in Iraq are divine punishment for a country that he says harbors homosexuals. His protesters carry signs thanking God for so-called IEDs — explosives that are a major killer of soldiers in Iraq.
The bikers shield the families of dead soldiers from the protesters, and overshadow the jeers with patriotic chants and a sea of red, white and blue flags.
"The most important thing we can do is let families know that the nation cares," said Don Woodrick, the group's Kentucky captain. "When a total stranger gets on a motorcycle in the middle of winter and drives 300 miles to hold a flag, that makes a powerful statement."
At least 14 states are considering laws aimed at the funeral protesters, who at a recent memorial service at Fort Campbell wrapped themselves in upside-down American flags. They danced and sang impromptu songs peppered with vulgarities that condemned homosexuals and soldiers.
The Patriot Guard was also there, waving up a ruckus of support for the families across the street. Community members came in the freezing rain to chant "U-S-A, U-S-A" alongside them.
"This is just the right thing to do. This is something America didn't do in the '70s," said Kurt Mayer, the group's national spokesman. "Whether we agree with why we're over there, these soldiers are dying to protect our freedoms."
Shirley Phelps-Roper, a daughter of Fred Phelps and an attorney for the Topeka, Kan.-based church, said neither state laws nor the Patriot Guard can silence their message that God killed the soldiers because they fought for a country that embraces homosexuals.
"The scriptures are crystal clear that when God sets out to punish a nation, it is with the sword. An IED is just a broken-up sword," Phelps-Roper said. "Since that is his weapon of choice, our forum of choice has got to be a dead soldier's funeral."
The church, Westboro Baptist Church, is not affiliated with a larger denomination and is made up mostly of Fred Phelps' extended family members.
During the 1990s, church members were known mostly for picketing the funerals of AIDS victims, and they have long been tracked as a hate group by the Montgomery, Ala.-based Southern Poverty Law Center's Intelligence Project.
The project's deputy director, Heidi Beirich, said other groups have tried to counter Phelps' message, but none has been as organized as the Patriot Guard.
"I'm not sure anybody has gone to this length to stand in solidarity," she said. "It's nice that these veterans and their supporters are trying to do something. I can't imagine anything worse, your loved one is killed in Iraq and you've got to deal with Fred Phelps."
Kentucky, home to sprawling Fort Campbell along the Tennessee line, was among the first states to attempt to deal with Phelps legislatively. Its House and Senate have each passed bills that would limit people from protesting within 300 feet of a funeral or memorial service. The Senate version would also keep protesters from being within earshot of grieving friends and family members.
Richard Wilbur, a retired police detective, said his Indiana Patriot Guard group only comes to funerals if invited by family. He said he has no problem with protests against the war but sees no place for objectors at a family's final goodbye to a soldier.
"No one deserves this," he said.
just joking,but really....how pathetic can people get?
mocking a man at his funeral!in front of his family!
they must really pick and choose carefully were they pull there stunts,because if i was present,and i am very non-violent...that would just push me over the line to extreme violence(which is what they want)
i have buried too many friends and family members,and if anyone dared use it as a pulpit for their religous/political gain,they would be lucky to walk away under their own power.
i have alot of biker friends(the real sort)and i am amazed at the restraint they showed.
if i was a cop at that disgusting scene,i would wink wink at the bikers and go take a coffee break!
this is also a great lesson for all the islamophobics(at least to me)
i was an alter boy for 9 years,and i guess i believe in some sort of a benevolent figure,i am tech. a roman catholic(but they beat the crap outta me too much to embrace it fully)
but my mom was devout,and a saint...total tolerance for almost all,and forgiveness for all...the only reason i still go to church occasionally,alot of great christians out there..
and lesson learned..some real nutjobs as well..
sound familiar?
a enormous minority within islam preach violence and hate,yet we condemn the religion.
i for one,being kinda christian, would not want to be lumped in with these raving lunatics(you know..the loving god is using ied's to punish innocent american boys because we are tolerant of gays)
i am not gay...but people like this want to make me vomit...or use an ied myself.
i am/was kinda distrustfull of islam,because i dont know it...but i know quite a few muslims,and all are very nice to me...so i now resoundingly reject the notion they are all evil violent lunatics!
some loonies of coarse,but obviously all religions seem to have their share.
i still take issue with the fact that a majority of muslims passively sit by and let their religion be hijacked by nutjob asshats.
and it seems,they suport the iman or priest that preaches the hate?
rather then stand together and say"we call bullshit"
the catholic churches congregations have very vocal voices about the anti gay attitude,the problem with women being ordained.
it just seems some religions are trying to grow and adjust to the new world,and i am not saying islam is not,i just dont here the vocal majority yelling that bombing and killing is against the religion,at least not as loud as the minority few calling for jihad.
i guess maybe the media wants to portray muslims as mindless followers that march lockstep with the nuts at best,or worse..complicit.
sorry..rant off,i am getting sickened by religion by the minute..all religions.
p.s.i am non violent,but sometimes violence is neccassary,and these hypocritical god fearing(yea jesus endorced ied's and murder)need a good beating..maybe like when i got caught stealing down my street and got my punk ass kicked..i realised..why would someone pound on me for stealing..maybe i was wrong?
:(
Tue Feb 21, 6:11 AM ET
FORT CAMPBELL, Ky. - Wearing vests covered in military patches, a band of motorcyclists rolls around the country from one soldier's funeral to another, cheering respectfully to overshadow jeers from church protesters.
ADVERTISEMENT
They call themselves the Patriot Guard Riders, and they are more than 5,000 strong, forming to counter anti-gay protests held by the Rev. Fred Phelps at military funerals.
Phelps believes American deaths in Iraq are divine punishment for a country that he says harbors homosexuals. His protesters carry signs thanking God for so-called IEDs — explosives that are a major killer of soldiers in Iraq.
The bikers shield the families of dead soldiers from the protesters, and overshadow the jeers with patriotic chants and a sea of red, white and blue flags.
"The most important thing we can do is let families know that the nation cares," said Don Woodrick, the group's Kentucky captain. "When a total stranger gets on a motorcycle in the middle of winter and drives 300 miles to hold a flag, that makes a powerful statement."
At least 14 states are considering laws aimed at the funeral protesters, who at a recent memorial service at Fort Campbell wrapped themselves in upside-down American flags. They danced and sang impromptu songs peppered with vulgarities that condemned homosexuals and soldiers.
The Patriot Guard was also there, waving up a ruckus of support for the families across the street. Community members came in the freezing rain to chant "U-S-A, U-S-A" alongside them.
"This is just the right thing to do. This is something America didn't do in the '70s," said Kurt Mayer, the group's national spokesman. "Whether we agree with why we're over there, these soldiers are dying to protect our freedoms."
Shirley Phelps-Roper, a daughter of Fred Phelps and an attorney for the Topeka, Kan.-based church, said neither state laws nor the Patriot Guard can silence their message that God killed the soldiers because they fought for a country that embraces homosexuals.
"The scriptures are crystal clear that when God sets out to punish a nation, it is with the sword. An IED is just a broken-up sword," Phelps-Roper said. "Since that is his weapon of choice, our forum of choice has got to be a dead soldier's funeral."
The church, Westboro Baptist Church, is not affiliated with a larger denomination and is made up mostly of Fred Phelps' extended family members.
During the 1990s, church members were known mostly for picketing the funerals of AIDS victims, and they have long been tracked as a hate group by the Montgomery, Ala.-based Southern Poverty Law Center's Intelligence Project.
The project's deputy director, Heidi Beirich, said other groups have tried to counter Phelps' message, but none has been as organized as the Patriot Guard.
"I'm not sure anybody has gone to this length to stand in solidarity," she said. "It's nice that these veterans and their supporters are trying to do something. I can't imagine anything worse, your loved one is killed in Iraq and you've got to deal with Fred Phelps."
Kentucky, home to sprawling Fort Campbell along the Tennessee line, was among the first states to attempt to deal with Phelps legislatively. Its House and Senate have each passed bills that would limit people from protesting within 300 feet of a funeral or memorial service. The Senate version would also keep protesters from being within earshot of grieving friends and family members.
Richard Wilbur, a retired police detective, said his Indiana Patriot Guard group only comes to funerals if invited by family. He said he has no problem with protests against the war but sees no place for objectors at a family's final goodbye to a soldier.
"No one deserves this," he said.
just joking,but really....how pathetic can people get?
mocking a man at his funeral!in front of his family!
they must really pick and choose carefully were they pull there stunts,because if i was present,and i am very non-violent...that would just push me over the line to extreme violence(which is what they want)
i have buried too many friends and family members,and if anyone dared use it as a pulpit for their religous/political gain,they would be lucky to walk away under their own power.
i have alot of biker friends(the real sort)and i am amazed at the restraint they showed.
if i was a cop at that disgusting scene,i would wink wink at the bikers and go take a coffee break!
this is also a great lesson for all the islamophobics(at least to me)
i was an alter boy for 9 years,and i guess i believe in some sort of a benevolent figure,i am tech. a roman catholic(but they beat the crap outta me too much to embrace it fully)
but my mom was devout,and a saint...total tolerance for almost all,and forgiveness for all...the only reason i still go to church occasionally,alot of great christians out there..
and lesson learned..some real nutjobs as well..
sound familiar?
a enormous minority within islam preach violence and hate,yet we condemn the religion.
i for one,being kinda christian, would not want to be lumped in with these raving lunatics(you know..the loving god is using ied's to punish innocent american boys because we are tolerant of gays)
i am not gay...but people like this want to make me vomit...or use an ied myself.
i am/was kinda distrustfull of islam,because i dont know it...but i know quite a few muslims,and all are very nice to me...so i now resoundingly reject the notion they are all evil violent lunatics!
some loonies of coarse,but obviously all religions seem to have their share.
i still take issue with the fact that a majority of muslims passively sit by and let their religion be hijacked by nutjob asshats.
and it seems,they suport the iman or priest that preaches the hate?
rather then stand together and say"we call bullshit"
the catholic churches congregations have very vocal voices about the anti gay attitude,the problem with women being ordained.
it just seems some religions are trying to grow and adjust to the new world,and i am not saying islam is not,i just dont here the vocal majority yelling that bombing and killing is against the religion,at least not as loud as the minority few calling for jihad.
i guess maybe the media wants to portray muslims as mindless followers that march lockstep with the nuts at best,or worse..complicit.
sorry..rant off,i am getting sickened by religion by the minute..all religions.
p.s.i am non violent,but sometimes violence is neccassary,and these hypocritical god fearing(yea jesus endorced ied's and murder)need a good beating..maybe like when i got caught stealing down my street and got my punk ass kicked..i realised..why would someone pound on me for stealing..maybe i was wrong?
:(