Sure, even Angryclown can agree. Er, as long as you broaden that from "military funerals" to "all funerals." It's not so great when those freaks desecrate the funeral of some dead gay kid either.

I agree with the Clown.
The twenty flag-waving men and women were from the Patriot Guard. They have organized nationwide to stand up to these sub-human religious hypocrites. I got an e-mail on Wednesday regarding this funeral, so they get advanced notice when the sub-humans are going to pull this crap. I encourage everyone to contact the Patriot Guard and do what you can. They don't want your money. They do want you to stand by them at the next funeral.

AC,

OK. From the top:

I, Mitchell Berg, hereby state that I decry (using means including but not limited to condemnation, abjuration, decrying, assailing and mocking) the presence of protesters whose labels include (but are not limited to) anti-gay, anti-lesbian, anti-religious or otherwise opposed to any race, creed, affectional orientation, political or social affiliation, at events including but not limited to funerals (including but not limited to military funerals, the funerals of gay people and others), weddings, mitzvahs (including but not limited to bar- and bat-mitzvahs), coronations, ship christenings, brisses and any other ceremony not specifically requesting (in writing with at least two business days' advance notice) their presence.

This abjuration (et al) should not be construed to condone the violation of said protesters' First Amendment Rights, but as the simple expression of sympathy for parties including but not limited to the families of the bereaved, celebrants, counter-celebrants, and any other interested parties.

I don't need a whole dissertation on the topic. But considering the main schtick of these guys is the God Hates Fags thing, it's a little peculiar that you only condemn their sideline of protesting military funerals.

It may also be peculiar that I didn't express sorrow for the tsunami, outrage over segregation, or remorse over having told the occasional sexist joke.

However, since I was writing about an article about these yayhoos picketing a funeral of a fallen area soldier, I figured that in the interest of clarity that might be an expedient subject.

If one is dead-set on assuming that conservative=anti-gay, with no ifs, ands or buts about it, there is not much I can do about it other than assume you that it's not true.

For a second time you miss my point. These guys are anti-gay bigots who have started protesting military funerals relatively recently. Interesting that it's just occurred to you that they're assholes and that you only mention the anti-military protests.

Figured I'd comment, since you were reaching out to "open-minded, freedom-loving people who believe in civil discourse" like Angryclown.

Even dogs respect the dead, which should make mighty clear what sort of person shows up to protest at a funeral, any funeral.

The fact that we're in rare agreement, Eracus, makes me a little reluctant to point out that dogs also lick their ballz.

This Phelps group is a real bunch of beauties. They are an embarassment to a genuine discussion of the issues. My understanding is that they are basically a very large family. In a recent sermon, my pastor mentioned seeing them protest and painted all conservatives with their rhetoric. They are fringe crazies and need to have their voices drowned out. They do not represent the views of any conservative I know of.

To quote the Strib article:
"During the 1990s, church members were known mostly for picketing funerals of AIDS victims, but since they have shifted to military funerals, they have raised the hackles of politicians. Minnesota is one of at least 14 states where laws are being considered that would make funeral protests illegal."

So I ask, would a law like this have stopped the protest rally that is otherwise known as Paul Wellstone's funeral?

So would you if you could, clown.

"Interesting that it's just occurred to you that they're assholes and that you only mention the anti-military protests."

Faulty assumption: I've known Phelps and his phlock were phuckers for years, and written as much.

The protests at funerals are what is in the news, which is why I'm writing about them. I've condemned Phred Phelps for his other activities in the past.

Give it up, Mitch. Even when you completely agree with a liberal, you're a jerk because you didn't agree loudly enough. Or often enough. Or sumthin'.

"You condemned the eating of live puppies? But didn't mention older dogs? So, you're in favor of eating older dogs alive, eh? Contemptible!"

Mitch: Are you really, really sure that machine gunning these assholes is illegal?? Isn't there an exception?

There's usually a long list of exceptions to every rule - just sayin'

On a more serious note.. for me at least... I'm going way off topic for a request.

Last Monday, the older brother of my daughters boyfriend committed suicide. The family is obviously having a very difficult time dealing with everything.

Please remember the Mayen family in your thoughts and prayers and tonight, please give your kids an extra hug.

Thanks.

Doug, I hug them every chance I get. My 13 year old daughter is easy. Her 19 year old brother (6'3" & 300#) is a little tougher, but i get in there anyway.

Boys Boys please enough of the fighting among yourselves. If we really want to make a difference with the likes of Phelps and his hate bunch I think there is a way. I think we can all agree that these morons do not represent the views of not only conservatives but Christians as well. In trying to extrapolate the future of this type of protest I can envision mainstream denominations comming under fire as the left is so prone to lump us all into one basket. So I propose a two front approach. First, if it isn't addressed in the upcoming session, when I'm elected to the MN Senate, my first order of business will be to offer legislation to restrict protests at all funerals to be 1,000 feet from the church or other place of worship where a funeral is taking place and also 1000 feet from the place of internment. They can say or do anything they want as protestors as long as they maintain this distance. Second, It might be a good idea if we as Christians relate our concerns to the main Baptist Convention that Westboro Baptist is a part of, and try to get this butthead removed as pastor of any church. BUT I know one thing if we fight among ourselves over this issue the morons win.

Boys Boys please enough of the fighting among yourselves. If we really want to make a difference with the likes of Phelps and his hate bunch I think there is a way. I think we can all agree that these morons do not represent the views of not only conservatives but Christians as well. In trying to extrapolate the future of this type of protest I can envision mainstream denominations comming under fire as the left is so prone to lump us all into one basket. So I propose a two front approach. First, if it isn't addressed in the upcoming session, when I'm elected to the MN Senate, my first order of business will be to offer legislation to restrict protests at all funerals to be 1,000 feet from the church or other place of worship where a funeral is taking place and also 1000 feet from the place of internment. They can say or do anything they want as protestors as long as they maintain this distance. Second, It might be a good idea if we as Christians relate our concerns to the main Baptist Convention that Westboro Baptist is a part of, and try to get this butthead removed as pastor of any church. BUT I know one thing if we fight among ourselves over this issue the morons win.

Phelps shifted over to military funerals because he wasn't getting enough publicity. He's a very curious case.

He's completely independent of any church body. No Baptist convention has the power to discipline him.

I have it on pretty good authority that one of his lawyer-daughters has a very polite meeting with police a day or so before the protest to establish where the protesters will be and where the police will be and where the police will keep the counter-protesters (with the threat of lawsuits hanging over the entire deal if they don't get what they want from the police).

Then on the day of the protest, if she is among the protesters, she'll be screaming obscenities at the police officers who are providing the protection that they negotiated.

If I was one of the mourners, or if it was my son whose funeral it was, I would be more than tempted to ensure that my son wouldn't be the only corpse in the vicinity.

This is strange. I thought these Phelps nuts must be agents provocateurs - probably misspelled, but you know what I mean: people from the pro-gay lobby trying to rally support by making the other side look like morons.

Now, I'm not sure. Picketing the funeral of an AIDS victim (or any funeral) is in horrible taste - but at least you can see where their logic must be. But a military funeral? How do they know the mourners aren't on the same side - i.e., anti-gay legislation? And conservative religious groups are always - to my knowledge - supportive of the military.

Very puzzling. My guess would be: Papa Phelps has 7 or 8 of the approx. ten genetic markers for schizophrenia - not so much that they'll commit him, though maybe they should. So his paranoia rages unchecked - and race, religion, gender, etc. are common targets for their irrational rage.

But I still think I'm missing something here.

toshi2 said: "This is strange. I thought these Phelps nuts must be agents provocateurs - probably misspelled, but you know what I mean: people from the pro-gay lobby trying to rally support by making the other side look like morons."

Yeah, you right-wingers need a lot of help looking like morons.

"Yeah, you right-wingers need a lot of help looking like morons..."

...with the mainstream media basically peddling the image for the past 30-odd years nonstop.

Hey, the comparison of literacy rates in NY and, say, Wyoming makes interesting reading. Presuming you're not from NY and can actually read.

Sure, but when New Yorkers shoot somebody in the face it's cause they mean to.

New Yorkers can't shoot people in the face; their collective marksman has been degraded by decades of nannystatism to the point where four cops at point-blank range have to fire 41 times to score 19 hits against a cornered, stationary target.

So to restate AC's thesis: When New Yorkers shoot someone in the face, it's because they mean to, and the intended victim has been tied to a pole a foot away.

Please. Of course the *cops* can't shoot straight - they live on Long Island! They go for more of a "shock and awe" effect.

The Red Star came out against a state law prohibiting these types of funeral protests. Actually I agree with them but what do you suppose their logic is? As I mentioned earlier such a law may have shut down the Wellstone funeral and would have prohibited Coretta Scott King's funeral to be held in Minnesota.

But all is not lost. There's a nationwide group of bikers (over 11,000 at last count) who have agreed to serve as buffers between the "god hates fags" crowd and the funeral services... I post about it here.

I forgot--html doesn't show up here. here's the link: http://psycmeistr.blogspot.com/2006/02/they-ride-to-honor-those-who-gave.html