Westboro Baptist Church Goes To Mississippi – And Loses

[blazee]

On Saturday USMC Staff Sgt. Jason Rogers, who was killed in action in Afghanistan April 7, was buried in Brandon, Mississippi.


That, by itself, is a sadly unremarkable – though certainly noteworthy and solemn – occasion for us to mark.


And in fact when Sgt. Rogers’ body returned to Brandon it was greeted by hundreds, or perhaps even thousands, of well-wishers who gathered at the roadside to honor the fallen American hero. The dashboard camera from Mississippi state trooper Elmo Townsend’s cruiser gives an indication of the scene last Thursday..

What is most notable about Sgt. Rogers’ funeral in Brandon, however, is what didn’t happen.


You see, the troglodytes from Westboro Baptist Church had threatened to spew their poison at Sgt. Rogers’ funeral.


But the Westboro mob wasn’t on the scene, and Sgt. Rogers was laid to rest without incident – thank God.


Why weren’t there protestors?


Planning ahead by the locals, as it turns out.


From an Ole Miss sports message board, a tidbit of information…

A couple of days before, one of them (Westboro protestors) ran his mouth at a Brandon gas station and got his arse waxed. Police were called and the beaten man could not give much of a description of who beat him. When they canvassed the station and spoke to the large crowd that had gathered around, no one seemed to remember anything about what had happened.


Rankin County handled this thing perfectly. There were many things that were put into place that most will never know about and at great expense to the county.


Most of the morons never made it out of their hotel parking lot. It seems that certain Rankin county pickup trucks were parked directly behind any car that had Kansas plates in the hotel parking lot and the drivers mysteriously disappeared until after the funeral was over. Police were called but their wrecker service was running behind and it was going to be a few hours before they could tow the trucks so the Kansas plated cars could get out.


A few made it to the funeral but were ushered away to be questioned about a crime they might have possibly been involved in. Turns out, after a few hours of questioning, that they were not involved and they were allowed to go on about their business.

Fred Phelps, the disbarred lawyer and Democrat activist who leads the Westboro congregation, will undoubtedly pursue some form of legal action for the way his people were thwarted in Brandon. Let him try. There isn’t a jury in Mississippi which will see things his way.


This is a template for how to handle the Westboro people. If lawsuits don’t work, other means will. Whatever it takes to keep them from harassing bereaved military families on the day their fallen loved ones are laid to rest.

Source: http://thehayride.com/2011/04/westbo...ppi-and-loses/

[blazee]

So, what do you guys think? Did the community do the right thing or was this a violation of the church's civil rights?

[oldblu65]

I think the community did the right thing and sounds much like my hometown - A place I'd be proud to call home !

[-Josh-]

That is fantastic!!

[blazee]

Did you guys watch the video? It's amazing how many people came out to show their respect for him.

[-Josh-]

Originally Posted by blazee

Did you guys watch the video? It's amazing how many people came out to show their respect for him.

Definitely a small community atmosphere, everyone knew him and wanted to pay their respects, a touching sight.

[MagicRat]

Originally Posted by blazee

So, what do you guys think? Did the community do the right thing or was this a violation of the church's civil rights?

I am glad to see such well-deserved community action. Long overdue, imo.

The Westboro logic is truly twisted. They hate everyone who is not actually one of their congregation, including you and me. They do not wish anyone of us well.

There is, I believe, reasonable limits on freedom of speech and freedom of action. Like shouting "FIRE" in a crowded movie theater, some speech and actions serves no purpose except to harm others, incite hatred and destroy our reasonable society.

If the US judicial system allows the Westboro clowns to continue doing what they are doing, then the rest of society has every right to inconvenience them as much as possible.

[blazee]

I like the Westboro Church. Don't get me wrong... they are despicable bigots and their message is deplorable, but they do an excellent job of showing the evils of religion. Their beliefs and actions follow the word of the bible much closer than any other religious organization. They show the true face of Christianity unedited and unrestrained. It was Christians like them that contributed to the fall of the Roman empire. It was Christians like them that caused the Dark Ages. It was Christians like them that destroyed the cultures of people all over the world.

[MagicRat]

Originally Posted by blazee

I like the Westboro Church. Don't get me wrong... they are despicable bigots and their message is deplorable, but they do an excellent job of showing the evils of religion. Their beliefs and actions follow the word of the bible much closer than any other religious organization. They show the true face of Christianity unedited and unrestrained. It was Christians like them that contributed to the fall of the Roman empire. It was Christians like them that caused the Dark Ages. It was Christians like them that destroyed the cultures of people all over the world.

I have held exactly the same opinion for some years. The Westboro idiots have simply taken one particular biblical instruction to it's extreme. But theologically their twisted thinking is arguably entirely christian, and no less valid than any other biblical instruction.

The Old Testament in particular commands its followers to do deplorable things. Slay those who believe differently than them, slay those who eat shellfish, slay those who don't consider the Sabbath to be sacred etc etc.

Even as recently as 20 years ago, Ratzinger (Pope Benedict) believed that the Church was entirely justified in its very harsh treatment of Galileo 400 years ago.
The fact that Galileo was entirely correct in his celestial observations was irrelevant. He defied the Church so he should be punished. And this intolerant bigot is now the leader of the Catholic church!!

Modern Christianity as we know it is mostly a watered-down pale imitation of its true self, its rampant intolerance tempered by the effects of liberal western philosophy, rule of law and centuries of warfare.

Our civilization is would never have developed if the christianity followed the bible to the letter.

Now, I welcome CL8's rebuttal

[blazee]

Originally Posted by MagicRat

All that our civilization is would never have developed if the christianity followed the bible to the letter.

That's apparent by the fall of civilization when they gained power.

Originally Posted by MagicRat

Now, I welcome CL8's rebuttal

Ah yes, our sweet CL8... she may be misguided, but we still love her.

[MagicRat]

Originally Posted by blazee

Ah yes, our sweet CL8... she may be misguided, but we still love her.

She is a charming example of how most christians are very decent people despite a very seriously flawed belief structure.

[HotZ28]

I do no not condone "harassing bereaved military families on the day their fallen loved ones are laid to rest"

Originally Posted by MagicRat

There is, I believe, reasonable limits on freedom of speech and freedom of action. Like shouting "FIRE" in a crowded movie theater, some speech and actions serves no purpose except to harm others, incite hatred and destroy our reasonable society.

Sorry, but I see no mention of "reasonable limits on freedom of speech and freedom of action" mentioned in the First Amendment.

First Amendment

Amendment I

Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the government for a redress of grievances.

[Knifeblade]

Just because the 1st amendment doesn't state so, doesn't mean so in most people's minds. I'd have parked my truck in front of those idiots. How dare they so viciously intrude on a grieving family and friends, and show so little respect for someone who did their duty, as have all the past soldiers who protected our freedoms. We could very well have ended up Sig Hiel'ing or Banzai shouting if if wasn't for them. Screw their church "rights", what about christian respect, sympathy, empathy and kindness to others, huh? Send them all over to the MidEast right now, and see what happens to their christian viewpoints.

[MagicRat]

Originally Posted by HotZ28

Sorry, but I see no mention of "reasonable limits on freedom of speech and freedom of action" mentioned in the First Amendment.

The American judicial system has examined and enacted many reasonable limitations on the First Amendment, many of which have been present for decades.

This means there are a wide range of types of speech, specific messages and intent of speech and actions that are absolutely not covered by the First Amendment, usually because they bring undue harm to others.

http://www.fas.org/sgp/crs/misc/95-815.pdf

http://www.csulb.edu/~jvancamp/freedom1.html

[HotZ28]

Originally Posted by Knifeblade

Just because the 1st amendment doesn't state so, doesn't mean so in most people's minds. I'd have parked my truck in front of those idiots. How dare they so viciously intrude on a grieving family and friends, and show so little respect for someone who did their duty, as have all the past soldiers who protected our freedoms. We could very well have ended up Sig Hiel'ing or Banzai shouting if if wasn't for them. Screw their church "rights", what about christian respect, sympathy, empathy and kindness to others, huh? Send them all over to the MidEast right now, and see what happens to their christian viewpoints.

Again, I do no not condone "harassing bereaved military families on the day their fallen loved ones are laid to rest", but regardless of what you think "doesn't mean so in most peoples minds" modern day minds did not wright the Bill of Rights, (thank God) the founders of this nation did that for us! BTW, if anyone was stupid enough to purposely parked their truck in front of me, I would not wait for a tow truck, I would personally push it in a ditch!