Aces High Bulletin Board
General Forums => The O' Club => Topic started by: Seagoon on July 28, 2006, 12:31:42 PM
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Hi Guys,
Unfortunately, I've just learned that Fred Phelps and his Family Cult are coming to Fayetteville on Tuesday to protest at the funeral of a Special Ops soldier
Story Here (http://www.fayettevillenc.com/article_archive?id=1101305&highlight=phelps)
The Patriot Guard has promised to be in attendance as well, but I'm currently trying to work with other Pastors to get our members to come out and also do their part to shield the funeral from Phelp's Terrorists. God willing, we might have an opportunity to share the good news of the Gospel with Fred's family, because it is abundantly clear that they don't have a clue.
I'd like to coordinate as much as possible with the Patriot Guard, but as of now I don't have any contact info for them. If any of you have a lead on a number or an email, I'd be grateful for it.
Thanks!
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Sorry, the Observer has their homepage set up so the link always takes you to the search page.
Here is the text of the article:
Church plans funeral protest
By Justin Willett
Staff writer
A small Kansas church that praises God for dead U.S. troops says it plans to come to Fayetteville next week to picket the funeral of a special operations soldier who was based at Fort Bragg.
A patriotic motorcycle group that attends the funerals of service members to honor the dead and shield the families from such protests says it will be there, too.
Westboro Baptist Church, of Topeka, Kan., faxed a flier to the the Observer saying it would picket the Tuesday funeral of 26-year-old Staff Sgt. Michael A. Dickinson II, who died July 17 in Ramadi, Iraq.
Dickinson, of Battle Creek, Mich., was assigned to the 9th Psychological Operations Battalion, 4th Psychological Operations Group at Fort Bragg.
He was shot by snipers while on patrol with a Marine Corps unit.
The Rev. Fred Phelps and his Westboro congregation — which consists mainly of his extended family — picket funerals of U.S. service members, claiming the deaths are divine retribution for the nation’s acceptance of homosexuality.
In May 2003, members of the church came to Fayetteville to picket several churches and Fort Bragg.
As of April, 26 states had introduced legislation to either ban or curtail funeral protests, mainly as a result of Westboro.
The N.C. General Assembly passed a bill that prohibits disorderly conduct at a military funeral or memorial service or any other funeral or memorial service.
The bill would make it a Class 2 misdemeanor for a first offense, a Class 1 misdemeanor for a second offense and a Class I felony for third and subsequent offenses. It is awaiting the governor’s signature, according to the General Assembly’s Web site. If signed into law, it would go into effect Dec. 1.
Patriot Guard Riders
Michael Haluski, a member of the Patriot Guard Riders, said he will monitor Westboro’s Web site in the days leading up to Dickinson’s funeral.
The riders had planned to be at Dickinson’s funeral before the Westboro announcement, Haluski said. Dickinson’s family invited the motorcycle group to attend.
“Our sole purpose is to shield the family and to honor the soldier,” Haluski said.
The Patriot Guard Riders formed in October to carry out two missions: to honor and respect fallen service members and their families and to shield mourning families from funeral protests, such as the pickets conducted by Westboro.
A nationwide group, the Patriot Guard Riders include more than 24,000 members and make an effort to be present at the funeral of every U.S. combat casualty — regardless of whether protests are planned.
Haluski, who is a retired Army sergeant first class, said he has heard from more than 20 people who want to participate in Tuesday’s “ride.”
The group’s Web site — patriotguard.org — had about 100 messages about Dickinson’s funeral. Most offered condolences to Dickinson’s family and pledges to participate in Tuesday’s ride.
The motorcycle riders come from all over the country.
Haluski will be the captain of Tuesday’s ride. He said the protocol for dealing with protestors is simple: shield the family and try to drown out the protestors.
“We use the American flag and our bodies as a wall between whatever group may be protesting and the family and guests that are attending the services,” Haluski said.
“There is no confrontation, there is no conversation, there is no acknowledgement (of the protestors).”
Haluski said the riders will be prepared for protests, but he has doubts that Westboro will show.
“This particular organization often sends out (fliers) that they’re going to show up, but they don’t,” he said.
Haluski said publicity generated by the mere suggestion that Westboro might picket a funeral often seems to satisfy the church.
Staff writer Justin Willett can be reached at willettj@fayettevillenc.com or 323-4848, ext. 370.
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Those slimeballs actions at anyones funeral, much lass a soldier's should be classed as a hate crime IMO.
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Good luck goon,
I think you are a credit just for trying. The Phelps clan is inexcusable and give christians everywhere a bad name.
I know you are pretty set in your church in all but have you ever thought about persuing a commission in the military and becoming a chaplin? Even in the reserves your dealings with military families gives you a pretty good base of backround experience.
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Hmmm.. Fayetteville.. can be there and back here in the same day.maybe I'll keep my pledge I made in that other thread about these inbread pukes.
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Good luck Seagoon. :aok
Such groups cast doubt on the validity of certain theories of evolution. It appears some humans are descended from j a c k a s s e s, not apes.
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Good luck Seagoon but I'm afraid you'll just be casting your pearls before swine.
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Originally posted by Seagoon
I'd like to coordinate as much as possible with the Patriot Guard, but as of now I don't have any contact info for them. If any of you have a lead on a number or an email, I'd be grateful for it.
Thanks!
http://patriotguard.org/ (http://patriotguard.org/)
Left side, third or fourth option down is Leadership Contacts.
NC State Captain
Bill Lowry
nverold@localnet.com
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u cant trust that guy
fred
phelps
should be fred felps or phred phelps
he should make up his mind
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Im all for demonstrations, but at a funeral??
Thats just bad taste.
He should get a rifle, a helmet, a parachute and a free skydiving lesson over Bagdad.
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Originally posted by Nilsen
Im all for demonstrations, but at a funeral??
Thats just bad taste.
He should get a rifle, a helmet, a parachute and a free skydiving lesson over Bagdad.
What a waste of a perfectly good rifle, helmet, and parachute.
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Originally posted by DiabloTX
What a waste of a perfectly good rifle, helmet, and parachute.
Seems like a good investment to me.
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doesnt have to be a working rifle !!! or parachute for that matter!!!
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ha ha ha..... he is going to Fayettenam in person or is he going to send the women and children to do his dirty work... ive noticed that everytime those ding bats come to Ft Campbell its nothing but women and children... i guess the men dont have all...... balls... ha ha ha ha...
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was watching cnn or hn or something last night and the aclu lawyer was on and trying to put a good face on the thing...
The host was laughing at his weak arguements and when the lawyer said that he was just protecting freedom... the host asked how come he let the good reverend and his flock get arrested when they were protesting at the funerals of aides victims. The lawyer sputtered and stamered about how he woulda but he was not around or something.
lazs
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Originally posted by lazs2
was watching cnn or hn or something last night and the aclu lawyer was on and trying to put a good face on the thing...
The host was laughing at his weak arguements and when the lawyer said that he was just protecting freedom... the host asked how come he let the good reverend and his flock get arrested when they were protesting at the funerals of aides victims. The lawyer sputtered and stamered about how he woulda but he was not around or something.
lazs
lazs - 1
aclu - 0
:aok
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even the smartest lawyers have a hard time defending the actions and words of the morons of the world..
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... No. The biggest scum sucking lawyers could get Hitler off.
The problem is with the ACLU, it's stocked full of handsomehunkes.
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this is true....
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Originally posted by DiabloTX
What a waste of a perfectly good rifle, helmet, and parachute.
:rofl :rofl :rofl :rofl :rofl :aok
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How do people like this sleep at night?
Many Soldiers, Sailors, Marines and Air Force give their all and these Fred Phelps assshats have the gall to mock their funeral.
Isn't there a frikken Law to prevent this?
GOD Bless the Patriot Gaurd Riders!
My condolences to Staff Sgt. Michael A. Dickinson II Family, Friends and all the Sould he touched. Rest Hero, Rest In Peace.
Mac
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there are laws, just not laws that we would like.. everyone that had tried to stop them lost because they call the 2nd amendment card. just about everyone in his wacked out group are lawyers.. 500 ft is the average distance that most states passed. they cant be within 500 ft of a funeral home, funeral route, and cemetary.. besides, they only send about 4 women and about 3 children to the protests... there are about 300 patriot guards present... the freaks get drowned out quickly..
i just gave military honors to a soldier in california last week.. there were about 300 bikers there. It was one heck of a sight!!!
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Hi Guys,
After speaking with a few pastors and some of the military guys, we have decided not to stage a "counter protest" to the Westover Cult. This is largely because we do not wish to show disrespect to this fallen soldier or his family by helping Phelps to turn the funeral into a circus.
As an aside, I wish that the ACLU would realize that this is a funeral, not a political event, and is a time for a family to grieve and friends to honor the dead, not for scoring points against an administration. As a society, I believe we are losing our grasp that without a certain measure of simple respect, civilization becomes impossible and we become nothing more than a pack of snarling dogs. I cannot for a moment imagine that the founding fathers envisioned a time when the first ammendment would be construed as protecting the right to "crash" the private funerals of ordinary citizens and publicly mock the dead.
Consequently, I plan on writing a letter to the paper indicating why the Phelpites don't in any way represent the Christian faith or the majority of Evangelical churches in Fayetteville and also contacting the Patriot Guard to ask them if there is any way we can help them. I have sent the state and local leadership the following letter, which I tried to keep, short, simple, and to the point:
Dear Mr. Lowry,
My name is Andy Webb and I'm the pastor of a church here in Fayetteville, NC. I just read in the Observer that the Phelps family cult will be protesting at the funeral of a soldier that is just down the road from our location on Tuesday 8/1/06 and that the Patriot Guard has plans to be in attendance as well. We would like to assist you in any way possible. Our congregation of about 100 is made up almost entirely of either active duty or retired military, and I know they are all anxious to let the world know that what Fred and his American terrorists are doing is not Christian. Personally, I don't believe that Fred has even the dimmest understanding of the gospel of grace and I can't help but pity him and the people following this blind guide.
In any event, please let us know if there is any assistance we can give whether it be as a church, or as individuals.
Thank you for continuing to do what you do for the people I love.
Your Servant in Christ,
Pastor Andy Webb
Website: http://WWW.PROVIDENCEPCA.COM
- SEAGOON
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dont go there to counter protest, go there to show support to the family of the fallen soldier...
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GOON-
I just emailed my oldest brother out there in F'ville, he's a retired E-8 and he may want to assist you guys in some way. I'll let you know what his reply is.
on your effort.
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Hey Airborn,
It's not the 2nd ammendment they are hiding under, it's the 1'st. ;)
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oh yea... oops.... bad beer.... bad beer!!!... ha ha....
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Originally posted by ASTAC
Hmmm.. Fayetteville.. can be there and back here in the same day.maybe I'll keep my pledge I made in that other thread about these inbread pukes.
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Hi Guys,
Just wanted to give you a brief update.
I went down to the location of the funeral this morning, and sure enough the Patriot Guard were there in force. I got a chance to speak with Patriot Guard Riders Ronnie and Joe and they indicated that PhelpsQaeda hadn't showed up at the Funeral, but that it was always possible that they would show up at the graveside service at the Cemetery. I've done a couple of services at the cemetery in question so I drove up there, but the Phelpasees weren't there either. So it looks like you can add "bearing false witness" to their list of official church activities. In any event I wasn't sad not to see them, their not showing up was an answer to prayer. I'm glad that the family didn't have to go through that, and I know the Patriot Guard are happiest when they just get to perform their honor guard duties in peace.
Speaking of the Patriot Guard, in addition to lining both sides of the street with flags when the casket is being moved, I found out that they lead the funeral cortege to the cemetery on their motorcycles, and that the lead motorcycles are driven by gold star moms (sort of the polar opposite to Cindy Sheehan if you will). All in all, a very moving tribute.
I'll post a picture of the Guard riders I met as soon as I can find the USB cable that connects to my camera (o the joys of moving house).
- SEAGOON
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I really would like to take this opportunity to <
> all Armed Forces of all nations (that peep in here) for serving. It is a thankless job, and so little little sometimes means so much.
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It's nice of you to try and protect this mourning moment for the families of the fallen, Seagoon. I mean it sincerely.
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WTG, Andy...I'm glad the service worked out for the best, and it sounds like the PG only added to the proper recognition, respect and solemnity a fallen soldier deserves.
Keep fighting the good fight against that pack of mindless idiots.
Perhaps the PG should look for the opportunity to protest a couple family funerals for the Phelpsians, and see how they like it....
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Hello Guys
Well I finally found the cable for my digital camera, so I can post one of the pics I took of the Patriot Guard.
The full story of the Phelpsqaeda no-show is detailed here:
Threatened Protest Doesn't Materialize... (http://www.fayettevillenc.com/article?id=238880)
In the article, Margie Phelps (another of the cult leader's daughters) blatantly lies yet again stating that they didn't show up because:
"Westboro targets “pep rallies” where — as she put it — the media, families and others make a spectacle of a death.
“When the family stops using (a funeral) as a public platform we feel we should try to honor that,” Phelps said during a telephone interview."
The above is to put it mildly, a crock. The Phelpasees simply get a list of military KIA funerals and then send out press releases indicating that they will be there to protest. It is their intention to draw the press to the funeral. When the family strongly indicates that the press will be kept out and the local press and law enforcement concur then these ghouls have no reason to attend. For them, causing anguish to the family is just an added bonus, what they want most of all is media attention. They are about as craven as it gets, if they can't be assured of getting on TV, they don't bother going - now there's a deeply held principial conviction, eh?
As for protesting at Phelps funerals, I believe the Patriot guard has it right, they hold them to be beneath contempt and utterly refuse to interact with them. Personally, I would say that for Christians the prevailing principle must be "Repay no one evil for evil. Have regard for good things in the sight of all men"(Romans 12:17) and therefore sinking to their level by doing the same evil must be avoided. Additionally, be assured that as Paul tells us: "Beloved, do not avenge yourselves, but rather give place to wrath; for it is written, "Vengeance is Mine, I will repay," says the Lord." (Romans 12:19)
In that sense, knowing that Christ's words in Matthew 7:15-23 (http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=matthew%207:15-23&version=50) seem particularly applicable to Fred and his cult, I can do nothing but feel pity for them and pray that their eyes will be opened and that they will from this evil caricature of the faith.
Anyway, here are Ronnie and Joe, retirees and vets who made the ride from Albemarle in 100 Degree heat to honor the Dickinson family, as Ronnie said "Well we do it because it's the last thing we can do for them."
(http://www.providencepca.com/photos/Patriotguard.jpg)