http://thesmokinggun.com/0420071ghf1.html.
These guys are scum (the hate group, not TheSmokingGun.com).
Someone please show up to the funeral and teach them a lesson. Preferably with a steel-toed boot.
More info on http://www.GodHatesFags.com …. Kate M adds: “Tell them it’s not very Christian!”
April 20, 2007
Hate Group To Protest At Virginia Tech Student’s Funeral
Posted by Claire CJS under Complaints, News, People That Annoy Me, Politics, Sexual Freedom[22] Comments
Claire's blog 
April 20, 2007 at 11:48 AM
God hates the hatred of “God Hates Fags”…
April 20, 2007 at 11:52 AM
Clint–
Is this Fred Phelps? Or is that another hate group I’m thinking of? (the ones who made fun of Matthew Shephard?)
If these are the same people, then I should say that I’ve heard (but sadly, can’t prove it) from many people that they’re actually a money-making group. They say things to enrage people, on purpose, spouting off hatred and say things to intentionally upset people about sensitive topics, and then sue people who physically attack them.
I suppose that’s hearsay, but I’ve heard it in so many places that I thought it worth mentioning.
It sounds like a similar group, if it’s not the same one. I doubt they actually believe all the BS they put in their propoganda-something this extreme smacks of profit-making to me. But I could be wrong.
Either way, of course, they’re assholes.
April 20, 2007 at 12:06 PM
Great, that’s just what the world needs….a little more hate. What the fuck is wrong with people??? I shoulds start a website called http://www.BrittanyHatesClose-MindedMotherFuckers.com.
April 20, 2007 at 12:12 PM
I think Cho should have taken out these guys instead.
April 20, 2007 at 12:13 PM
Does anyone else find it just a little bit ironic that they target groups they don’t consider “christian enough” for their hatred? I thought Jesus’ message, reduced to basics, was “be nice to people.”
It doesn’t sound like *they* are good christians, themselves. Maybe they should hate themselves? Then again, they probably already do. A lot of homophobes are represessed homosexuals.
April 20, 2007 at 12:20 PM
I’m an atheist myself but I went to Catholic school and learned alot about Christianity. It is a sin against the first commandment (I am the lord your god. You shall not have any other gods besides me) to pass judgement on another as you are taking on god-like qualities essentially putting yourself in a god role.
We should make a random phone call saying that we saw a bomb strapped to one of the protesters waists. The cops will show up and take them away real quick.
April 20, 2007 at 12:24 PM
Parthena – as far as I know there’s only one god Hates Fags, and those are the ones who were around during Matthew Shepard.
Oh wait…I’m not Clint.
I think it’s both: one, they actually do believe the bullshit they spew…
and two: they certainly would and probably do make money off of it.
You’ve always got to know peoples terminology and conceptions. Because different sects of the same religion might use similar vocabulary but mean something TOTALLY different. Like when Mormons refer to the heavenly father versus the typical christian belief of the triune God containing the Father.
Take away all the spiritual “daydreams” that no one has any idea if they are real or not, and what you have is a representation of God by his people/believers. Which obviously points to the ever true: watch what people *do* and not what they *say*.
April 20, 2007 at 12:37 PM
Clint, this information is pretty widespread already and I can say with some confidence that there will be a large amount of orange and maroon between these assholes and the funeral.
April 20, 2007 at 1:11 PM
How dare they think they know how God thinks.
April 20, 2007 at 2:00 PM
Sounds like Cho hit the wrong people. Too bad I’m not closer or I’d be at the funeral, protesting these bubble-bath-for-brains nitwits with a staple gun and rabid badgers … and a glass of water in case I get thirsty.
April 20, 2007 at 4:58 PM
This news disgusts me. That’s all I have to say.
April 20, 2007 at 6:04 PM
freedom of speech permits these swine flechers to have their say. However, it does NOT require that anyone has to listen. I’ve never understood why hatemongers get all bent out of shape when people ignore their message. You can say any damn fool thing you want to. However, I am under no obligation to listen to you spew your hate filled idiocy.
A large group of orange and maroon will most assuredly prevent them from disturbing the funeral. Wish I could be one of them. Think I might call a few friends in the Georgia area.
April 20, 2007 at 8:28 PM
[…] The Westboro Baptist Church, based out of Topeka Kansas, is planning on picketing Ryan Clark’s funeral tomorrow in Georgia, presumably to show us that “God is punishing America for her sodomite sins…” Clint alerted me to this disturbing news via a blog post of his. […]
April 21, 2007 at 9:50 AM
Update. WBC is no longer picketing the Virginia Tech funerals. Instead, they are going to be appearing on the Mike Gallagher radio show.
WBC Flyer on the matter:
Click to access 20070420_mike-gallagher-virginia-tech.pdf
April 21, 2007 at 10:01 AM
Victory?
April 21, 2007 at 10:05 AM
I am satisfied with it. I now know when to *not* listen to the radio (never heard that radio show anyway).
It is much easier for us to ignore that radio show than it would be for the family and loved ones to ignore such spectacles at the funerals. People are going to be able to say goodbye in peace and that is a good thing.
April 23, 2007 at 2:19 PM
Another reason why I am so glad I’m not a Christian.
April 24, 2007 at 3:20 AM
Christianity has nothing to do with those morons picketting funerals. They’re just in it for the attention. Real Christians would never hurt or insult crime victims and their loved ones in this manner.
April 24, 2007 at 8:08 AM
I agree w/ Lacee–these idiots aren’t doing what they do because of a specific religion. They’re doing it simply for attention, pure and simple…to get reactions out of people during times when people are grieving. It’s sickening.
I mean, just look at how much negative attention they’re getting. Granted, it’s NEGATIVE, but the more hate-filled actions they do, the more people become aware of their very existence and think about them.
April 24, 2007 at 3:08 PM
I disagree with the last 2 (sorry!). They’re not SOLELY doing this for attention. They are a group of people trying to send a (bad) message, and religion is indeed their platform. Just because we don’t like that they are rationalizing their actions with religion, doesn’t mean we can summarily declare that it is not religion driving them to do this. It may not necessarily be a specific religion — but actually I thought their website specifically said they were Baptists.
Call them “not real” Christians, but they are still Christians nonetheless. If they believe in Christ and this is the foundation of their actions, it is indeed driven by religion.
Just because someone interprets religion in a bad way doesn’t mean that religion isn’t driving it. That’s like saying that the terrorists aren’t “real muslism” and that they are not driven by a real religion.
But they are. . .
April 24, 2007 at 5:03 PM
“Call them “not real” Christians, but they are still Christians nonetheless. If they believe in Christ and this is the foundation of their actions, it is indeed driven by religion.”
Clint: I see what you’re saying. I don’t disagree, really, it’s just really hard for me to tell whether these people are ACTUALLY Christian, or whether they’re just saying they are in order to anger Christians around the world. It’s possible that they actually think of themselves as Christian, I admit, but that would be really sad if they did. (IMO)
I guess it’s just hard for me personally think that anyone in the world, REALLY, could really believe all the things they claim to. I mean, it’s hard for me to believe that anyone is that insane. But I guess it’s possible..
April 24, 2007 at 6:39 PM
And that says something about the faith you put in your fellow man. But being a cynic, I know that faith is miplaced. At least, for some. The site starts out with a bunch of bible quotes. Gotta love the inverted american flag favicon. And the schedule of future “pickets”.
“# All nations must immediately outlaw sodomy (homosexuality) & impose the death penalty!”
Nice site. I hope they get testicular cancer.