Westboro Baptist Statement: "So God reached down and smacked one of those mines, killing 25..."

[Amerigo Vespucci]

Protesters From Kansas Take Aim at Miners
By BERNIE BECKER
Published: April 8, 2010

The church, which is led by Fred Phelps, has attracted attention in recent years by showing up at funerals for soldiers who have died in Iraq and Afghanistan. At those funerals they carry signs that say that God hates homosexuality and that the death of soldiers in Iraq and Afghanistan is God’s way of punishing the United States for its tolerance of it.

“This whole nation is awash in rebellious sin and defiance of God, His standard, and His servant’s faithful words,” a news release on the church’s Web site said Thursday morning.

The statement said the church had received threats about a trip to West Virginia and Virginia scheduled to begin Thursday.

“So God reached down and smacked one of those mines, killing 25 (and likely four more are dead),” it said. “Now you moan and wallow in self-pity, and pour over the details of the dead rebels’ lives, pretending they’re heroes.”

According to its Web site, the church is scheduled to protest at several locations in Virginia and West Virginia, Thursday through Sunday, including at the West Virginia state capitol and the Hillel on the Virginia Tech campus.

Last month the Supreme Court agreed to decide whether the father of a Marine killed in Iraq may sue protesters from the church who picketed his son’s funeral with signs that read “God Hates You” and “Thank God for Dead Soldiers.”

http://www.nytimes.com/2010/04/09/us/09westboro.html?partner=rss&emc=rss

[slackmaster]

1. Roger Hedgecock suggested that the Chinese did it

An act of sabotage.

[Robb]

2. "pour over the details"

(facepalm)

[HillWilliam]

3. Their "god" of hate, war, retribution, fear, death, and destruction

sounds a whooooooooolllllllllle lot like every perfect description I've ever heard of a devil. Their actions tend to confirm it.

[laughingliberal]

4. That sick fuck showed up here to protest a soldier's funeral a few years ago

Phelps and his sick, hateful group showed up at a little town a few miles south of here a few years ago. A group or about 80 bikers who included Viet Nam vets and some Christian biker groups in the area were there waiting for them when they got off their bus. Phelps and his group got back on their bus and left. I think the miners of WV might want to take a page from that playbook. I notice the article doesn't mention the locations where he will be.

[Hawkeye-X]

5. And God parted the clouds,

and spaketh to Fred Phelps...


"I didn't ask you to speak for me, asshole. Your passage to Heaven will be denied to your current and future clan. Instead, you will be cursed to eternally walk on Earth apologizing to every single individual in the world. If you can accomplish that.... well, good luck, pal!"

[E_Pluribus_Unitarian]

6. At least one community's planning an emphatic response...

"Several Wheeling groups have joined forces to plan a peaceful rally for Saturday to demonstrate community togetherness. The rally, themed "Standing on the Side of Love," is slated for 4-7 p.m. Saturday at the Wheeling Park Amphitheater. The event has been designed as a community response to members of the Westboro Baptist Church and their plans to picket at several locations in the city that day."

http://news-register.net/page/content.detail/id/536485.html?nav=510