Idaho addresses hate
Yesterday, Idaho sent a clear message to Fred Phelps and the gay-bashing demonstrators of the Westbory Baptist Church of Topeka, Kansas.
The Phelps' supporters are trying to establish in Boise a monument that says Wyoming murder victim Matthew Shepard is in hell. Shepard, beaten to death in 1998, was targeted because he was gay.
Nearly 500 people countered Phelps' demonstration of hate.
Catholics, Protestants, Jews, evangelical Christians, gays, toughs, peace advocates, and passers-by in cars quietly countered a protest in Boise by a handful of relatives of Pastor Fred Phelps of the Westboro Baptist Church of Topeka, Kan. Nine Westboro church members picketed churches Sunday and marched along Capitol Avenue to spread his message that God hates homosexuals.
Everywhere they went, they were met by crowds of Idahoans who, despite their often-conflicting views all shared a disgust for Phelps´ self-described message of hate. Even those who share Phelps´ view that homosexuality is a sin viewed him as an outside agitator meddling in Idaho affairs. (story)
It kind of blows my mind that there were even people there from Emmett, the small town I grew up in. Maybe it's not so closed minded anymore. Who knows? Could things be changing even there?
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God Bless you fine brave soul's in America's heartland who are standing up to this viciousness. When I first heard about Fred Phelps and his toughs, I got good and scared. These people are hiding their hate around the flag of morality and are trying to ride on the coattails of moral mandate the American people gave George W Bush. But thanks to the righteous actions of people of good faith, people of all political persausions are saying no to the hate-mongers.
I think Mr. Phelps does a great service to the GLBT movement. He brings out cohesion among people who might not have exactly the same views, and he probably scares a lot of people into contributing to organizations like HRC and the like... As long as he's around, people will see the obvious hate and bile that he spews, and they won't want to be a part of that.
That is amazing and very encouraging. First, Casper, then Rupert, now Boise. If Fred Phelps is unable to get a sympathetic hearing in that part of the country, what chance does he have?