Yesterday, Tim Kaine signed HB 372 into law. This bill "subjects those who disrupt funerals or memorial services to a misdemeanor punishable by up to a year in jail or a $2,500 fine or both." According to WJLA, the bill is aimed specifically at "protests staged at the funerals of soldiers killed in Iraq." The article explains:
The protests are orchestrated across the country by a fundamentalist, anti-gay congregation in Topeka, Kan., whose leader, the Rev. Fred Phelps, claims the troops were killed for defending a nation that tolerates homosexuality.Church members show up at the funerals with signs that say "God Hates Fags" and "God Made IEDs," a reference to improvised explosive devices that have killed many Americans serving in Iraq.
"It is unfortunate that the rising numbers of protests at the funerals of military servicemen and women has made it necessary to legislate what common decency already requires," Kaine said in the release.
You know, I'm a big supporter of free speech, but this has to rank with Neo-Nazis marching in Skokie, Illinois on the scale of outrageousness. Thanks to Tim Kaine - and to the Virginia General Assembly, which passed this bill unanimously in both Houses - for cracking down on the hateful, bigoted crackpot who calls himself a "Reverend," Fred Phelps. Now, can we pass a law banning this jackass from Virginia altogther?
Freaky stuff like this just never never ends.
Phelps just failed to deny having gay sex.
Does God hate Fred Phelps?
Trick question...
God doesn't hate.
It's got good intentions, but when you start restricting speech, it's hardly a good thing.
Exactly like in the case of Skokie.
I'm kind of iffy about the langauge of the bill (assuming it's similar to when it was introduced) because while it was targeted at funerals that Phelps was disrupting, it could have larger implications if used by an unscrupuless executive branch. As I remember the langauge, it didn't stick strickly to funerals or to loud, obnoxious protests (like Phelps), but instead was very general and included all 'solemn ceremonies' and any 'disruptive' behavior. I fear, that in the wrong hands, a bill like this could go a long way to stiffling freedom of assembly, protest, and speach. If they cleaned up the langauge, good for them. If not, I think it might stand until it is overturned by lawsuit.
I am a believer. In Christ. Salvation. Marriage of 1 man = 1 woman. I believe God knows his stuff.
I will say, however, that I find Fred Phelps to be an evil man. He doesn't appear to be Christian to me. I am going to suggest that Mr. Phelps could secrectly be a homosexual, and is being mean to homosexuals for his fear of his own feelings.
We've seen it before, with Brother Swaggart.
I bear no ill will towards homosexuals. My little sister is one. One of my best friend's, Jim, who died after San Francisco, became a beliver in Christ, and I will see him again in Heaven. We had lots of fun time. Although he was bisexual, and admitted a sexual attraction to me, he told me our friendship was so valuable, that he would never violate my liking of women, and come on top me. A real pal. How I miss him.
I did want to say, after reading an article on this site about the normalcy of homosexual marriage, I thought I'd put in my thoughts that God made man for woman and vice versa. Even the male and female bodies physically fit together perfectly. And a man compliments women and vice versa, in those things that God made each sex for.
Well, that's all.
A believer in Jesus Christ, but not a hater of the homosexual.
Allin Linnell
NH