I got this picture off the Internet
December 29, 2014 was a very good day for myself and a whole lot of people in Pueblo, Colorado. That was the day Westboro Baptist Church came to protest our gay marriages as well as our legalization of marijuana. Like any of that was thier business. Much like us going to protest their protest, but it had to be done. The numbers were definitely in our favor. There were 7 of them and there were over 400 of us and I was told later that there were over 50 in the church across the street that never got counted. Of course adrenalin was high and we all hollered at them and they just smiled and called us fag lovers and such. As I look back on that now I am overcome with a very heavy sadness.
I decided to do a little research into the Phelps family and it becomes even more sad when I learned that these kids are born into this house of hate and are taught from a very early age that they are right and the rest of the world is wrong. they perpetuate homophobia as well as the beleif that soldiers are killers and baby rapers. In thier world there is no good and all is evil. How can they have any happiness? What is thier life but one big long demonstation against any kind of happiness. They spew hate like a Roman Candle spews fireballs against a dark sky.
I know the family started with Fred Phelps and a lot of his podigy remain thier in the compound. When Fred died they kept him around for several months in hopes that he would come back to life, but that did not happen. His sister now seems to be the ring leader, but as it appears there is dissent in the ranks. Outsiders have joined the ranks, but as the kids grow, they want more out of life and escape the confines. Sometimes they are caught and brought back, but a few remain "at large." Could you imagine growing up in such an environment?
When I was raising my kids I tried to make them happy and secure and I taught them that everyone was equal and had the right to happiness as long as thier actions did not hurt anyone else. I tried to teach them what being a christian was and I think they mostly got the idea. I could never fathom a parent that would deliberatlely stand thier child on the corner and place a sign in thier hand that would hurt another person. Westboro Baptist is shrinking in numbers and thier protests are of little consequence any more, but I want you to think about this:
What if Westboro had been on God's side and had marched for love, kindness, charity, forgiveness? What if they had taken that banner and protested murder, child abuse, domestic violence, animal cruelty? If they had raised a ruckus over the real short comings of society, I might have waved one of thier signs. If they had thrown groceries at a hungry family they might sleep a little better at night.
And so that is my take on Westboro. So to bed.
