10.30.2008

Westboro Baptist Claims 'God Hates Tennessee'

I can't believe that ANYONE could bring themselves to do such a disrespectful act. These 'Christians' carry signs at their protests saying things like "Thank God for 9/11" and "Thank God for AIDS." I say Thank God! that he will take care of these people. I don't know how someone could misinterpret the Word of God to this degree. Hopefully this group won't show up and the families and friends can say goodbye in peace.



Principal: 'Unbelievable' that group claims God's judgment in teens' deaths

By Matt Lakin (Contact)
Originally published 10:18 a.m., October 29, 2008
Updated 05:24 p.m., October 29, 2008
Related document

* Press release sent by Westboro Baptist Church

Leaders of a church that's drawn national controversy for its protests at U.S. military funerals say they plan to picket Friday's services for two Scott County High School cheerleaders and sisters killed in a weekend crash.

Six people died in the Oct. 24 crash near Huntsville, Tenn., including a grandmother, an unborn baby and four cheerleaders on their way home from a friend's birthday party after a home football game.

Friends and family say they just want to say their goodbyes in peace.

"It's unbelievable," said Bill Hall, the school's principal, who'd just returned from the first of the girls' funerals Wednesday. "We hope they don't come. The sheriff (Anthony Lay) is aware of it, and we'll be taking precautionary measures."

The Westboro Baptist Church, based in Topeka, Kan., maintains such Web sites as godhatesamerica.com and became famous during the Iraq war for calling the deaths of U.S. troops a divine judgment on America for tolerating homosexuality. Members recently expanded their protests to include funerals of those killed in car wrecks, bridge collapses and various disasters.

Shirley Phelps-Roper, a member of the church and daughter of its founder, said all Americans - even the unborn - share in the nation's guilt.

"There was not one person involved in that trauma who was not disobedient to their God," she said. "They deserved that. Why shouldn't the unborn child be killed? You guys kill them every day."

An expert on extremist groups said the church has a history of threatening protests and failing to deliver.

"These are among the most despicable people on the planet," said Mark Potok, director of the Southern Poverty Law Center's Intelligence Project. "They have attacked everything and practically everybody on the planet. They often make these threats and then don't show up."

Cheerleaders Nikki Hughett, Ashley Mason and sisters Jamie and Aleasha Hill were headed home Oct. 24 just before midnight when their Chevrolet Tracker apparently spun out of control in the rain and fog on U.S. Highway 27 near Mountain View Road. The Tracker smashed into a Ford Taurus carrying four people, including Jeweline King, 49, of Grimsley, Tenn., and her pregnant daughter-in-law, Miranda King.

The impact killed Jeweline King, her unborn grandchild and all four of the cheerleaders. King's husband, Malcum, and daughter-in-law remain at the University of Tennessee Medical Center in Knoxville.

Funeral services are Thursday for Hughett and Friday for the Hill sisters and for King and her grandchild. Students who want to attend the girls' funerals will receive excused absences, school officials said.

Hall, the principal, said condolences from around the country have poured into the school since the crash. Funds have been set up for a scholarship in the girls' memories and to help the families with expenses.

"There's been tremendous support, but it's going to take some time to get over this," he said. "The community's never had to deal with anything like this."



Controversial church plans to picket in Scott Co. after deadly crash

SCOTT COUNTY, Tenn. (WVLT) -- As a community mourns the loss of the four young cheerleaders, and a grandmother and unborn baby in the second car, Westboro Baptist Church, known for protesting soldiers' funerals, claims it will show up in Scott County to picket.

With one teenager buried Wednesday, and another lying in the funeral home, people here say they're disgusted to hear that a group would take advantage of this tragedy to make a political statement.

Flags fly at half-staff, and you can't drive far in Scott Co. without seeing ribbons, in memory of those who died.

As everyone here stands united in their time of suffering, news that a group may use this event to protest is very upsetting.

Resident Amanda Ward says, "I just don't think it's right. If something happened to one of them, they would want the same kind of respect shown."

Resident Ronnie Brock says, "Well, I'd say they don't need any extra grief at all with the tragedy that's happened. I'm sure the families have been through a lot and they'd just like a little bit of peace."

The group that plans to protest is from Westboro Baptist Church in Topeka, Kan. Their news release says "God Hates Tennessee" and says the cheerleaders "died for Tennessee's sins."
The group that's known for strong anti-homosexual views told us by phone they now plan to protest at the high school, rather than at the funerals.

Church spokesperson Shirley Phelps says, "To help you connect the dots from your rebellion against God, your idols, your false gods, your filthy manner of life, teaching your children that God is a liar and rebellion against His standards."

Wherever they choose, the protesters will not be welcome.

Scott Appalachian Industries Executive Director Scott Appalachian Industries "You know, what goes around comes around, and people ought to just be careful."

The sign in front of Scott Appalachian Industries is just one of many indications of his support for the victims' families.

West says, "I don't know that I would want to find people in their lowest time of despair and try to make misery even worse."

There's another sign of support outside Pizza Plus. Owner David Daugherty put it there. He says the thought of protestors here is more than he can stand.

Daugherty says, "I can't believe something like this would happen, but you've got those people out there that would do stuff like this."

Sheriff Anthony Lay refused to go on camera, saying he doesn't want to do anything to give publicity to a group like this, but he says the Scott County Sheriff's Department will provide security and make sure there are no disruptions at any funerals.

2 comments:

Anonymous said...

"Sheriff Anthony Lay refused to go on camera, saying he doesn't want to do anything to give publicity to a group like this, but he says the Scott County Sheriff's Department will provide security and make sure there are no disruptions at any funerals."

-I hope the Sheriff is also watching the High School now as well. Since the (radical) church group called and told whomever they planned to be at the school, not at the funeral.

Ironically, and coincidently, this news of protest coming to Tennessee around election. The time we emphasize making our voice heard, voting, and every vote counts.

Barrack Obama's slogans, "time for change", or "change we can believe in", both come to mind. Associating rally with protest, protesters as voters. Easy to find a connection in everything.

The debate was in Nashville recently. Also two disturbed youths, that are being associated with "nazi skinheads", were arrested for conspiracy to commit murder. (Don't know if that is actual charge but,...) They were said to be planning to kill 88 black people and decapitate 14 of them. I've even read school children. Ending their spree assassinating Barrack Obama in the end. All this while wearing white top hats and tuxedos. This story has been all over the media.

Now the Westboro Church, not backing down own bit in their determined passive-aggressive attack on the American people. More specifically, Cristian-Americans.

I do not think the community is strong enough right now to organize their own protest. I'd love to be there with a "DECRIMALIZE" sign, smoking herb next to Obama's "time for change...we can believe in" signs.
I couldn't protest against Westboro Church, because they truly are undeniable proof, if you build America based on Christianity, there are going to be a LOT of loopholes.

We still throw people in jail for smoking marijuana, or just having it on their person. Bible Genesis says, "All seed-breaing plants were given to man.". Therefore America isn't exactly enforcing God's law when they criminalize this natural plant, a healing herb as it is described. Meanwhile people are overdosing on unsafe drugs, or getting drunk driving. Which WAS NOT the case in this accident, as far as I have been informed. Thank goodness we don't have anything like that being spat in our faces.

My apologies to the families and people involved. The law enforcement and paramedics as well. I have taken considerate thought into what it must have been like the night of the accident. I could never grasp the depth of emotion involved.

I imagine most involved are in fact Christians. Simply because so many people believe in Jesus Christ, God, and/or the bible in the USA. Even if they do not study the bible, or go to church, they still believe they are Christian.

I believe we are all as equally important, as we are insignificant. We are sleeping giants. Dreaming is easy. Doing something positive for yourself;for the world; for God; for the universe; is something worth waking up for. Live now, sleep when you are dead.

I know those girls have peace, because overall we forgive them. They legally shouldn't have been on the road, but the universe (God) does not keep the same schedule as we do. They were doing no harm enjoying each others company and making the ill-fated mistake of staying out too late. Even more then these girls, the victims of the other car as well. I speculate you've all "woke up" a little bit more. Meaning you've taken deeper consideration in what is the meaning of life? Is there a God? You may not ever really know, you can only believe. I know that whatever all these good-natured Tennesseans believe in is more righteous then Westboro's rhetoric.

If we arrest "pot heads", then by the same logic these people should be put in jail. I don't think either belong in jail. Both are humane freedoms. However, Westboro church is very complicated issue. They're wrong about so many things, but that all depends on who you say, what is wrong?

If ever a man believes in something, nobody can take it from him. But they will always try.

shs angels said...

I have gone to school with these girls for many of years. They were bautiful hearted girls. They all went to church and searved god to the fullest. They did sin but everyone does. they didnt rebell against god. God has a date and time and place for everyone to die. Friday night at a little before midnight on october 24, 2008 was nikki's aleasha's jamie's and ashley's time. Anyone who could be so ignorant to say anything like that about those girls is wrong. They have sinned because in the bible it says judge and ye shall be judged. They did not know anything about these girls. They did not know what was in their hearts. And i think that it is discusting for them to think they were used as a rebellion. God doesnt work that way and if they think he does then they do not know god or jesus. I am a true friend of those girls and i knew that they were Curagious, beautiful and full of life. all of them had accepted god as their savior. SO IF ANY PROTESTORS want to make thier families fell more in hell as the fact that they have lost their children then they are nothing but workers of satan!

SAMANTHA LEANN LOWE
Scott high school