Hi. I posted this on the post that Barbara originally started about being angry about someone denying Sept. 11 happened. Later in the posts RUBYREDDOG posted about anti-war protesters going to soldiers funerals. I am going to copy and paste the two messages I posted on the other thread because it is important to me that everyone who read the original posts sees this, there was an error.
Here is my original post, to be followed by my second post.
Thank you all for letting me do this.
post:
Hi. I also agree that veterans deserve respect and our thanks.
However, I wanted to correct something RUBYREDDOG said earlier. It is not anti-war protesters that are showing up at soldiers funerals, it is a extremist "Christian" group that hates gays. They show up at soldiers funerals with signs saying, "thank G-D for dead soldiers" because they say that it is because of gays that this country was attacked on Sept. 11. They say they are glad soldiers are dying because the U.S. deserves what we got because of allowing gay unions. If you email the group you linked (patriotguard) they will verify that.
That same "Christian" group showed up here in Vermont when we were enacting the first in the nation Civil Unions law about 10 or so years ago to stand outside our Statehouse for a week with horrible, horrible signs wishing death on gays, and destruction for Vermont.
What they do is terrible, when i read about them going to soldiers funerals i was sick to my stomach.
No anti-war protester I know would even think of doing something like that.
I myself, am against the war and have attended protests. However, i very much honor our soldiers who are there and would never wish any harm on any of them. No protesters i know would ever do anything like that.
I cannot remember the name of that "Christian" group, i have been following their escapades for years, ever since they showed up in Vermont. They hold horrible signs saying "G-D hates fags" and things like that. They are evil, evil, evil. It is they who show up at soldiers funerals.
QUICK_EDIT
Not anti-war protesters
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Here is the message I posted after visiting the website of the Partiotguard, a very noble organization, i agree.
post:
RUBYREDDOG and anyone else interested,
Here is something i copied and pasted off the PatriotGuards website under their section about their history of how they got started. This is the group i was talking about. Dp a google search on Fred Phelps and the Westboro Baptist Church and read about them, if you can stomach it. Cut and pasted from PatriotGuard website:
It all started back in early August of 2005 with the American Legion Riders chapter 136 from Kansas. They were appalled to hear that a fallen hero’s memory was being tarnished by misguided religious zealots who were protesting at funerals. They decided to do something about it. At the ALR 136 August meeting, Director: Chuck " Pappy " Barshney appointed members, Terry “Darkhorse” Houck, Cregg “Bronco 6” Hansen, Steve “McDaddy” McDonald, and Bill ”Wild Bill” Logan to form a committee to strategize and form a battle plan to combat Fred Phelps and the Westboro Baptist Church.
post:
RUBYREDDOG and anyone else interested,
Here is something i copied and pasted off the PatriotGuards website under their section about their history of how they got started. This is the group i was talking about. Dp a google search on Fred Phelps and the Westboro Baptist Church and read about them, if you can stomach it. Cut and pasted from PatriotGuard website:
It all started back in early August of 2005 with the American Legion Riders chapter 136 from Kansas. They were appalled to hear that a fallen hero’s memory was being tarnished by misguided religious zealots who were protesting at funerals. They decided to do something about it. At the ALR 136 August meeting, Director: Chuck " Pappy " Barshney appointed members, Terry “Darkhorse” Houck, Cregg “Bronco 6” Hansen, Steve “McDaddy” McDonald, and Bill ”Wild Bill” Logan to form a committee to strategize and form a battle plan to combat Fred Phelps and the Westboro Baptist Church.
One more post from me, sorry to monopolize.
I have learned so much from everyone on this board. I was feeling alone and confused when I first had MC, no one really understands unless they have it. Everyone on this board seems kind and i already feel like you are my friends.
I just hope you will not hold it against me that I stated in my message at the top that I do attend anti-war protests.
I honor the soldiers who are sacrificing so much for their country. However, in my heart I just never felt that the war was necessary and I need to feel free to be who I am without fear of people being angry at me. I never intended to bring any of my politics to the group as a whole, but I felt i needed to make sure everyone understood it is not anti-war protesters going to soldiers funerals. After this post i will never bring up politics again as I know that is not what this group is about.
I am a pacifist, i do not believe in violence unless it is absolutely necessary. I did not believe that Iraq was an imminent danger to us. I DID believe Al Queda was a danger to us and supported going after them.
I do not wish to insult the veterans in this group, and the spouses and other family of veterans. My dad was a former Marine who earned a Purple Heart in the Korean war. I will always honor the sacrifices our soldiers make for us.
I guess that is all i have to say. Thanks for listening.
I have learned so much from everyone on this board. I was feeling alone and confused when I first had MC, no one really understands unless they have it. Everyone on this board seems kind and i already feel like you are my friends.
I just hope you will not hold it against me that I stated in my message at the top that I do attend anti-war protests.
I honor the soldiers who are sacrificing so much for their country. However, in my heart I just never felt that the war was necessary and I need to feel free to be who I am without fear of people being angry at me. I never intended to bring any of my politics to the group as a whole, but I felt i needed to make sure everyone understood it is not anti-war protesters going to soldiers funerals. After this post i will never bring up politics again as I know that is not what this group is about.
I am a pacifist, i do not believe in violence unless it is absolutely necessary. I did not believe that Iraq was an imminent danger to us. I DID believe Al Queda was a danger to us and supported going after them.
I do not wish to insult the veterans in this group, and the spouses and other family of veterans. My dad was a former Marine who earned a Purple Heart in the Korean war. I will always honor the sacrifices our soldiers make for us.
I guess that is all i have to say. Thanks for listening.
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RUBYREDDOG
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Andi, Please accept my most sincere apology for disturbing your peace of mind. It was not my intention to impugn the integrity of the anti war groups, or any group for that matter. It sounds like you are committed to non violent protests and I have no problem with that approach to free speech, as long as it does not trample the rights of others.
The patriot guard gave a speech at my car club meeting last year. They specifically mentioned people who were protesting the war in Iraq, who were at the funeral of a soldier, causing problems. Sounds like your protests are not that radical. Here in Los Angeles, we frequently have people demonstrating for their causes who cross the line of common decency. Maybe they feel they have to do something "special" to get face time on T.V. to promote their agenda. I my book, anyone who demonstrates at a funeral of one of my fellow veterans, for whatever reason, is crossing that line. Hence, my support for the patriot guards. (just my opinion )
Well if you have read up to this point, I apologize for taking up so much of your valuable time on a non MC related issue. Being a Vietnam era Army veteran, (thankfully I did not have to go there) I'm sensitive to their issues. I have lost many friends and a few relatives to war, going back to the Civil War. I know of no one who likes war.
Andi, hopefully through the efforts of people like you and me we can eliminate wars altogether. Again, I am sorry for unitentionally hurting your feelings.
Hotrod
The patriot guard gave a speech at my car club meeting last year. They specifically mentioned people who were protesting the war in Iraq, who were at the funeral of a soldier, causing problems. Sounds like your protests are not that radical. Here in Los Angeles, we frequently have people demonstrating for their causes who cross the line of common decency. Maybe they feel they have to do something "special" to get face time on T.V. to promote their agenda. I my book, anyone who demonstrates at a funeral of one of my fellow veterans, for whatever reason, is crossing that line. Hence, my support for the patriot guards. (just my opinion )
Well if you have read up to this point, I apologize for taking up so much of your valuable time on a non MC related issue. Being a Vietnam era Army veteran, (thankfully I did not have to go there) I'm sensitive to their issues. I have lost many friends and a few relatives to war, going back to the Civil War. I know of no one who likes war.
Andi, hopefully through the efforts of people like you and me we can eliminate wars altogether. Again, I am sorry for unitentionally hurting your feelings.
Hotrod
RUBYREDDOG(hotrod),
I thank you for your post, it means a lot to me. Anyone who would protest at a soldiers funeral is not someone who wants to promote peace. The far majority of people committed to ending wars (like you and me) are decent people who are committed to their beliefs. There are always trouble makers in every group. Please believe me when I tell you that no person who is truly committed to peace would ever do anything to bring pain to another person. If i ever thought I hurt someone I would have a hard time living with myself.
I have been involved in peace and social justice issues for about 30 years now. I was raised by parents who were committeed to those issues. My father was a Korean War vet who was badly injured and received a Purple Heart. After seeing war he was committed to doing what he could do make sure there were no more wars. He was also a strong proponent of social justice. He became a crmininal judge because he wanted to do what he could to bring justice to his world. He was always considered the most fair and compassionate of judges until the day he died. The people i have been involved with in peace activities over the years are compassionate people who truly believe in what they are doing. None of us would ever condone what some people have done in the name of peace. Those who promote peace by using violence are anything but peace makers. Violent protests and actions meant to bring physical or emotional hurt to someone are not acts of peace and kindness. If there are indeed any anti-war protesters attending soldiers funerals they are angry people who do not truly share a vision of a world without war.
I am sorry for the families of the soldiers who had to deal with these kinds of people.
Thank you for your post.
I thank you for your post, it means a lot to me. Anyone who would protest at a soldiers funeral is not someone who wants to promote peace. The far majority of people committed to ending wars (like you and me) are decent people who are committed to their beliefs. There are always trouble makers in every group. Please believe me when I tell you that no person who is truly committed to peace would ever do anything to bring pain to another person. If i ever thought I hurt someone I would have a hard time living with myself.
I have been involved in peace and social justice issues for about 30 years now. I was raised by parents who were committeed to those issues. My father was a Korean War vet who was badly injured and received a Purple Heart. After seeing war he was committed to doing what he could do make sure there were no more wars. He was also a strong proponent of social justice. He became a crmininal judge because he wanted to do what he could to bring justice to his world. He was always considered the most fair and compassionate of judges until the day he died. The people i have been involved with in peace activities over the years are compassionate people who truly believe in what they are doing. None of us would ever condone what some people have done in the name of peace. Those who promote peace by using violence are anything but peace makers. Violent protests and actions meant to bring physical or emotional hurt to someone are not acts of peace and kindness. If there are indeed any anti-war protesters attending soldiers funerals they are angry people who do not truly share a vision of a world without war.
I am sorry for the families of the soldiers who had to deal with these kinds of people.
Thank you for your post.