Missouri town turns out to keep Phelps clan away from soldier’s funeral

[kpete]

Source: McClatchy

Missouri town turns out to keep Phelps clan away from soldier’s funeral


The first showed up before the sun Tuesday, huddling and shivering in the cold and the dark. Others soon came, and before long their numbers stretched a block on both sides of Mechanic Street in front of Harrisonville’s Our Lady of Lourdes Catholic Church.

People drove from three or four counties away. Buses arrived, bellowing exhaust into the cold, bringing loads of schoolkids and senior citizens. People took off work. Some brought dogs. Farmers parked pickups nearby.

It wasn’t a fire, but a burning sense of what was the decent thing to do for one of their own who had given his all.

By 9 a.m., an hour before the funeral of Army Cpl. Jacob R. Carver, an estimated 2,000 to 3,000 people, many of them waving American flags, lined nearly a half-mile of the street in front of the church, making sure Fred Phelps and his Westboro Baptist Church/family congregation were crowded out, peacefully kept far from shouting distance of the funeral.




Read more: http://www.mcclatchydc.com/2010/11/24/104224/missouri-town-turns-out-to-keep.html#ixzz16DramM4T

[JitterbugPerfume]

1. beautiful

[scribble]

12. Why aren't Progressives doing things like this?

... just thought I'd ask. It doesn't appear that we do anything to reach out to the communities in which we live. We just bitch. Maybe someone here can list a few instances where Progressives recently stood up together -- besides the Jon Daily march.

Really. We shouldn't leave it up to Teabaggers in small towns to take public stands like this.

sc

[StandingInLeftField]

14. How about this small gathering?

http://action.onenationworkingtogether.org/content/main

I was there....pretty positive and inclusive group.

And much kudos to Harrisonville!

[MurrayDelph]

16. Some of us do it in our own way

google the words "Fred Phelps" and "Comicon" and look at the images (and video).

[Tansy_Gold]

18. How do you know these people weren't progressive? n/t

[L.Torsalo]

43. I believe

that justice is progressive. These people were acting justly. Peace.

[Tansy_Gold]

44. I agree.

:hi:

[JBoy]

19. Nice try.

[Matariki]

21. Why in the world do you think those people were teabaggers?

And none of them are progressives?

The article doesn't say one way or the other. Nor does it matter.

[Frances]

26. I'm sure the person quoted in the article who said

that the Captain died to protect the Phelps group's right to speak was a progressive. The person who said this was one of the people lining the street.

[azmesa207]

29. What Makes

you think there not any progressive in this group and why do you think it was teabaggers that did this ?????????/

[classof56]

31. Just curious...why do you think these good folk were all Teabaggers?

I didn't see that in the article, but maybe I missed something. If I'd been there, I'd have marched and I'm about as Progressive as they come. In fact, a few years ago, I took on the Phelps crowd when they picketed a court building where one of the judges happens to be gay. In a considerate, cordial way, of course...

[texastoast]

33. What makes you think these people are baggers?

Progressives protest and protect. The pic below demonstrates that we do more than bitch. Would you like to see some more?

[SaveAmerica]

34. How do you know this wasn't started by a progressive?

For example, I hadn't heard of these types of human walls being formed before very recently. Several months ago I made a comment on a page I follow on Facebook (for families of servicemembers) that if we stood shoulder to shoulder between Phelps and our servicemembers' families we could form a peaceful barrier. Is it possible that someone read my idea and started using it? Who knows? It doesn't matter, what does matter is that Phelps and his crew are peacefully being drowned out by citizens.

I'm a progressive and I have been volunteering for years now to put into office and keep in office candidates who will do right by our military and protect those who have pledged themselves to protect us.

PS, Unless I missed the part about this being organized by the Tea Party, I read the article again and don't see that.

[bjobotts]

71. They don't call themselves anything. We label them by our assumptions

[bjobotts]

72. But this was a unified community effort of patriotic dignity

[Capn Sunshine]

47. I think you misconstrue DU and real life

Progressives are doing plenty offline from can drives to homeless shelters to donations of clothes and time. Just bcause you don't read about it at DU doesn't mean it isn't happening. DU is not representative ofthe progressive community, thank GOD.

[Skittles]

51. "WE"

:rofl:

[Control-Z]

52. They were teabaggers?

How do you know that? I guess I missed that part.

[NorthCarolina]

53. How did you make the determination that these are all 'Teabaggers' and NO Progressives?

...just curious.

[Name removed]

57. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[xxqqqzme]

58. It was done here in Orange County in

late October. The westboro whackos were scheduled to protest a play at Cal State Fullerton (forgive me I cannot remember the title). The word went out. Progressives appeared, some w/ home made angel 'wings'. Westboro was a no show.

[Initech]

63. Those dipshits tried to do that in Stanton last year.

There was quite a nice procession - even one of the local biker squads rode with them and offered extra security on top of it.

[proud2BlibKansan]

60. We did it for years here

Didn't get any media coverage though.

[Telly Savalas]

66. There have been numerous counter-protests I've witnessed

but what makes this unique is that the folks in Harrisonville were able to physically displace the Phelps gang with their presence.

I don't see this so much as a political act, but rather as a community coming together to allow one of its own to grieve in peace without those dickbags from Topeka interfering.

[awoke_in_2003]

69. you're right, it is not a political act...

it is a human act- and the Phelps gang is sub-human

[klook]

67. "the Jon Daily march"

:rofl: :rofl: :rofl:

You are too funny! I hope you stick around a while!!

[24601]

75. A Soldier's funeral isn't partisan. There isn't anything to make

participants take red or blue sides - we are on the side of CPL Carver and his family. The "other side" is asswipe Phelps and his asswipe sheeple.

Good people who on other days are red or blue line to oppose Phelps and leave politics to other days.

[Vickers]

76. You make a lot of ASSumptions in very little space.

Umm...congratulations, I guess?

:shrug:

[No Elephants]

77. Huh?

[Newest Reality]

2. Look at what is possible!

Imagine coming together to pull the economic tapeworm out of our systems.

[liberal N proud]

3. Good for Harrisonville

Small community about 40 miles south of Kansas City.

[Safetykitten]

4. Nice!

[Safetykitten]

5. Dupe

[hfojvt]

6. not realy breaking news for us locals

but a neat story nonetheless

[EFerrari]

35. This kind of response gives me more hope for the country

than any politician. A community of people standing together, that's powerful right there.

[roxiejules]

7. Video and photos

Kansas City Star has photos and video:

http://www.kansascity.com/2010/11/23/2467169/in-harrisonville-thousands-line.html

http://videos.kansascity.com/vmix_hosted_apps/p/media?id=32045801&f=mokas

[BrklynLiberal]

8. Wow..that is an amazingly beautiful story....

[pattmarty]

9. This is the kind of publicity these shitheads DIDN'T want.

[BolivarianHero]

10. That man's a gift...

The best thing that can happen for human rights is for their opponents to act like lunatics.

[redirish28]

11. BRAVO WELL DONE. I believe this is a second time a town turned against Phelps

[KamaAina]

23. Yup. He got his tires slashed in McAlester, OK

And -- and this is the good part -- no one in town would fix them. :rofl:

[siligut]

27. Finally WallFart automotive helped, I gather from a comment.

However, makes you wonder why the Phelps clan wouldn't have gone to BallDart first. Gotta love that solidarity though.

[No Elephants]

78. Many more than 2 towns. And sometimes, bikers come from quite a distance to escort mourners and the

body, as a buffer from the God Hates Fags loonies.

[jhrobbins]

13. KUDOS to Harrisonville for using their 'right to LOUDER free speech'.

[Lil Missy]

15. Good for them!

[joeglow3]

17. Good to see. We did the same here a few years ago

These turds showed up at our church to boycott one of the Scouts who died in the Little Sioux Scout Camp tornado.

[lunatica]

20. The true Christians turn out to block the false prophet Phelps

[littlewolf]

39. +10000

[InvisibleTouch]

22. Well done! We need more of this. n/t

[The Backlash Cometh]

24. Well done.

[AllyCat]

25. True Americans. Bless them.

[Zambero]

28. Bless them!

Freedom of assembly trumps blatant harassment masquerading as "freedom of speech". Hopefully, the Phelps hatemongering troupe will continue to encounter unanticipated "surprises" along their itinerary, to the point where they'll decide to hang it up and crawl back under their rock for good.

[delightfulstar]

30. K&R

Phelps and his cronies think they can go wherever they damn well please and spread their twisted brand of hatred. Good for these people for saying, "Not in our town!"

[JNelson6563]

32. Awesome!

I hope many communities follow this excellent example by these fine people. I am touched by their efforts. :patriot:

Julie

[pinto]

36. Kudos.

:thumbsup:

:thumbsup:

[texastoast]

37. K&R

I love decent people.

MEAN PEOPLE SUCK!

[ladywnch]

38. THAT'S WHAT I'M TALKING ABOUT!!!!!!

completely cut them out of the picture!!!! overpower them.....neuter them (figuratively and literally)


GO MO!!!!!!!

[fascisthunter]

40. this is how we should deal with fanatics

[Ferret Annica]

41. No medal you can give equals the love of your entire community defending your farewell

I am proud of this community for standing up to these monsters and their baitful hatred.

Molesting the memories of men fallen in battle will create a special reaction to Fred Phelps' eventual death; deep and systemic joy all across the nation.

[syberlion]

42. Amazing

This issue crosses most political lines because it doesn't matter who you are, if you've made the ultimate sacrifice, your family deserves the ultimate respect. The family made the same sacrifice, their son or daughter, for America. Phelps is acting in a completely un-American way, yes he has the right to say whatever he wants, however he has no right to disrespect the family at the most vulnerable time. This man has no shame and I bet if he gets a psychiatric interview, he'll be labeled a sociopath, which he is.

[demosincebirth]

45. What do the leaders of the Baptist Church think about this? Why are the keeping their mouths shut?

[proteus_lives]

46. Good for them.

True Americans in action.

[Lindsey]

49. Fred Phelps is an evil person. I mean realy, protesting funerals

for our sons and daughters who have died in war????????????????? WTF. Yea, this is what Jesus would do.:sarcasm:

[activa8tr]

48. Thanks for posting this.... you know, I've been thinking about something people on both..

sides could do together. I wouldn't mind going out to overwhelm the Phelps group in a crowd of mostly Republicans right wingers.

This is something the left and the right could agree to do together.

Just my opinion.

[kimi]

50. Heartwarming

And ya know, I bet there were folks of all political stripes there. In this case, the true message of keeping away hatred during a sad farewell trumped all.

Sometimes I almost lose faith in human nature; stories like these reinforce that faith. :)

[The Midway Rebel]

54. Condolences to the family of Corporal Jacob R. Carver

That boy was only 20 years old and a neighbor.

[DinahMoeHum]

55. The Patriot Guard Riders were also there. . .

www.patriotguard.org

http://www.patriotguard.org/Forums/tabid/61/postid/1469543/view/topic/Default.aspx


We don’t care what you ride or if you ride, what your political views are, or whether you’re a hawk or a dove. It is not a requirement that you be a veteran. It doesn't matter where you’re from or what your income is; you don’t even have to ride. The only prerequisite is Respect.

Our main mission is to attend the funeral services of fallen American heroes as invited guests of the family. Each mission we undertake has two basic objectives:

1) Show our sincere respect for our fallen heroes, their families, and their communities.
2) Shield the mourning family and their friends from interruptions created by any protestor or group of protestors.

We accomplish the latter through strictly legal and non-violent means.




"Mission Completed"

:patriot:

[FailureToCommunicate]

56. "Salus Populi Suprema Lex Esto"! Cheers to the good folks of Harrisonville

Harrisonville is just a ways west of family roots in Washington.

[SalmonChantedEvening]

59. My Thanksgiving just became a better one.

Thank you Harrisonville. Blessings Be.

[ColesCountyDem]

61. This happened here recently, as well.

Decent people are disgusted by the Phelps' clans antics!

[Initech]

62. Liberal or conservative, one thing we can all agree on: everyone hates Fred Phelps.

[RowdyRacer]

65. I've always wished...

that the local porta-potty truck driver would do a drive by
hose-down of Phelps and his brainwashed idiots.

[awoke_in_2003]

70. "everyone hates Fred Phelps"...

agreed

[Dinger]

64. K & R Chokes Me Up

Beautiful indeed.:patriot:

[klook]

68. Hats off to Harrisonville

Wonderful way to deal with the Phelps Phuckheads, and a wonderful gift to this young man's family.

[CherokeeDem]

73. In my town...

over a year ago, I was driving along a major 4-land street with a large grassy median. Approaching a large funeral home,I saw numerous police cars and assumed it must be services for a policeman. When I got closer, I saw the Army Honor Guard, and the Westboro people, but could barely see them. Our local Metro police had not only surrounded the funeral home, but lined up in the median to keep those despicable bastards away. Nearly everyone that was driving through as I did were flashing their lights at the cops in thanks. They didn't allow those jerks disturb the family in their grief.

[WillyT]

74. Wonderful !!! - K & R !!!

:cry:

:patriot:

:kick:

[herbm]

79. Sometimes I am so proud to be an American.

[jamiefoxer]

80. nice

those westboro types better be grateful the didn't take it further.

If it were my family that had a funeral and those bozos showed up, no law in the land would stop me from beating the shit out of them.

Certain things are beyond the bounds and I will not be bound by any man-made law in retaliation.