Hot News!
• TIF and The Banks: Tax Dollar Boondoggle?
• The 60th Anniversary of the Israeli/Palestinian Conflict
Contact Us
v mail, fax: (214) 481-6464
e mail: click here
Events
 May 17, 9:30am - 12:30pm The 2008 Day of Dialogue Series- Education and the Common Good: Six Dialogues on Six Critical Issues: Health Care, Economic Development, Education, Immigration, Campaign Finance Reform and Foriegn Policy. Join us at the First Unitiarin Church, 536 Linton Street. All Are Welcome at these free events, reservations requested. |
Monday, May 19th, 6-7pm Cincinnati Progressive United’s 1st planning meeting, Bond Hill Branch Library, 1740 Langdon Farm Rd. at Jordan Crossing
|
June 28, 9am - 5pm Nonviolent Peacemaking Workshop, Presented by the Michigan Peace Team, Peaslee Neighborhood Center, call 579-8547 to sign up |
Friday, April 11, 2008
“God Hates Fags” in Cincinnati?
Posted by The Dean of Cincinnati
According to the schedule of events posted at the disgusting God Hates Fags website, the group will be bringing their outrageous protests to Cincinnati for Matt Maupin’s funeral on April 27th at the Great American Ball Park. In an interesting counter-development, this MySpace page showcases what appears to be a group who wants to surround the “God Hates Fags” group with American flags so no one can see them.
"God Hates Fags” is the work of Westboro Baptist Church. Apparently, the group believes that God is allowing American soldiers to die because someone bombed their church in the mid-90’s. Their website states:
Follow this link, and watch a video sermon where you will be told things like “Fags are violent.”
One must wonder what will happen during Maupin’s funeral, and whether the folks from Westboro Baptist Church will be able to get their hatred into the news.
• Share This Article!
Listen to this article
|  |
Register
Anonymous comments are allowed, but you can log in above to stamp your name and to avoid typing the anti-spam code.
If you are not familiar with our rules for leaving comments, click here!
11 Apr 2008 at 08:58 am | #
As much as i despise their actions and beliefs...we do live in an open society and they are allowed to do what they do. I really like what the Patriot Guard is doing (the group of bikers that typically attempt to shield the funerals from these protesters with non-violent means).
The WBC is a tiny community built almost exclusively from the pastor’s family. There was a very interesting show on the BBC with Louis Theroux...i believe you can find it on YouTube. It makes you understand a little more about what’s going on behind the scenes...i feel bad for the children brought up in that environment and believe in it with all their hearts.
11 Apr 2008 at 09:04 am | #
These are the kinds of people that are fun to interview because the more they talk, the more foolish they look. Too bad there aren’t any Daily Show corresponedents around.
11 Apr 2008 at 05:40 pm | #
I’d like to see you eke out a little outrage aimed at these gay bashing, hate mongers that incite acts of violence against homosexuals instead of inferring as Justin does that they’re “fun to interview” and would be a fun subject for the Daily Show. Naturally if this were the Aryan Nation or KKK they would get the swift condemnation they so deserve. Not gay bashers. Not on the Beacon. The Phelps’ are funny.
And how about a comment on the overplayed, media seeking, war loving, Bush supporting Maupins? Hero? What’s heroic about a 20 year old being kidnapped and shot in the head while driving contractors around an illegally occupied country? He didn’t throw his body on top of a buddy or divert disaster from his company. Like all the other casualties of this invasion, there’s no romantic tale here even if the Maupins have done their best to frame this tragedy as Lifetime movie material. The fact that Maupin, like so many blue collar kids, went into the military to get funding for college has been lost. It evolved into a mythical, patriotic fairytale invented by the parents months after his disappearance. Funeral at Great American Ballpark? Who’s footing this bill? Who pays for security and all the other services surrounding this charade? He’s dead. What good is this going to do him? If we’ve got extra tax dollars lying about, I’d like to see that money used a thousand different ways. When does this fiasco ever end? Four years is enough focus on one, sad soldier. Have there been no other casualties of war in the Tri-State? I can’t name one. No other has received media coverage. Where’s their parade? To treat this one young man as any more important than the other 4,000 Americans dead or the more than half million dead Iraqi citizens including innocent children that weren’t a part of a voluntary military, is a travesty. But that conversation is off limits in Cincinnati, the Tri-State, Ohio, the Enquirer and the Beacon.
12 Apr 2008 at 05:39 am | #
Great points, Cincysuz. If we didn’t have Matt Maupin, we’d have to invent him. Whatever the actual circumstances of his death were, the fact that he was in the service (and deployed in our marquee operation) is our license to characterize his story however we want. Invariably, he’s a patriot and a hero. The media happily help project this image, because we all like to have something to wrap our hearts around. It’s easier to cry for a man who died for a noble cause than to stand up and say an injustice was done.
12 Apr 2008 at 06:38 am | #
No, the conversation is not off limits. But this Westboro Baptist Church is a tragic joke. Justin’s right—they look ridiculous the more you let them talk.
But making extreme homophobes look as ridiculous as they are is off limits to cincysuz.
12 Apr 2008 at 08:06 am | #
Don’t all bigots look ridiculous the more they talk? But the Beacon as well as most of black, progessive, and even moderate Cincinnati fight tooth and nail to shut them up. To call them out. To prove them wrong. It’s a moral obligation to shed light and eradicate racism and bigotry. Legal actions are taken. Permits to use Fountain Square denied. Nationwide, people get fined, fired, marginalized for public racist positions and even simply ignorant comments, most far milder than those by the Phelps. I can’t remember even the most radical racist groups calling for the deaths of African Americans. It’s usually about separation. But the Phelps call for the eradication, elimination of homosexuals. And that requires swift, strong, unequivocal condemnation with as much passion and fervor as that directed toward racists. But the Beacon has never been offended by homophobia. They don’t go further than the “some of my best friends are...” position for fear a strong stand will offend some of the regulars they look to for approval and validation. The Beacon doesn’t bother with the suicide rates, discrimination data in housing, employment, adoption or even alarming increase of incidents of gay bashing that support this as a serious issue. No, they find it funny.
And the subject that is off topic is the Maupin debacle. You haven’t touched that one and you won’t. You stop short of calling that funny, huh?
12 Apr 2008 at 09:08 am | #
Suz has some points here people.
1. There are 4000 other’s who lost their lives due to this insane war. Why make one loss greater than another, they all had a mother and father, sister,brother and friends. A loss is a loss and one is no greater than the other.
2. Yeah- who is going to pay for the extra security and police that will be needed for this Bush Spectacular Side Show? And all of the overtime that will be collected at University Hospital due to him coming to town and they have to keep a staff on hand in case something happens to him- our tax dollars again!!
3.As for the recruiting “VICTIMS"- yeah that is what a lot of our military is these days-VICTIMS to falling for all the BS the recruiters toss around- money,college funding, the lies of not being deployed, and then once signed and sworn in- it all goes away unless you re-up for another 3 years.
4. The psychological damage that this war is doing to multiple generations of our country hasn’t even been discussed. The soldiers, their families, the country-The stories are unbelievable the mental toll this is taking. We don’t get the stories in Cincinnati- WAR IS GOOD...BS. Post Traumatic Stress, the many suicides, the many victims of domestic violence and even the deaths of those lost.
Yeah Suz- I’m a bit tired of Matt Maupin getting the press. But I can tell you that the Organization really does use the money in Iraq for the gang stuck there. There are multiple computer centers with his name on them, There is a conference facility near Balad with his name on it- and these people are being honest with what they are doing with the money collected. I know that these things exist since I know someone stationed in Iraq who has told me about them.
But I do agree- a loss is a loss and no one is greater or lesser than another.
12 Apr 2008 at 09:10 am | #
Several years ago, Michael Moore (who is his own polarizing figure I know) did a bit on Phelps. He took a large bus and “gayed” it up, and filled it with gays and followed Phelps to wherever he was and trying to protest. Phelps became so incensed that he would just leave. It was pretty funny. So in that area, I do agree with Justin. Sometimes, the best way to combat the hatred is to give enough rope for these idiots to metaphorically hang themselves.
I have long been an advocate of gay rights. I remember coming under scrutiny from co-workers when executing a unit on gay rights in my high school history class. It was very common place to hear students call each other “fag” or use the term gay as a euphemism for stupid. I think in those instances when it predominates a culture, Cincysuz is correct and a stand has to be made, so that is what I did. I disregarded the administrations wishes and some parent’s and proceeded with the unit. Students were made to wear derogatory names for GLBQ individuals on their backs all day. They then had to journal about the experience and write a paper about what it felt like to be made fun of something that they couldn’t control. I also brought in a speaker from Stonewall Cincinnati.
Phelps and his ilk fall into the first category though. They are such a minority and so extreme that teaching tolerance will not work on them. It is better to let them run their mouth on their extreme views and have the rest of American condemn them.
12 Apr 2008 at 01:26 pm | #
Who Cares?
It is commendable to teach students tolerance, and I have done similar things with students, too. The word “gypped” comes to mind, as an often overlooked slur—one we can add to inappropriate and offensive slurs.
12 Apr 2008 at 01:45 pm | #
So the consensus is that Phelps is “funny?” Perhaps the next KKK rally should be confronted by a busload of folks, “blacking it up.” That would be a stitch! Get real. These statements show that you don’t take homophobia seriously. You said it. It’s funny.
I couldn’t care less if the Maupins are sending goods and services overseas. That just lets the U.S. military off the hook for providing for the troops they’re holding hostage. More taxpayers dollars can be diverted to corrupt contractors. The Maupins are strong war supporters and war promoters. I would have more respect if they used the example of their dead child as a lesson to prevent it from happening to other families as Cindy Sheehan has done. Instead, they’ve romanticized it. They fraternize and appear in public with the pro-war contingencies. They even announced that their other son re-enlisted on the day his brother’s body was found. You can’t get more Audie Murphy than that. Willing to send another sacrifice at the George Bush altar. Give me a break. Say no to war and refuse to send anymore. That’s the only way to honor those that have been lost. Comment Dean and Justin?
12 Apr 2008 at 02:52 pm | #
Sure. First, let me state that I find both racism and heterosexism to be wrong, hurtful, destructive, unjust.
Now, if I were to see a neo-Nazi or Klansman, sporting racist tattoos and spouting racial epithets in a showing of pure hatred—well, let us, for a mind experiment, call that “Exhibit A.”
For “Exhibit B,” let’s take the Westboro Baptist Church claiming that American soldiers die as God’s punishment for someone setting off a small bomb in their church in 1995.
For some reason, “Exhibit B” strikes me as much more absurd. I find “Exhibit B” to be laughable. Not that I think those people are “funny,” as in “Hey, check out this hilarious material.” Hatred is not hilarious. But that guy talking crazy is absurd.
“Exhibit A” is hatred, pure and simple. That is more frightening. And I might include in Exhibit A the person who just demonstrates an unadulterated hatred of the GLBT community. If someone just started spouting hatred against gays, that would definitely, as far as I am concerned, be the stuff of “Exhibit A.”
But I maintain fervently that there would still be a difference between the heterosexism of the type of Exhibit A, and the absurdity that is the theatre of Westboro Baptist Church.
12 Apr 2008 at 02:53 pm | #
This comment, cincysuz, shows your total inability/refusal to read properly. If we had said we were going to go down to the Westboro protest “fagging it up,” you might have a point—but we said nothing of the sort.
In fact, I was vaguely thinking about asking them, on camera, questions about that big staff Moses had that turned into a large serpent.
12 Apr 2008 at 03:01 pm | #
Anytime I agree with CincySue I feel compelled to chime in. I definitely feel that the focus on Matt Maupin is a slap in the face to the other families who have lost their dead.
I’ve been busy and buried under a rock of sorts lately. I didn’t know about the funeral plan at Great American Ball Park. It does smack of propaganda and recruitment opportunities. I feel for the Maupins, I really do, but this is overkill.
And what freedom did he die for? Don’t you have to be searched to enter Great American Ball Park? Will that be waived for the funeral or because of the threat of groups like “God Hates Fags” will even more vigorous searching be deemed necessary?
Cincy sue really said it all and I agree with each point she made in both her posts.
12 Apr 2008 at 05:01 pm | #
Why thank you Deborahgirl--I appreciate that you can put personalities aside and understand where I’m coming from, so to speak. It’s a red letter day! No such luck with the Dean or Justin. But I expect that. Always and in every case.
And Dean, your exhibits A and B are weak and the same kind of arguments that would be presented by those trying to justify their bigotry. There are degrees. If there are degrees then just give a big belly laugh if you hear a national talk show host refer to “nappy headed ho’s”. In your scenario nooses hung on trees could be seen as just something to laugh off.
As for the local pro-war spectacle fast growing to a frenzied crescendo, the old union organizing song demands an answer: “Which side are you on boys, Which side are you on?”
12 Apr 2008 at 06:37 pm | #
Huh?
The anti-war side, cincysuz. What political party do you support?
12 Apr 2008 at 08:47 pm | #
someday yourself and cincysue might be smart enough to realize that the reason the maupin story is looked upon like it is is due to the length of time the story was around.
It is not a slap in the face to anyone- when a story that has been around for 4 years gets resolved you cant really be surprised that it draws a large amount of human interest. especially when the maupins have been out in the community both keeping the memory of their son in the forefront and helping provide the troops with support.
I hereby grant to the 2 of you the official democrat “support the troops” award for your comments
12 Apr 2008 at 09:03 pm | #
Deborah and Suz have made so many valid points here. The biggest is- who is afraid to say- enough is enough with the loss of Matt Maupin? This is just insane- Hey if I get hit by a run a way Metro bus tomorrow- because of all of the volunteer work I have done- will someone coordinate and pay for my funeral at Great American? Hey I have done some volunteer work in the community and have been shot at! Does this qualify me for the same type of treatment? I was only trying to help pregnant inner-city moms- I guess they just don’t matter. OIL MONEY IS WORTH MORE THAN A CHILD.
This is crazy. This is a soldier that died and should be treated with respect and not the spectular event that they are planning. A funeral is a time to morn and celebrate a life- not GLORIFY THIS DAMN WAR. There is no DIGNITY in what they are doing for a funeral. It is a showcase. Why not just set up a recruitment station at the funeral and sign ‘em up and swear ‘em in while you are at it??
If anyone wants to know how terrible it is-I have the phone number of someone stationed in Iraq- and they will tell you how terrible it is. It just isn’t the living conditions, the mortars shot at you- but the lack of management by those in command. This is someone who had 15 years of working in the corporate world before they got deployed. They have said- if anyone in management would act like their CO’s there- they would be fired. As for the equipment sent by Yellow Ribbon- this is stuff that the government should be providing, but doesn’t. At least they have the computers set up with web-cams so the gang in the field can communicate with people at home- 3 times a week. It is more than they had before the Maupin’s got them there.
Strange-how it is accepted to verbally abuse your subordinates and sexually harass them and it is only encouraged.
As I said before-this war is screwing up generations now and those to come. It has to stop.
13 Apr 2008 at 09:00 am | #
Gargle, you said it so well. They might as well set up a recruiting station at the ballpark. Anyone that shows up there is showing support for the war. And that people are still willing to encourage their children to join the military and send them as a human sacrifice is unbelievable.
And Letter 46, this hasn’t been a 4 year story. It was a couple of month story. Maupin was captured and killed shortly thereafter. Tragically, like so many others. Girls, boys, men, women, children. The reality of war. The film was released. It was him. And it was considered conclusive until the White House got involved. George Bush had a big stake in keeping the Maupin story alive in Ohio. Being the only named, supposed prisoner of war in Iraq, confirming that he had been killed could have affected the support in Ohio Bush depended on. So the military decided to say that the film was inconclusive and started promoting the rank of the dead soldier to feed the patriotic, war supported frenzy that you see today. They should stop using that young man for political purposes. It’s disgraceful. He was no hero. He was a victim. If there was any justice, at his funeral, Bush should be arrested for war crimes and held responsible for Maupin’s death.
13 Apr 2008 at 04:08 pm | #
I think most of the people there in attendance will admit to supporting the war and the soldiers who fight in it. It is your beloved democratic party that tries to cut the corners of supporting the troops but not the war. I have to give you credit for at least being consistent enough to show yourself as both anti-war and anti-soldier
To you it has been a couple month story to those who knew matt or worked with his family at the yellow ribbon support center etc. it was a 4 year story. get your head out of your ass and look at things from a perspective besides your own. Many people prayed and hoped for matts survival against all odds
that is simply not a true statement. did you see the video? would you call that conclusive? if his own father and mother couldn’t tell how could you?
again simply not true. Bush won ohio not because of mattt maupin- he won because the democrats ran a shitty candidate who ran a shitty campaign. period end of story
13 Apr 2008 at 08:09 pm | #
So the Matt Maupin mess won’t be repeated again- soldiers deployed are told to commit suicide immediately upon their capture. They are told how,given the tools to use, and are told to do it as soon as they are physically able- NEVER be taken alive if possible. Nice little secret huh?
How do I know this- been there-done that.
CincySuz has had the pulse of this since the other post and there are many people who support the military, but refuse to support this war and the people trying to fight a “Moral- PC” war. People die in war, men, women and children. It is a fact. Look at the deaths of civilians in WWII and WWI. Get a grip America, this war is not worth 1 of the over 4000 lives lost and the cost of what it will do to all society.
13 Apr 2008 at 11:04 pm | #
Well actually the Republicans stole 2004 just like 2000, but yeah, Kerry was a horrible (pro-war) candidate. (Who did you vote for again Cincysuz?) Of course Clinton and most other Democrats (like Gore’s running mate) voted for the war too, so you can’t honestly give all the credit for this quagmire to Bush. Clinton dropped more bombs on Iraq than all of the bombs dropped during the Veitnam War and his sanctions killed a million people, half of them were children. He was for regime change in Iraq.
Making bigots and hate mongers look foolish is fun Cincysuz. For instance in our Day without an immigrant video there’s a guy protesting that protest and he says they should sing the star spangled banner “in American” if they want to live in America. And the things the guy in the American flag shirt says are really amusing. If they had advocated violence instead of just showing their ignorance it wouldn’t have been amusing.
Of course I’ve repeatedly said I stand for human rights for everyone, but that doesn’t stop you from trying to make me out to be anti-gay. You are a very angry person and often quite disingenuous. It really burns you up when I point out that in 2004 you voted for candidates that supported the gay marriage ban and the war doesn’t it? Where was your outrage then Cincysuz?
14 Apr 2008 at 05:06 am | #
TDB: I went to GAB weekend before last and was not searched; only my binoculars were examined.
I believe Matt Maupin was the only MIA in Iraq which is what drove coverage of his story. Lots of symbolism involved, not all of it negative as most of the comments here imply. Hero? If dying in the service of your country for something you believe in makes you so.
Recruitment opportunity/propaganda having the funeral at GAB? Maybe. Or maybe an opportunity for folks to pay their respects not only to Matt but his parents as symbols of Americans who see their children die in conflict.
I recall WBC protested P&G once and was counter-protested, so it’s not like they go unchallenged in Cincinnati. Funny (but not hilarious) how Hannity and Cunningham only criticize Phelps when he protests at military funerals; his homophobia (not gaybashing which I’m pretty sure is physical harm not hyperbolic rhetoric) never bothered (s) them.
I just wonder who the hell gives them the money to fund their road trips?
14 Apr 2008 at 05:42 am | #
Myself30 you’re a fool. Spend some time on vote-smart.org studying the voting records of Republicans vs. Democrats on issues related to supporting the troops in everything from medical benefits to education, to redeployment housing, disability and even burial. You’ll find that Senator McCain and all the other war mongering blowhard chickenhawks have dismal ratings by the NON-PARTISAN groups that measure commitment to soldier’s interests. Not contractor’s interests. Not war funding interests. Not Pentagon interests. THOSE ISSUES THAT DIRECTLY AFFECT THE TROOPS AND THEIR FAMILIES. Disabled Veterans of America and Iraq and Afghanistan war veterans (neither an anti-war or political group) have rated McCain’s voting record D- based on his actual votes. Continue and look up all of your beloved Republicans records. On the other hand, Hillary Clinton is rated A. She has always voted in favor of every piece of legislation that would improve and protect the troops that you and those like you so cavalierly send to the slaughter. Oh believe me I support the troops. Obviously more than you. I want them paid well, housed well, equipped well and brought home alive. I don’t want their kids doing without, fighting for foodstamps to get by. I don’t want their lives risked unnecessarily. And for many decades I’ve been part of a number of active movements to make the lives of those that have served and come home inured, tolerable. That work goes on despite Republican opposition to each and every proposed bill, year after year, decade after decade.
Now Myself30, I presume that the 30 implies age. Why aren’t you in the military? Why aren’t you in Iraq or Afghanistan? Don’t be chickenshit and expect someone else to sacrifice for your ill thoughtout beliefs. Go do it yourself.
14 Apr 2008 at 04:44 pm | #
Myself36, I see that it’s 30, not 36. I didn’t have my glasses on. You’re still eligible though. They send grandpas, grannies, bi-polars, cancer survivors, amputees and nursing teen-age mommies. Go sign up.
And now Justin. I don’t make you out to be anything. You have unlimited space, a large audience, and as we’re often reminded, wealth and fame and so more than ample opportunity to clearly explain who you are and what you believe. I can’t help it if your words betray you time and again. I don’t write them, you do. I just catch them. Get a continuity editor like they use in the movies to make sure what you say matches how you want to be perceived. There’s a wide gap there. I didn’t create it. I just call it the way I see it. If you don’t want anonymous bloggers and you don’t want contrary opinions get another hobby.
It doesn’t bother me one iota that I voted a straight Democratic ticket. In fact, I’m proud of that. I’ll do it again and again. There are two parties: Democrat and Republican. My only other choice is to abstain. But I’ll keep hounding my party to do what’s right. Refusing to give donations. Signing petitions. Making calls. You on the other hand helped secure a Republican administration, either by default or on purpose, and so might as well have voted Republican. You and the Greens put Bush in office. And whenever there’s an opportunity to call out the Republicans, you don’t. You are so partisan that even this issue riles up your OCD and diverts you back to the only topic you know--Democrat hatin’. You display unabashed partisan hatred of Democrats, as well as bigotry and an inability to fairly judge Democrats, to see them as individuals. Naturally I’m going to come back at you with both barrels. Do you really expect to just attack and get no rebuttal? I actually think you do. Of course you’ll correct me if I’m wrong, but it appears you’re working for a McCain presidency. And if not McCain, who? Nadar again? Or a despised Democrat?
Here’s a short excerpt from the Westboro Church website. It takes a pretty warped sense of humor to find anything amusing about this. It makes anyone with a gay loved one, especially a young gay person looking for some validity and acceptance somewhere, ache to the core. Substitute fag for the n-word, the b-word, or maybe even the disparaging words used for mixed-race kids. You wouldn’t find that funny.
WBC engages in daily peaceful sidewalk demonstrations opposing the homosexual lifestyle of soul-damning, nation-destroying filth. We display large, colorful signs containing Bible words and sentiments, including: GOD HATES FAGS, FAGS HATE GOD, AIDS CURES FAGS, THANK GOD FOR AIDS, FAGS BURN IN HELL, GOD IS NOT MOCKED, FAGS ARE NATURE FREAKS, GOD GAVE FAGS UP, NO SPECIAL LAWS FOR FAGS, FAGS DOOM NATIONS, THANK GOD FOR DEAD SOLDIERS, FAG TROOPS, GOD BLEW UP THE TROOPS, GOD HATES AMERICA, AMERICA IS DOOMED, THE WORLD IS DOOMED, etc.
14 Apr 2008 at 09:29 pm | #
The person I know who is serving there is 34- so Myself30--GO FOR IT!!!!
Buy into the BS lines and promises of $$- college tuition paid, and student loans forgiven, the signon bonuses etc- that all disappear after you have signed.
Now- here’s a good one- how about the ARMY that has cut back so much on their medical staff- that they no longer have mental health providers, so what they do is “lease” out other members of the service!!! AF medical personnel is now having to follow Army guidelines and not even their own deployment regulations. As the person has said- I signed up for the Air Force and not the Army. If I had wanted to be in the Army- I would have signed up for that. They have so screwed people over. And the deployment for someone in the AF is 120 days- Army 181. This is for medical personnel. But isn’t that special- you agree to be in the AF and they decided that you have to be in the ARMY!!!
Totally Fuc#$ed up!!!
15 Apr 2008 at 12:12 am | #
Really?
Can you please provide some proof of this or your assertion that I’m anti-gay? No you can’t. Just because I’m critical of the Democrats doesn’t make me a Republican. I’m an independent and I don’t vote for pro-war, anti-gay marriage candidates like you do. Way to be consistent! I guess it’s OK as long as it’s the Democrats doing it.
In case you haven’t noticed, I criticize Republicans when I’m talking to one and Democrats when I’m talking to them, but I really don’t see a difference.