My Name continually every day is blasphemed (Isaiah 52.5)

This blog was set up for me to tell my silly stories for my own amusement. From the outset, the business plan in my head was to never write about bad things, politics, religion or anything controversial. This is not my soapbox, it's where I unabashedly show my slip.

This entry will be my one exception, only because I feel very strongly about it. I am going to use the names of these people, which will make this entry searchable and open to negative comment attacks. Bring it on, Phelps family. You can't hurt me. I will always use my positive energy, much like the angels in "The Laramie Project," which you inspired and continue to picket, to use my voice for good and to do my best to protect the innocent and grieving from the acid you gleefully try to fling toward their wounds. (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lhr96Imua8U)

You claim God hates fags and loves to see a dead soldier. Read your KJV again. "Thou shalt not take the lord God's name in vain." (Exodus 20.7) "Love thy neighbor." (Matthew 5.43) Matthew Shepard, Matthew Snyder and countless others more holy than you whisper back to those they left behind and you tormented the words, "I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me." (Galatians 2:20)

My friends have received the following two posts from me in the last three days.

From: Leigh Ann Frink
Date: Oct 26, 2007 7:28 PM
Subject: Help stop the hatred
To:

Friends of Leigh Ann:

I e-mailed some of you an article earlier today regarding a fallen Marine whose funeral was picketed by the followers of Fred Phelps (If you're unfamiliar and have a strong stomach, see http://www.godhatesfags.com/main/index.html). This young man died serving his country, yet his family and friends, while laying him to rest, were confronted by adults and children holding signs that read, "Thank God for Dead Soldiers," "God Hates Fags," "Semper Fag" ad nauseum.

I waited until I got home to visit Lance Cpl. Matthew Snyder's memorial page to make my donation to the legal fund they've established to bring a lawsuit against Phelps. Like I said earlier, I am not a fan of lawsuits and am saddened by how litigious American society has become, but I firmly believe that the best way to stop these hate-mongers is by attacking their pocketbooks. At least that will cut into their travel budget and spare future grieving families this pain. Matthew's father isn't looking to profit from any of this. All proceeds will be used to cover legal expenses and any extra funds will be used for veterans' scholarships.

Please take a moment to visit http://www.matthewsnyder.org/help.html

Even if you aren't able to make a donation, please use the "Locate your representatives" link and let yours know you support laws to ban protesting within certain distances from funerals. Feel free to use the following as a guideline or cut/paste it outright.

Dear Senator Dole-

I'm writing in support of our fallen soldiers and their families whose grieving has been sullied by the hate rhetoric of members of the Westboro Baptist Church. I strongly support laws to protect against grandstanding by the lunatic fringe at any funeral -- military or civilian -- under the guise of free speech.

Please help us protect heroes from all walks of life from this unnecessary anguish.

-------

----Original Message-----
From: Leigh Ann Frink
Sent: Mon 10/29/2007 7:56 PM
To: Frink, Leigh Ann
Subject: The overwhelming power of one small voice

Friends of Leigh Ann-

I was screening my calls half an hour ago. I listened in real time to a man
with a hesitant, soft, Midwestern accent leaving me this message:

"I hope this is the Frink residence. My name is Al Snyder, the father of the
Marine who was killed. You made a donation to the legal fund and I was
calling to thank you. God bless you. Have a good night."

Through tears, I called my parents and played the message for them. Steve
came in from his workout minutes thereafter. "Honey, you have to hear this,"
I said. Then I hit delete instead of play. Stupid digital technology. Now
it's gone forever.

Steve said, "At least you heard it and he wanted you to know how grateful he
was."

So now I sit here relating it to you and tears are running down my face. I
will never forget the sound of Mr. Snyder's quiet voice. It represents a
voice silenced forever and drives home the point that we can work together
to legally silence the voice of hate.

If you haven't had a chance yet, please visit www.matthewsnyder.org or
www.matthewshepard.org.

____

A lengthy text video, which I find extremely poignant, can be viewed at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BZGKx2pTBQc&NR=1

Here's the scariest part for me. There are only 75 members in the Westboro Baptist Church. Most of them are members of the extended Phelps family. But they seem to have endless financial resources. That means closeted hate-mongerers who would never have the balls to spout this insanity in public themselves are supporting them. Shame them out of the closet by suing to see Westboro's financial records.

--------

UPDATE:

A Baltimore jury ruled the Westboro Baptist Church must pay Lance Cpl. Matthew Snyder's family:

$2.9 million compensatory damages

$6 million punitive damages for invasion of privacy

$2 million for causing emotional distress

Read the full story at http://apnews1.iwon.com//article/20071031/D8SKG1HG0.html

This is only the first step. Appeals will come next. Free speech rights will be challenged. The original compensatory amount exceeded the defendants' assets, so Mr. Snyder won't see even a fraction of it for a very long time.

"Snyder sobbed when he heard the verdict, while members of the church greeted the news with tightlipped smiles."

Whether he gets any money or not, Al Snyder (who called me just two nights ago) can never replace his son, Matthew, but he's used his anguish to prevent future families from going through the same thing. My hat is off to him for fighting this battle. And if he does get money and chooses to create a special room in his house to roll around in dollar bills, I begrudge him not a whit and wish him the very best for making this country a better place.

Thank you to everyone out there who supported the Snyder family and continues to support the Matthew Shepard foundation.

I just tried to see what the defendants were posting on their Web site, but the site was "unavailable or busy."

Now, I can go back to just writing silly observations about the ridiculous situations I get myself into. But I will wear my "Erase Hate" bracelet and continue to do anything I can to stop this nonsense and prevent pain.