The Garden City Telegram
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Patriotic legacy
Published 12/30/2008 in Commentary : Editorial
Few local residents knew much about the Kansas Patriot Guard before the group stepped up to make an impressive statement in Garden City.
When the family of fallen Army soldier Clint Upchurch prepared for his memorial service in 2006, the Patriot Guard -- a group of motorcyclists who made a mission of blocking funeral protesters -- was quick to offer help.
The Patriot Guard, many of them military veterans, originated in Kansas to shield military families from funeral protests, namely those initiated by Fred Phelps and his Topeka-based Westboro Church.
Phelps and his clan have appeared at funerals as a way to bring attention to their anti-gay agenda. Their demented logic holds that God is killing U.S. troops because of the nation's tolerance of homosexuality.
The Patriot Guard effort emerged in 2005 after a discussion among American Legion members in Mulvane about the Phelpses. The Patriot Guard mission since has blossomed into an impressive movement that touches every state.
In Kansas, the Patriot Guard presence goes beyond funerals. It's also traveled to communities for welcome-home rides for troops returning from war, and participated in other events honoring those who serve.
Most recently the Kansas Patriot Guard responded to the funeral of one of its own.
Greg "Ebay" Hansen, a co-founder of the Kansas Patriot Guard, died Dec. 22. He was 56.
On Saturday, more than 80 Patriot Guard riders braved the cold to shield Hansen's family from a Westboro Church protest. The riders lined the drive of Andover's Hope Community Church with scores of American flags to shield hundreds of Hansen's family and friends from a handful of protesters.
As usual, the Patriot Guard easily outnumbered protesters and drowned out their rants.
How heartwarming it has been to see the Patriot Guard members at funerals -- not just because they've effectively countered Phelps' minions time and time again, but also because they've boosted the show of support for fallen troops and their families.
The disturbing antics of a so-called church may have drawn attention in recent years. But in the end, the efforts of Hansen and his comrades, not the hate mongers, will stay with us because of their inspirational, impressive way of helping others.
Found 6 comment(s)!
i think i am ready to accept gods judgment if what you say will all come to pass. i am at peace with my self living in a gay tolerant nation and i believe that while god doesnt approve of such action, he DOES NOT HATE THEM. i dont, but that is because jesus himself told us not to hate. therefore, living after the life of christ and trying to imitate him, i will not hate either. the end
Posted by: Dicky Friesen on 3/25/2009
I'm not a supporter or fan of the Phelpses
This article, and the other comments in response, will do little to deter them. In fact, it will encourage them to do more of the same. It would probably be more effective in combating their actions to simply ignore them. They often don't show up for their scheduled protests; when organizations like the Patriot Guard show up to counter-protest, it just gives the Westboro Baptist Church free publicity that they obviously wouldn't have had if they'd been ignored. Similarly, they've been using the fact they're not allowed into the U.K. or Canada to assert that those are "fag nations" deserving of God's wrath. It's a "heads we win, tails you lose" proposition for them.
Posted by: DET on 3/3/2009
Unfortunate
Please do not think all Baptists believe as the "Phelpsists" cult believes. They have distorted the Truth. They will be held accountable Exodus 20:16 and Matthew 5:19. I cannot fathom the extent of the Grace of God, and so I wouldn't dare presume to be able to judge if "Phelpsists" are truly saved or not. Once you have asked Jesus Christ into your heart, to be your Lord and Savior, and are born unto Him as His, you cannot then be unborn regardless of the unimaginable multitude of sins you will commit during your lifetime. I'm not exactly sure why the "Phelpsists" choose just the gay community to pick on when just about any sin is fair game. They tend to forget, God does not differentiate between sins, a liar, someone who curses, a murderer, even a litterbug is sinning as you must adhere to man's law until death. Picking on the gay community is just easy because any other type of sin would constitute holding a mirror to their own faces and hypocrites don't really enjoy that too much. Sin is sin regardless of the type or severity. We all fall short. We all are unworthy. We are all unable to witness the glory of God but by Christ's sacrifice. John 3:17. I can see where they take verses and distort the truth by only using the part of the verse that suits their purpose. For example, they use Leviticus 20:23 a lot.. The "Phelpsists" like to use just the last 3 words and think that means God abhors all people. He does not. But taking apart and removing or adding your own interpretation of a scripture has consequences in itself Revelation 22:18-19 Also, their hate specifically targeted at soldiers is misguided and contrary to the Bible's teachings. Jesus himself said "Greater love has no one than this: to lay down one's life for one's friends." John 15:13 He was of course referring to his own sacrifice, but if He did not mean this to also apply to all God’s creations, He would have said something like "There is no greater love than Mine as I lay down My life for you." He said "one" as in any one human person, as well as his own Holy Being. Soldiers fight for "Phelpsists" freedoms too. You have the right to stand in the street with your signs because of soldiers of the past, all the way back to the Pilgrims that fled to worship God. They stayed and died because they knew it was right. Soldiers that give the ultimate sacrifice should be honored, mourned and given respect. It is shameful how "Phelpsists" treat the deceased. Not just soldiers. Children, mothers, fathers, brothers, sisters. A creation of God has ceased to be. Mourn their soul if you are not sure they were saved. Rejoice for those that you knew were saved. But give honor and respect to all. All are created in God's own image. Desecration of a creation of God is sin too. How dare you mock and defile a creation of God. God will not be mocked. What right has anyone to judge? Maybe the "Phelpsists" should work on their own plank before pointing out their brother's speck. Lord, please lend wisdom and guidance to the "Phelpsists" as they no not what they do. Hate and sin has blinded them to the Truth of the Word. Melt their hearts Lord, show them You ARE Love itself and anything less is contradictory to your very nature as you created love and we created hate. Convict them Father, show them that Your creations are not to be treated as trash or filth. Show them that the Truth is to be taught with a gentle spirit. Not with hate. Melt their cold cold hearts Lord. Amen God gave free will to us so that His reward of our love is even greater because we choose to love Him. Some will choose and some will not. When the last person on earth hears of His name, it will be time for Jesus to come back and begin the process to build the new earth. You are to teach and witness to as many as you can to bring them to Christ so they may live with Him forever, not drive them away with hate. You lose the opportunity to save when no one will listen.
Posted by: DeAnna on 3/3/2009
SHUT UP!
Margie Phelps, WILL YOU AND THE REST OF YOU NUTS JUST PLEASE SHUT UP AND STAY LOCKED UP IN YOUR LITTLE COMPOUND! It has been proven around the world that NONE OF YOU are wanted ANYWHERE! You take that HISTORY/STORY BOOK called "the bible" that has already been adjusted to fit this king and that king, this person and that person and you adjust it to fit your hateful, bigoted beliefs. That STORY book is so adjusted that it’s original authors would not recognize their own stories if they read it today! All of you jokers there at your “church?” are nothing but BRAINWASHED PUPPETS of your father and his personal HATE! NOT A ONE OF YOU has an original thought in those bone heads of yours and you have made and are making carbon copies of yourselves of your children and grand-children for that nut father of yours to abuse like he did all of you. You want to talk about Pastors and Priests that are perverts! LOOK AT YOUR OWN FATHER! He took his position as your father to teach you the RIGHT and HONORABLE things and instead he taught you NOTHING BUT HATE, GREED AND VIOLENCE! He took the position of Pastor and TWISTED it to his own HATEFUL VIEW of the world and that story book he preaches from! HIS ENTIRE LIFE HAS BEEN A TWISTED PREVISION OF LIFE ON THIS PLANET AND HE HAS TWISTED AND PERVERTED YOU, YOUR CHILDREN AND GRAND-CHILDREN! I also APPLAUD Canada and The Home Office in London for telling your lot to stay away from their countries and not to bring YOUR HATE into their countries. I just wish that America would do the same and ship the lot of you (And others like you!) off to some deserted island where you can not do anymore harm to anyone anymore! So get a clue into those THICK SKULLS OF YOURS! YOU ARE NOT WANTED OR NEEDED AROUND DECENT PEOPLE ANYMORE! The people of this world have GROWN UP and are growing BEYOND you and all this religion JUNK and THE HATE you and others like you are tossing out in the name of this god of yours! The god you worship IS A MONSTER and no one wants anything to do with IT! GET LOST YOU FOOLS! Lady Donna Marie Royce House of Royce Devonshire, England
Posted by: Lady Donna Royce on 3/2/2009
NUTS
These people are just plain nuts. I mean, who even uses the word fornication anymore? Yikes.
Posted by: Shawn on 1/20/2009
A few things you neglected to mention
You forgot to mention the in fighting with the PGR. They have a lawsuit pending over who gets to be large and in charge. Classy group, that. In truth, it's all about them, their glory, and the parade they never got at the end of the Viet Nam stinky mess. Oh, and did I forget to mention, they're very vulgar and violent. If you "reporters" ever did any "investigative journalism" you would know these facts. But you've got some toadying to do, so you haven't the time. You also neglected to mention the small matter of, THE SOLDIER IS STILL DEAD. We have asked the traitor guard violent veterans exactly how many flags they have to wave to bring one soldier back from the dead. To date no answer -- other than their raised pudgy middle fingers -- has been forthcoming. Pity. Meanwhile God still hates this rebellious sinful disobedient proud nation. God is still killing your soldiers, sending them home in body bags, and otherwise pouring out his undiluted wrath on this nation. It's not just for homosexuality -- though that is the lowest rung on the depravity ladder. It's all your other proud sin too -- your adultery (including thousands, nay millions of divorce-remarriages, especially among your so-called pastors), your raping priests (who you love to worship), you fornication (you teach children to fornicate by 14 or they're freaks), your pride, your greed, your murder (including unborn babies) and your idolatry (think freak in red, one of whom just slaughtered almost an entire family this past Dec. 24). This nation has forgotten God and knows not his Word. This nation is awash in sin, making proud sin its vocation. You mock the few people left who will earn you to flee the wrath to come, with a lot of simplicity and arrogance, wholly unwarranted under the facts on the ground. Fear God; give God the glory; the hour of his coming draws nigh; he is the Creator of all things; the hour of the final destruction of this world draws nigh. OBEY! How easy is that?
Posted by: Margie Phelps on 1/5/2009
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