WeAreTheKey

Well today Westboro Baptist Church came all the way from Kansas to protest our new Mayor-elect Stu Rasmussen.
They are infamous with their hate and vile-filled protesting, with such classic signs as "God Hates Fags" "You Will Burn In Hell" "Fag Media Shame" (?) etc... they even had an 'Obama Antichrist' sign, poorly photoshopped, that is...

So of course we went down to see their little protest, we even brought our own sign with us, and we were amazed to see TONS of people from Silverton, all united in a massive horde across the street from these people in a huge counter-protest, playing drums, cheering, and offering 'free-hugs' to these people, among other things. It was a great show of unity and support for Stu, and for our town. It was incredible, and very impressive.

I decided to go and join the hate-mongers on their side of the street and protest right along-side them, which was fun.
They then moved to another area of town and everyone followed them to their new location and continued swarming them with what can only be described as heaping amounts of love and compassion, which made them really uncomfortable. Occasionally someone would try to challenge or debate their twisted religious views, but they would only offer such things as "God doesn't love everyone, you've been brainwashed..." etc....it was mainly young girls they were using to do their protesting, which was disturbing.

There were Channel 2 news crews, lots of police keeping tabs on the situation, and Stu himself showed up, looking extremely happy to see all of the support from the town.

When they finally packed up and drove away, everyone cheered and clapped and everyone gave themselves a big round of applause and seemed genuinely happy to have basically run these guys out of town with overwhelming love and unity.

Awesome

Wow, man!! That's both uplifting and extremely disturbing. It's fantastic that so many came out to fend off the very strange and surprising hatred from halfway across the country. Seriously, though, WHAT THE HELL??? I see mostly teenage girls in the pictures, with one holding a sign that says GOD HATES YOU, and another girl right next to her with the sign YOU'RE GOING TO HELL.......?!?!?! I'm sickened and speechless, mostly that those poor girls have been raised in such a hateful and vile manner by their hateful parents and church leaders.

Also, if my understanding is correct, those ardent pillars of Christianity seem to have not done their research well. Isn't it true that your Mayor Rasmussen is a heterosexual male with a long standing girlfriend, but simply enjoys dressing in women's clothes from time to time? Wouldn't that make their entire "God hates fags" protest erroneous? Or are they simply protesting his quasi-homosexual appearing fashion choices?

Local newpaper story:

http://www.statesmanjournal.com/apps/pb ... 250348&s=d

Yeah that whole church is pretty bonkers..(seriously that is the nicest way I could put it..)

Go to your Netflix and watch Fall From Grace (2006) it is a documentary about the Westboro Baptist Church the members the leader the whole shebang... Really I was surprised at how.. unangry I was. I was furious when I watched the movie, but in person I really just felt a) relieved at the sheer number in counter protest and their small numbers and b) just kinda saddend. these young people both the ones we saw and the ones who are in the movie.. they have been robbed of so much by being told such hateful things. When it is all you know, it is hard to discern.. They were brainwashed..and it really wasnt their fault they were just born into the wrong family. Now if the LEADER of the church had the gall to arrive in my vicinity... then THEN i am sure I would have not felt pity, but fury...

I am incredibly grateful to live in such a strong openmided community who is willing to stand up for what is right, even if it may seem a little weird..

(Not that it is really hard to not argue with some one who claims the things the WBChurch claims.. I mean.. they piss off pretty much everyone....)


http://www.statesmanjournal.com/article ... lvertonart