Craven Morehead

I'm surprised this hasn't received more coverage....

I don't agree with the Westboro Baptist Church protesting at military funerals at all, but they have that right. Ironically, the US Military protects that right. I generally don't condone breaking the law, I'm OK with this.....




More here Tires on Westboro Baptist Church van slashed in Oklahoma / LJWorld.com

I wonder if this form of vigilante justice will 'catch on' in other towns.

Plan9

Amen!

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Baraka_Guru

If only it were that easy. Karma is internal. This kind of thing will only make them more angry. They'll blame homosexuals and their "enablers" for it.

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silent_jay

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Daniel_

If you behave like a dick, nobody will serve you?

In other news rain is wet, and the sun can be hot.

It's not true karma, but it is a form of payback and silent protest. As the saying has it, "All that is necessary for the triumph of evil is that good men do nothing". The tyre fitters of Topeka did something by doing nothing.

Well done, tyre fitters.

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Ourcrazymodern?

If Oklahoma,
therefore homosexuals.
I'll bet a nickel.

I hope dksuddeth weighs in.

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The_Jazz

You know what? I'm not ok with this. It's just too petty.

I'd like to think that if they asked me, I'd help but tell them that I'm doing it in spite of what they think. And point out that I'm being Christ-like in my deeds, despite being an agnostic who believes in gay marriage.

No one deserves to have their tires slashed. That's why its illegal.

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Ourcrazymodern?

I'm not OK with property damage, but the fools are damaging other people's emotional property through their confusing actions.

EDIT: Doesn't one's right to protection end somewhere near where you damage another?

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Craven Morehead

Fundamentally, I agree with The_Jazz. However, whenever I see them protesting in the manner that they do at servicemen funerals, I turn all redneck.

If it were my son being laid to rest, I would end up being placed in jail following the funeral and it wouldn't be for tire slashing.

In a broad sense, WBC is hiding behind the laws and freedoms in the US, no differently than the 911 terrorists did. And hiding behind their God. Certainly we do not share the same one.

The_Jazz

"Innocent"? That's your word, not mine. And of course they're inflicting emotional harm on others. But they're certainly not unique - they just have better PR. Funeral directors do it all the time when they overcharge bereived families. The Armed Services rip families apart all the time, but since it's a part of "duty", we forgive them.

But I've got a problem with folks that damage someone else's property and then folks that won't do the right thing and help those in need. I'm actually really surprised at you, OCM, that you'll draw a line where someone's beliefs won't allow you to feel any compassion. I honestly thought that you'd see that point and remember that we're all human, first and foremost. Really, all I'm pointing out is that it's pretty easy to prove that you (the plural "you") are better than these dipshits.

---------- Post added at 02:53 PM ---------- Previous post was at 02:51 PM ----------

I completely agree with that. I find it difficult to even consider that it was the family/friends of the deceased that did this. If it was, why weren't they comforting their own? That's someone with some fucked-up priorities.

Duh?

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Ourcrazymodern?

I'm sorry. I edited my crappy post before viewing your reply.

The Westboro Baptist Church should realize (I think) that the roundhouse condemnation they're receiving is a call to act like fellow human beings.

Yes, the people who wouldn't fix the tires were expressing the same objections as the slashers. Applauding their actions makes me guilty, as well.

But, Jazz, please remember that we don't disagree about fundamentals.

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StanT

I'm too damn lazy to hunt it down; but there was another WBC incident a few weeks ago. Seems like the townsfolk got up early and occupied every legal parking spot within miles of the funeral. Of course, county sheriffs and tow trucks were out in force to enforce parking regulations.

I wouldn't slash tires; but I would likely find it impossible to fix prior to the funeral.

Wes Mantooth

I don't know, the problem with these folks is they are extremists, no amount of good will, vandalism, hatred or shunning is going to do a lick of good. They choose to ostracize themselves from our society by being as divisive as humanly possible all from what I can tell is based on petty revenge, what do you do with that?

As for the OP, meh I don't condone vandalism but I'm hardly shedding a tear over these idiots having to deal with something as silly as a few flat tires. They'll live.

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dksuddeth

considering what they were protesting and what they were saying, i'd say they were lucky.

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Shauk

Lucky they don't get their throats slashed and then denied treatment at hospitals.

The_Jazz

Reading between the lines, it seems like you're prioritizing the Second Amendment over the First.

Interesting, dk as The Thought Police. Never saw that one coming.

---------- Post added at 03:44 PM ---------- Previous post was at 03:43 PM ----------

That's right!

Wait, we ARE talking about German Communists in 1930, aren't we?

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Shauk

I'm just gonna go on record and state, it is of my opinion that this thread doesn't need a devil's advocate.

I'm not the type that would draw 1st blood over the misguided hatred of a certain group of people, but I would have no problem with retaliation if this hatred resulted in my friends being harmed simply because of how they were born.

The_Jazz

And that is why, as devil's advocate (although I'm not really playing that role so much as stating my honest opinion), I'm going to bash your head in.

Just kidding. We all know I hate everyone equally.

Of course someone should defend themselves if attacked. But no one was attacked here - this is just property damage and then people failing to be better than WBC. You're the one that actually brought up slitting throats. But that's ok - that's not what this thread is about.

It's so much easier to be better than these people. And that's what changes minds. It worked for Ghandi. It worked for MLK.

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"There ought to be limits to freedom." - George W. Bush
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kramus

I think we are fortunate that these particular extremists exercise their righteousness by being complete and total assholes to the tenth power. In other parts of the world extremist tools are sending Downs Syndrome kids into crowds with remotely controlled explosives strapped to their bodies.

I am more concerned with the circles the WBC'ers move in. Their friends and neighbours who stand proudly and say "Yep, they're my buddies and I support celebrating the deaths of servicemen and children." Are the WBC Outliers, or are they self-identified elements of a larger, silent crowd of like-minded people?

It would be nice if the placards could be put down, the tire-slashing knives left at home, and people could actually have dialogue about what concerns them instead of this horrible circus of pain and mutual outrage.

But that is asking for a bit much. We are still a primitive race, and I guess we're lucky that the WBC types are not engaged in all-out rioting during funerals. The minimal restraint they show in order to pay lip service to the laws that allow them to behave as they do is at least a step up from the crap that is merrily boiling away in parts of the Middle East and Africa.

So in that regard, answering the OP - I'm OK with this too. Because I think tire slashing and denial of assistance is a more measured response than having mourners beat the WBC'ers to death with fence posts and stones. It is much harder to dialogue when actual physical harm to people is happening.

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Wes Mantooth

Shauk has a point though, with the ire these people often draw it really could have been MUCH worse then a few slashed tires. To be honest I really am surprised they haven't been physically attacked before considering they are often protesting when a lot of highly charged emotions are involved.

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silent_jay

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genuinegirly

<3 Kramus' response.

I'm not ok with a group that thinks protesting military funerals will somehow make people begin hating homosexuals. Their stance makes me shake my head in confusion. I'm more than OK with the huge crowd that protested the protesters. I am not ok with slashing tires.

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Grasshopper Green

WBC are a bunch of assholes, I think that's a pretty fair statement. However, I don't think slashing their tires is the answer. In addition to the illegality of it, it's petty and doesn't show much thought above their own narrowmindedness, IMO. I am, however, perfectly ok with the lack of help afterward. I view it this way - instead of "No shirt, no shoes, no service", I think WBC ran up against "No shirt, no shoes, no civility - no service". Establishments kick patrons out for rude and unacceptable behavior, these folks just didn't get in in the first place.

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