Anti-gay church now has a rainbow view
By Moni Basu, CNN
(CNN) - Everyone knows it's location, location, location when it comes to real estate. Perhaps no one knows this better than activist Aaron Jackson.
He didn't even care what the house looked like. He looked up properties on Google Earth and saw a for sale sign across the street from the Westboro Baptist Church, the controversial group in Topeka, Kansas, that's most notorious for its angry anti-gay protests at military funerals.
The house Jackson initially wanted was sold by the time he got around to buying, but luckily for him, there was another one, on the corner of 12th and SW Orleans streets that was perfect. He paid about $83,000 - a bargain, he'd say, for what he was trying to accomplish. This week, he and others from his nonprofit Planting Peace painted the house in rainbow colors that represent gay pride.
Jackson isn't gay, but he's big on equality and compassion. In 2007, the public voted him a CNN Hero for his charity work in Haiti. Now, his goal is to combat what he calls messages of hate that come from the followers of Westboro Baptist.
"Our goal is just to promote equality," Jackson said Wednesday.
He said he'll use "Equality House" to raise money for an anti-bullying campaign. By Wednesday afternoon, Planting Peace had raised almost $22,000.
So what does the vehemently anti-gay Westboro Baptist have to say about a view that now includes a house painted in gay pride colors?
"We thank God for the sodomite rainbow house," said a statement sent to CNN. "It is right across the street from the only church that loves people enough to tell them the Bible truth about the filthy, soul-damning, nation destroying sin of sodomy ... . The sodomite rainbow house helps shine a bright spotlight on this!"
Followers of the Westboro church, led by pastor Fred Phelps, believe God is punishing the United States for "the sin of homosexuality" in various ways, including military deaths. They have held up signs that say things such as "Thank God for dead soldiers."
A fallen Marine's family sued Westboro for picketing at the funeral, alleging invasion of privacy. The U.S. Supreme Court ruled in favor of the church's right to free speech.
Jackson said Phelps' daughter Shirley Phelps-Roper came over to check out the rainbow house and took a few photographs.
"We asked if she liked our house," Jackson said. "She said she loved the colors."
About In America
What defines you? Maybe it’s the shade of your skin, the place you grew up, the accent in your words, the make up of your family, the gender you were born with, the intimate relationships you chose to have or your generation? As the American identity changes we will be there to report it. In America is a venue for creative and timely sharing of news that explores who we are. Reach us at inamerica@cnn.com.
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iReport
New Stories like this on give Westboro more credence. As a nation we need to quietly keep track of them and slowly let them die out. Their numbers are few and as they have demonstrated, not all that smart and far from being Christian.
Good for Mr. Jackson! What ever my personal opinions are of anything related to the issues surrounding gay rights, they are mine and not spread everywhere and slammed in everyone else's face. I will say this though, the Westboro Baptist Church is a christian church in NAME only and not by beliefs or actions.
May be one time we have solution from Genetic Engineering (?) to open new horizon in the human behavior redevelopment, so people can growth and live as it is.
This is how I know there is a creator, if evolution was real gays would not exist , because they cant multiply and that gene would be extinct, because gays exist that means evolution is fake,because gays have no physical way of multiypling, if evolution is fake then there is someone out there who created everything
Unless 100% of the population is gay, your argument is ridiculous.
actually, the gene that specifies whether an organism is gay or not is recessive, along with the gene that causes hemophilia and tae sachs, both genes usually cause the premature death of the creature. the gene stays alive through the siblings cropping up where it may. you should probably study certain aspects of genetics before you speak so as not to seem uneducated. it makes the populace believe ALL christians are as inept as you are at researching and forming a valid argument when in truth it's just you and the horribly misguided denizens of Westboro Baptist Church
So in following with your argument, God must have created gays.
Fight bullying... With bullying?
So – if you saw someone beating the hell out of someone else, you would do nothing because it would be 'bullying" the attacker?
Again, another human shirking their responsibilities as human.
All that takes for evil to prevail is for the rest of us to turn our heads and do nothing
You do nothing, therefore you are equally responsible for the evil committed.
Church is a huge waste of time. Charity work and convincing people of fairy tales are two things that undo each other. Go is fake, get over it.
These hate mongers (Westboro Church) have announced they will protest the funerals from the Boston bombing – these people are sick and what they put poor families through while protesting at funerals for military personnel or tragedy victims is deplorable!
Good for them :). This church speaks of hatred to the military, to the gays, to everyone unless you "believe just like them"....scary, irrational and hateful..We wonder why there are problems in our society? It is because hatred like this is tolerated and people don't speak up enough against it. It is clear to any rational listener that their leader has severe psychological issues. He needs help. He can't even speak clearly about any of the "issues" and "people" he hates......Pathetic. I feel sorry for him and anyone who would listen to him.
Stop this counterprodutive nonsense and get back to work. People have the right to their opinion. Why crack on another's Bible or Quran or whatever. Why debate God? Why waste time in a chat forum referencing random scriptures and hearsay from someone's "holy" book? If you didn't read it, you dont know period. Don't assume. Makes you also a hypocrite. You have your vote and I have mine. Value that and stop debating/arguing people's personal beliefs. They hold their beliefs for reasons im not going to presume to know.
Why? Why speak out against those who promote violence and death – who attack grieving parents, children, brothers and sisters of victims?
Why?
You are the reason the Westboro Chuch thrives – you are a do nothing – maybe people will "do nothing' when they come for you.
Completely agree with you, there is a difference in having faith in the lord and putting faith in violence. Breeding hate is the last thing a society needs at this time. They purposefully teach their small children to hate and want harm to others. Doesn't sound very godly to me! Sounds like they all need to actually read the bible. I was raised in a baptist church, a strict one. And I worship the lord, but not the lord they do. Sounds to me like they enjoy the company of the devil. May they burn in the depths of hell. And furthermore, Family Services really needs to remove those children from their care. The only thing they are doing is providing and educating on hate to small children. "Here, take this and hurt people!"
Mary Roper gets the mother of the year award. I would love to meet her in person someday, we could have a lovely debate. We don't have the option of making up what the bible says, clearly what she has done. She's not a believer, that family was placed on this earth to disrupt worship and the word of god. Such an awesome person she is! Maybe a terrorist will blow her church up.
yes if you've been touched by god you do not believe
I do not believe that a multi celled – multi system – organism with about a billion processes a second going on spontaneously sprung from a pool of amino acids. If you do not believe in God that is up to you, but stop acting like science can explain it all. People who believe in evolurion have a lot more faith than I do.
Anyone knows that for science to be REAL science that data has to have an application. In other words the finding s have to be able to be applied and useful in other labs and in other scenarios. ie the theory of relativity was just a theory until the science of it was applied and observed in an eclipse
This is where evolution ends. All a person has to do is say – OK take your irrefutable science and apply it – in other words – what is the next step of evolution. No one can answer this because it is not real science. Period
Dave,
Why did you feel the need to post this? If God is real and, like the Bible has said, is omnipotent and all loving then he should not need the recognition of the unbelievers, nor the defense of the faithful.
As far as the Science vs God battle goes... Science is fallible, some of it can be dubious at times. But Science has done infinitely more for man than God has and has done so since the Mesopotamians first looked into the skies.
Can you tell me the last war that was started because of a disagreement over science? Has there ever been attempted genocide in the scientific community for supporters of competing theorems? Has science, as one of its operating tenants, subjugated people from knowledge based on gender, race, wealth, etc? Has science ever demanded the adherence to dogma in order to receive the fruit of its bounty?
So Dave, tell us again this God you feel the need to defend...
Are these the same scientist that made the atomic bomb? Or the scientist that make new virusus, chemical weapons. Or just the scientist that make life saving findings? Science has a faith portion to it also just as much as having faith in God. I personally believe in both and have questions about both. Just because I believe in something does not mean I oppose a differing point of view.
Science has always been supressed by religion. Galelio copernicus luenhook (microscope dude)
Both science and religion are directed by mortal man, and man errs. It is unfair to use the term "God" when what you really mean is "religion." Also, not all religions are the same oppressive forces that others are. My LDS faith certainly isn't what you describe it as.
And while it's true that people have killed in the name of "God", that doesn't mean that God was really sanctioning the action. The goal of all honest religions is to find out more about the one true God, and what it is that he really wants us to do here on earth. People often make mistakes in this quest, but it doesn't disprove the existence of God.
You are confused by your own logic in defiance of The Word of God. Your own foolishness and unbelief will catch up with you at your appointed time. But you are not alone. The beginning of wisdom starts with the fear of the Lord. I know, it is too hard for you to bow down to your Almighty God because of your pride and humanistic views. Unless you change your ways, you fit the profile of the walking dead.
No Dave I cannot tell you of any wars fought over science, why ??? because science is not worth fighting over. It's followers would never die for their beliefs.
That's nice that you believe that, but scientists have recently been watching it happen before their eyes in color-differentiating microbes in steam vents. Looks like the clue to going multicellular was likely the development of photosynthesis.
Dave, you should be ashamed of yourself.
In what way is this relevant to the article to which you are commaneting? Please folks, stay on topic.
Science does just fine without any delusional explanation around some old white dude with a beard playing conductor. "
That is the answer you give simpletons who are too deficit or to ignorant to learn how the universe works.
There is no reason the universe can't have come into spontaneous being through billions of years of throwing matter together – even the odds support it.
Just because you can't conceive of something doesn't mean that god\s exist and created everything.
There is way more proof of Science and absolutely NO Proof that god exists, nothing nada, zip, zilch, zed, NOTHING!
Faith and forgiveness are not the same thing. To be forgiven you have to admit you need to be forgiven in the first place. Gays do not feel they are doing anything wrong – so no fogiveness if you do not ask for it.
Lets buy everything within view and have Sunday parties! We can picket their beliefs daily and all their funerals!
All of this, just because it burns when they urinate. Babies ...
I know they see this as "fighting fire with fire" but all it's going to do is convince the Westboro folks that they're being "persecuted" ...which to them is a sign they're doing the right thing. It will only serve to embolden them and galvanize their efforts. It would have been better to just ignore them...but...too late now...
I think "fighting fire with fire" is a politer way of them saying "We wanted them to be angry every time they step outside." Which I like a lot.
they do seem to have it coming, don't they?
when old freddie takes the ultimate dirt nap, i hope 20,000 show up with "freddie is in hell" signs
Sam Stone ... how would these 20,000 you call for, suddenly come to believe and know anything about Hell. Funny how Heaven and Hell becomes reality when it suits you.
Amazing that people in the year 2013 act like the people of the Westboro Baptist church. So rude and obviously not educated. Truly amazing. Thank you to all soldiers who have fallen to protect me.
the soldiers that have fallen to protect you would not condone the rainbow house! JUST SAYIN!
Kind of a bold thing to do, speaking on behalf of the entire military.
Speaking as a Kansan, way to go with the Rainbow house. THe Supreme Court said that Westboro has a right to say what theyre saying, then its awesome that you are utilizing that same right to stand up to them. Also, thanks for standing up to zoning, because not EVERY house in KS can be beige!
Jesse, Sounds like you have ben hangin out with Fred and the boys. The soldiers absolutely would love the idea of the rainbow house because that personifies freedom, freedom personifies America and those brave soldiers fought and died for those principles. Maybe you'd be more comfortable in North Korea where there are no freedoms to fight for
what makes you believe that, jesse?
How do you know this; is there a poll or have you talked with a significant number of the thousands of veterans. Or is that just what you would like to believe because you don't condone the house?
Strange, most of the soldiers I've spoken to – including my retired USArmy Chap Asst father, and myself – would support the rainbow house.
My father has ridden in several Patriot Guard events – which largely sprung up due to the hateful words spewing from this so-called Church.
Kindly don't speak for all soldiers. Some of us believe in equality for all – otherwise, why are we fighting overseas to bring democracy to other nations?
Could care less about the gays or Westboro Baptist- quite frankly I love the house."Hope that doesn't make me gay".
There is movie in Netflix about a church like the one these idiots have. The name is "Red State". It's kind of mediocre, however it clearly shows how ignorant and stupid the religious fanatics are.
I think both parties are wasting time and energy. Who cares if they are gay, who cares they hate the gays, and who cares what anyone thinks!? This protesting B.S. is getting out of control! Picketing a funeral, when a mother is trying to grieve, what's wrong with you? Why are they (both parties) involving others who don't want in on any of their B.S. Let families grieve, lets not ruin other people's properties and the whole block because you want to paint your house stupid, and lets move on with life to deal with bigger problems. I'm sure God would much rather deal with other problems as well.
Oh yea that's really going to hurt the Church. This just goes to show you just how immature and vengeful these perverts really are.
Yes Westboro is vengeful and perverted
Are you the one i think you are?...
i apologize. I have mistaken you for someone else.
If you were who i thought you were, you could have used my email address.
People will be much happier when they learn to bow down to the state and science.
God is a man made story, not difference from him and Darth Vader. Vader just had got enough followers..... yet 😉
Yeah but people see evidence of chemtrails, bigfoot, sea monsters, hollow earth, aliens, time travelers, werewolves, vampires, ghosts, inter-dimensional beings, and Iraqi nukes every day too, and there is just as much evidence to back any one of those up as there is to back up the existence of god.
before it's too late? oooh, the implied threat.....
N00bs can't triforce
And of course repent.........
Looks like an eyesore.
I believe that's the point.
Then how do they explain all the deaths of soldiers during WWI, WWII, when gays were persecuted?
I'm confused, and genuinely intrigued about what you mean. Could you please elaborate?
It is so disturbing how we challenge The Creator of the heavens and the earth. How does man think, with his puny brain, that he knows better than The One who created him? How does man, with his puny brain, seek to change that laws and commands of his Creator? Do we ignore the fact that the original nation who engaged in this transgression were DESTROYED in a way that no other nation had been. The world today engages in every sin of the past that The Creator has made forbidden. People practice every wrong-doing today – OPENLY and ARROGANTLY do we defy His laws. How foolish we are! We think that as long as we have man's approval, The Creator's approval becomes obsolete. Most people will not understand how serious our crimes are until The Wrath is upon us, but that's when it will be too late.
After reading this im defiantly going atheist
"man with his puny brain" indeed! It was men with puny brains that wrote the scriptures; men with puny brain translated it; men (and women) with puny brains that interpret it. How do you, a man with puny brain, presume to know the will of God?
Kevin – If so-called "inspired" men wrote the books of the bible, then why did Roman Emperor Constantine ELIMINATE most of those "inspired books" when he compiled the first holy bible, hmm? Constantine threw away more books than he included in this original bible compilation! Constantine did not even believe in god when this happened, he was merely attempting to merge two opposing religious philosophies to prevent his empire from splitting in half due to differences in beliefs! There was absolutely NOTHING "holy" about Constantine's radical, arbitrary editing! It was ENTIRELY POLITICAL! Your so-called "holy book" is nothing but a farce created for political expediency!
Very well put!
And it is the truth as well!
Thank you.
Wrong – if you are a Christian – which you obviously are not – God wrote the scriptures and man just supplied the ink. It must really burn people like you that the Dead Sea Scrolls – some of which are 1000 years old are exactly the same as the books of the Bible today like Isaiah. Yeah – that sounds like the work of a bunch of dumb sheep herders is ever I heard it.
Who wrote your "creators" bible? Men did.... The problem is not religion but the FANATICS of religion. Whilst murder is a sin, its ok if your god tells you to do it. Women must submit to their husbands, if your child refuses obedience he shall be stoned to death... that's your bible– Your creators words which happen to be written by men. EVOLUTION is within the change.
You do know that all religion is fake. Men created religion and it is based off of non-scientific beliefs.
I do not entirely disagree but science is also a human development and is restricted to human perceptions.
God does not exist. This book was wriiten with one thing in mind. To scare people into joining "their" church. You have been brainwashed.
God built freedom into every part of creation, and He has given all of mankind the ability to choose. But with that being said, you can choose what to believe in, but when you die you will meet God. I love you all enough to share that truth.
Very well written, God Bless you. 🙂
Until one accepts the possibility that God may exist then the Bible is simply a story book like the Harry Potter novels.
Once you accept the possibility and start seeking and continue to seek answers become more clear. There are many ,many prophecies about the coming of Jesus and the time table. Then he arrived just as foretold and was rejected by his own people just as was foretold. The writings about the conditions of humanity near the end of this system of things seem to be spot on for this time in History. It might be worth a second look. Your choice.
Huh?
The evil that the US of A has committed since it came into being, see what it is today! When will the Wrath of God descend upon it?
Why do people meddle in others affairs? As to impose on what they are doing so that they can judge them whether it’s right or wrong. Clearly we (Christians) should know what God has said in the Holy Scriptures. Judge not least ye be judged. There's a difference between being convicted for wrongs by the scripture and be convicted or judged by our fellow human being. We as humans have no heaven or hell to condemn anyone to. But I do know one thing God the creator of us all shall judge us all for the things we have done and hold us accountable for the words we have spoken. He is either going to tell us well done thy good and faithful servant or depart from me you worker of iniquity. The decision is God's alone. Our part in the matter is obedience to the Word and fulfillment thereof. Love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, mind, and strength. And love thy neighbor as thyself. Please leave the rest to Him who is able to separate the wheat from the tare.
A Believer. I'm glad you think you follow the Bible but you don't. The Bible is full of violent and barbaric acts that we no longer engage in today. We no longer sell our daughters into slavery or to men as wives. We no longer stone people for planting 2 crops in the same field, or for wearing clothing made from 2 different cloths (cotton/wool) We also critizie other countries that engage in these barbaric acts such as stoning for adultry. Since being gay is the way a person is born, just like being born straight, then GOD made them gay. After all, GOD doesn't make mistakes. To block gays from equal rights both socially and economically is passing a judgement on others. That's GOD's job, not yours.
The law was given so that it would point out our sin. It is impossible for anyone to keep the law to its fullest. That's why God sent his Son (The Word) into the world so that through Him the law might be fullfilled. He has become OUR righteousness. For those who confess with their mouth and believe in their heart that He is and that He rose on the third day and now seated at the right hand of the Father. Plain and simple.
MAC – Are you saying that GOD sinned when he "created" gay humans?
I find it funny how they say they are the only church that "loves people enough to tell them the Bible truth". I grew up in the same area where this church is located, and so they came and protested many events I participated in throughout childhoold and college. If that is the kind of "love" they want to share with the world, then as a Christian myself (which I don't think they are), then I'd rather not have their "love" anywhere near me. Thanks, but no thanks
There still are heroes out there, thank you jackson!
And what is picketing outside dead soldiers funerals? Ignorance and cowardice is not letting these people know they will not be tolerated.
Use of the transitive property:
God loves me.
God made the world and how it works.
God made me gay. (Gay is not a behavioral choice. It's biology. Like your eye color.)
God loves gay people.
That is all it is. Biology.
Biology was just a pure accident in the universe. Something came from absolutely NOTHING. hmm. that makes so much sense.
I would like to inform you other wise. Please read Leviticus 18:22 online and see for yourself. Remember that if being gay was another right way of life then you could make babies without science intervening. It has been Man and Woman since the beginning of time and I dont think you have the right to change that.
I find no problem with being gay. Some may think that it is sinful, but if you look into the dead truth of the bible, you shall see that it is very brutal and disturbing.
Now if was a painting of two men kissing, that would really make them seethe and they might vandal it.
You guys need to understand a little history about the rainbow. It was a sign of a promise from God to Noah that God was done killing off the previous gene pool with a flood. Then Christians used rainbows in art as a symbol of believers covenant with God. There used to be grain towers in Dallas that a church painted like this house and it said Jesus Loves You. The rainbow has always been a religious symbol. It makes us biblically informed people laugh that Yall think it is offensive to WBT. They are laughing at your ignorance. Christians don't associate rainbows with gay. We even still use the word gay when talking about happy. What is so hillariously funny is that the activist thought they would be offended by a rainbow. I wonder how many people who visit a church and see rainbows in artwork or children's Sunday school books think the church is gay! LOL.
I am not for WBT I look forward to the biker beat down they deserve the next time they protest a soldiers funeral. But there is nothing about a rainbow painted house that offends them.
I see someone failed to notice that the Phelps clan's anti-gay signs use rainbow symbolism. It's pretty naive (or deliberately obtuse) to whip out the "it's a different meaning" argument on this one.
True, I love the rainbow and all its beautiful colors…not because a group decided to associate themselves with the infinite symbol of God’s promise. That church is spewing truth and hate at the same time. One thing many people fail to understand is that Jesus did not come here to condemn the world but to sacrifice his life to save the world (displaying LOVE) Love thy neighbor as thyself...
That's no way to talk about Byfrost Bridge!
I'm pretty sure a rainbow is just the refraction of light through rain. Nothing more.
BTW, real "Christ-like" to look forward to the physical harm of "one of God's children".
I believe you. I took LSD decades ago that had a rainbow on it and had a heavenly experience.
The house doesn't look nearly as tacky as I thought it would be.
I love what Aaron Jackson did. If no one said anything to the Church, then they would continue they're hate crimes. Hate crimes like this is what leads to things like Tyler Clementi's and Matthew Shepard's death. If no one said anything about Hitler's hate crimes against the Jews would he stop? NO. Something had to be done, and this is a great non-violent way of fighting against the Church.
People don't understand about the church's, the church does hate..we are living by the holly bible. not a personal hate..we are going God will.
No. When you consciously hurt people that is strong evidence of malicious intent. This isn't changed by blaming it on any third party, even a deity.
Is going God will like going greek? If so I think I'm gonna have to pass.
Its people like those at WBC who give Christians a bad name.
I thought it was 2.5 crusades and an inquisition that gave them a bad name. 1492 Columbus sailed the ocean blue, because in 1492 the Catholics in Spain were having an inqusition and roasting people over open fires as prescribed by the bible (ie not to cut the flesh). I'd sail away on a boat even if it fell off the edge of the world.
Nice one. Also, the house looks splendid.
I am a strong christian and I am appalled by the actions of WBC. The way they chose to express their views, which are misinterpretations of the Bible, is not only distasteful, but completely unacceptable. That being said painting a house right across from them in rainbow colors will only stir them up. Its like finding a hornets nest and poking it with a stick. I am all for the right to free speech and it does go both ways. However, this action will do little more than renew the zeal of those members of WBC. Pay them no attention and you starve them of all power just like if you removed oxygen from a fire.
I respectfully disagree. I say poke that hornet nest. Call the bluff of those nasty, hate spewing fools.
Tell me more about how they "misrepresent" a book that says if a man lies with a man they should both be put to death. They are actually more accurate in their representation than other churches who prefer to sweep all the disgusting and bigoted verses under the rug.
Christians seem far too comfortable disregarding the old testament as a set of 613 rules THEY should have to follow, since now they 'live by grace", and using Leviticus and other books to condemn that which makes them uneasy. You know what makes me uneasy? People who want to live by 'grace' but smite people with the rule book they will never smite themselves with.
what happened to treating everyone nicely and peace in America. Poking the hornets nest will only lead to painful stings. Even the ignorant and foolish and hateful have a right to their opinions. This is America and freedom of belief and expression stands for everyone- not just gay people.
Better yet, when they are starting to protest a funeral, someone get a tear gas genade and lob it in their direction.
Ignoring them does not seem to be working, and they are NOT harmless.
Apparently, that neighborhood doesn't have a homeowner's association. Those colors wouldn't fly in my neighborhood, not because of the gay symbology, but because the house doesn't meet the code of one of the original colors for the neighborhood!
Dude, it's Kansas..
Fred phelps is just an old man
...a very abusive old man surrounded by a hoard of abusive children and followers.
1). The house gets arsoned.
2). Jackson collects on the insurance.
3). Blame gets put on the Westboro Church.
4. PROFIT!
5. Others paint their house. (trend setting)
"arsoned" is not a word. source: i'm a fire/arson investigator.
I love it!! why did no one do this sooner!
Westboro=ignorance. It's sad that in today's society people can't be more accepting of
Other people and their choices. If someone is living a lifestyle that you don't approve of and that lifestyle is not hurting you, then who cares! It's not our right to judge and condemn other people and I for 1 am sick of all this unnecessary hate and judgement going around. People filled with such hate and dismay for others are just judgemental, hateful angry individuals. if you are religious ( for the record, I am ) then you've read that It's not for us to judge. Love thy neighbor folks and you'll be a happier person!
So the LGBT people of america want to provoke the WBC...Its no wonder they protest funerals and stuff. Leave them to hate in their own way. By painting a rainbow house your just playing into their game. Its like when a toddler cries, is it better to give them attention or walk away!
Jeeze Jim one would think that freedom was a scary word in your neck of the woods. Live a little and let the WBC sink in their own dark hole of hate and ignorance. Calling them out is the only way to set them running for the hills, hopefully never to return.
It would be fine to let them hate in their own way if they would only let other people alone to grieve in their own way.
So westboros right to free speech should be protected, but not the right of the majority. I think all thiests need to read the first amendment. It gives one the right to practice what ever faith they wish. It does not give them the right to spew hate speech. I hope one day to meet a big group from westboro, then we would see. I would mop the floor with these bigots faces, with my bare hands. And ps im not gay or military, but I believe that this kind of hate should be met with equal and greater hate.
The Supreme Court has already weighed in on this kind of thing before. Hate speech as you call it it protected by the the 1st Amendment.
The right to free speech would be meaningless if it only protected people who said popular and well-liked things. It's there to stop us shutting up people like the WBC so long as they abide by the law while being complete jerkwads who say nothing worth listening to.
FYI the house is owned by a straight activist, did you not read the article before spouting off? The LGBTQ community was not involved in this project.
Jim, I dont think you understand the article.
People have been looking the other way for centuries.... now it's time to confront hate face to face...
Sunlight disinfects.
It's a message from God, Mr Phelps (et al)... in your face and out in the street... and I PRAY that it stings your eyes.
This isn't a message from God any more than the falsities they spew are a message from God. This is man against man, both absent from the presence of God.
Why would it? Rainbows are christian symbols. Christians have been using it before their was a gay organization. They should have painted two men kissing instead.
Do you honestly think they saw it and went "dur, it our symbol. we not mind it!" like a bunch of robots with only one setting? The WBC itself uses rainbow flags to represent gay people on its own friggin' signs :/
Hate is such an ugly word, its worse when people practice it. I hope that Pastor realize that he is not practicing Christianity but just hatred of people that's different from him.
Deep breaths Mick, deep breaths........................ Oh, by the way, you may want to get "hooked on phonics."
The Bible teaches to forgive and to love one another, and to not be the evil, bloodthirsty animals you claim Christians are. However, this isn't Vietnam, there are rules here! And to get to the Kingdom of heaven, you must obey them.
There is no kingdom of heaven, there is no hell, there is no god and there never was any jesus. They are just people and places written about in books. The charector of jesus isn't even an origional charector, his history was taken word for word from stone tablets taken from Egypt that told of their diety Horus. Horus, who was born of a virgin, who taught in a temple when he was twelve, who had twelve disciples, who walked on water, who made a lot of food from just a little and who was crucified. Jesus is just a Mexican who lives down the street.
If there is a God and a Kingdom of Heaven, you're selling yourself short. When God tries to talk to you, you'll qualify the experience as your brain misfiring, when he lifts you up you'll call it a delusion, and when you come face to face with Him, you won't know what it is that you're looking at. Taking a leap of faith is scary, but as someone who has 'stepped' across the divide, I can assure there's something to it all. Take a chance and believe.
You answers are the results of your environment. you just hung out with the wrong people who had all the wrong information. Don't tell me that you went around the galaxies and came back with your opinion on God.
which is what Christianity is about.
We don't have to believe in anything, not even in science, but what we do have to be is gentle and kind with those who do no harm.
I saw this last night on the news and OMG I was laughing so hard, not because of the house , because its infront of the church, I really liked there statement that they made to the press about the house.. Very smart guy who bought the house..
why lower yourself to thier standards?
? the people that bought the house are not doing anything hateful.
So showing resistance to hatred a non-violent display of love and support is the same as screaming at the widows of dead servicemen that their loved ones are burning in hell? I am not seeing the comparison.
Since when is having a opinon for or against something so bad
You're kidding, right?
What a fantastic approach to making a statement against the Westboro bigots. It's a permanent part of the landscape and an analogue to the societal changes which are slowly making them an island of hate and misery unto themselves.
What a fantastic approach to lowering real estate values of the surrounding homes in that neighborhood. It's looks like something that belongs in a red-light district.
Harry – Obviously you are speaking without any understanding to the housing market. A house painted that color does not de-crease the valuse of the "market". Value of a home is supported by like sales in the immediate neighborhood.
I think this is a fantastic idea...Kudo's to the man who did this!
Being in the same neighborhood as Westboro is far more likely to bring down real estate values, just saying.
Maybe if the existing home owners cared about their values they would have the bogus church shut down...