Tuesday, October 07, 2003
What is this man's problem?
I'm sure most people remember Matthew Shepard, who was murdered in Laramie 5 years ago. Well, Reverand Phelps, the leader of Westoboro Baptist Church, wants to erect a memorial.
Here's the thing. Rev. Phelps is anti-gay, and this memorial is not intended to be "in loving memory":
It would bear a bronze plaque bearing the image of Shepard and have an inscription reading "MATTHEW SHEPARD, Entered Hell October 12, 1998, in Defiance of God's Warning: 'Thou shalt not lie with mankind as with womankind; it is abomination.' Leviticus 18:22."
Set aside for the moment, whether or not being gay is acceptable. [just to be clear, in my opinion it most certainly is] Imagine for a moment that Phelps truly believes that being gay is wrong and that homosexuality is an evil that must be fought against. What on earth would make someone think that this is the way to go about your fight? This man is a Christian [again, to be clear, as am i] -- should he not be thinking about the family and friends of Matthew and how they will have to live with this? These people, who have not done anything wrong by Phelps' rules, are the ones being punished. Being this insensitive just makes a martyr of Matthew and pushes the public sympathy away from Phelps' cause.
Which, admittedly, is alright by me.
(link via Chris Baldwin)
Here's the thing. Rev. Phelps is anti-gay, and this memorial is not intended to be "in loving memory":
It would bear a bronze plaque bearing the image of Shepard and have an inscription reading "MATTHEW SHEPARD, Entered Hell October 12, 1998, in Defiance of God's Warning: 'Thou shalt not lie with mankind as with womankind; it is abomination.' Leviticus 18:22."
Set aside for the moment, whether or not being gay is acceptable. [just to be clear, in my opinion it most certainly is] Imagine for a moment that Phelps truly believes that being gay is wrong and that homosexuality is an evil that must be fought against. What on earth would make someone think that this is the way to go about your fight? This man is a Christian [again, to be clear, as am i] -- should he not be thinking about the family and friends of Matthew and how they will have to live with this? These people, who have not done anything wrong by Phelps' rules, are the ones being punished. Being this insensitive just makes a martyr of Matthew and pushes the public sympathy away from Phelps' cause.
Which, admittedly, is alright by me.
(link via Chris Baldwin)
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