This really really make me sad

[moe.ron]

Phelps To Erect Matthew Shepard Monument.

Link

(Casper, Wyoming) Anti-gay preacher Fred Phelps has announced intentions to erect a monument to Matthew Shepard the gay college student brutally murdered five years ago near Laramie.

But, the monument will be no memorial. Phelps says the monument would be 5 to 6 feet tall and made of marble or granite. 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."

The monument would be erected in downtown Casper, Shepard's home town.

Phelps has sent details of the monument to the city of Casper city council and there may be nothing the city can do to prevent it.

Phelps said he intends to put up the monument in City Park, already the location of a controversial statue of the Ten Commandments.

The Ten Commandments statue was donated to the city by the Fraternal Order of the Eagles in 1965.

After a court battle over a similar monument in the city of Ogden, the 10th Circuit Court of Appeals ruled that any city that displays a Ten Commandments monument on public property must also allow monuments espousing the views of other religions or political groups on that same property.

Phelps told Casper council in his letter that if it attempts to prevent him from erecting the homophobic monument he's prepared to go to court.

"That is exactly what I said would happen," said Councilwoman Barb Watters. She said she warned the city when it accepted the Ten Commandments statue that the city risked other monuments advocating anti-Semitism and hatred of other minorities.

''I think the hate language will find a very cold reception in this community,'' councilor Paul Bertoglio said. ''I think this community's backbone is going to come up and say 'We are not going to accept it.'''

The city council is looking at several options, one is fighting Phelps in court, another is moving the Ten Commandments out of the park, and yet another proposal would be to sell the land the park is on.

Phelps says he doesn't care what the city decides. If he is unable to put the statue in City Park he said he will find another location in the city.

During Shepard's funeral members of Phelps' Westoboro Baptist Church demonstrated in front of the chapel.

[Rio_Kohitsuji]

That's just sick.

[Peaches-n-Cream]

Arya, this really makes me sad also.

[CatStarESP4]

It is not just sick, but totally disrespectful! It is just plain obscene!

[Imthachamp]

i hope people vandalize the statue and take it down.

can his parents do something about it?

[tinydancer]

That is just awful. How could anyone see any good or redeeming rationale for doing this? I feel very sad for the family.

[moe.ron]

Originally posted by ztawinthropgirl
can his parents do something about it?

His parents can't do anything cause it's on their property.

According to the article on the city's option:

The city council is looking at several options, one is fighting Phelps in court, another is moving the Ten Commandments out of the park, and yet another proposal would be to sell the land the park is on.

I think the city should sell the area to the Shepard for $1 on the condition that it's kept as a public park. It'll be a good gesture against this hatred.

[navane]

I just want to say that, as a Christian myself, people like Fred Phelps by far and away do not represent what Christianity is about. Regardless of my personal opinions on controversial topics such as this one, I would never do something so inappropriate and hateful.

Firstly, how can Mr. Phelps possibly act as if he knows God's business? He does not know what God chose to do when young Matthew died. Therefore, the alleged proposed inscription for the memorial by itself tells a lot about Mr. Phelps' thought process.

Secondly, that young man died a terrible death and Mr. Phelps' actions clearly show that he regards Matthew Shepherd as a non-person. That is completely unacceptable in my book. Gay or not, that boy was loved!! Rejoicing over someone's tragic death is just abhorrent!

.....Kelly

[cashmoney]

Although I don't condone such statues like the one discussed, I really don't see how everyone is either surprised or bent out of shape over it. I mean if two men can publicly kiss with tongues wrapping around each other, disgusting many people out, why then does is disgust you that someone would erect a statue hating such actions? I don't condone violence/hatred for gays, but I don't see whats wrong with people who show their disgust for homosexuality either. Not too long ago it was actually illegal for gays to publicly make out. Gays do have gay pride week. To be honest, I'm surprised there hasn't been more anti-homo stuff going around than what there is.

[moe.ron]

You should check out his site. Very sad indeed. So much anger, I sense no love in him whatsoever.

Link to the Site
Link to the Statue

[adduncan]

Originally posted by navane
I just want to say that, as a Christian myself, people like Fred Phelps by far and away do not represent what Christianity is about. Regardless of my personal opinions on controversial topics such as this one, I would never do something so inappropriate and hateful.

Firstly, how can Mr. Phelps possibly act as if he knows God's business? He does not know what God chose to do when young Matthew died. Therefore, the alleged proposed inscription for the memorial by itself tells a lot about Mr. Phelps' thought process.

Secondly, that young man died a terrible death and Mr. Phelps' actions clearly show that he regards Matthew Shepherd as a non-person. That is completely unacceptable in my book. Gay or not, that boy was loved!! Rejoicing over someone's tragic death is just abhorrent!

.....Kelly

Cosign

Adrienne

[bethany1982]

Sad...

[cash78mere]

regardless of his view on homosexuality, he should at least have decency to treat mathew as a person. this is gross

[DeltaSig]

Sick and very upsetting.