I will tell you more later about personal stuff.
Today, I wanted to tell you about something else.
The infamous Westboro Baptist Church has been protesting the funerals of fallen soldiers for years, their posters reading things like "God loves dead soldiers". They believe that,
well,
It really doesn't matter what they believe.
I think we should be livid enough at the thought of someone intruding into sacred, deep grief of the living, in order to speak disgrace over those who have already died.
It's inhuman.
And that brings me to PGR,
Patriot Guard Riders.
A group of motorcycle riders. Members of gangs, individuals, veterans, all with different beliefs who come together to do one thing: respect, honor and protect.
At the family's invitation they stand at the exit of a fallen hero's funeral. When the family leaves the funeral, The riders hold up large American flags. It shields the family from the ugly signs of the protesters, and it honors the fallen soldier/service man or woman.
In this case, truth is certainly not found in the church (Westboro)
In this case, Christ would be better represented by a group of tattooed "rebels".
Tough looking motorcycle riders I would be scared to talk to on the street standing silently to protect the grieving and vulnerable widow from more pain.
Lovely.
Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world. (from James 1)
westboro protested here a few weeks ago. my brother-in-law rode with the PGR. very cool.
ReplyDeleteSo cool that you posted this. One of Ryan's best friends, J, was killed in Iraq when they were deployed. J lived in Maine in a small town. There were motorcycle riders that escorted the family and J's casket from the airport all the way to his home town. They stopped traffic and these bikes all proudly waved the American Flag. It warms my heart to believe that for every one "evil" protester, there stands a "rebel" for Christ and soldiers.
ReplyDeleteThat absolutely sickens me that ANYONE would protest a proper, respectful funeral for a fallen soldier, but especially that people that call themselves Christians would behave that way. It makes me want to shoot them. How's that for a good Christlike answer... :-P Okay, not shoot them, but shake some sense into them or something. It's wrong. I'm thankful for peole who stand up for good in order to help innocent people who are hurting.
ReplyDeleteCasey, that is really cool. If I had a bike...:-)
ReplyDeleteJennifer, that is so neat. Well said!
Jaime, I know. It made me sad and angry that people would pick such a heartbreaking time to flaunt their agenda.