Guest Opinion!

A Soldier's Father Speaks Out

From a Story in NewsMax.com

A gentleman from Virginia, proud parent of a decorated Army officer serving in Iraq, writes to us, "I am so fed up with the anti-American propaganda coming from some Americans that I wrote the open letter below. I will appreciate it very much if you include it": [text of letter follows]

An open letter to some political partisans, especially certain politicians and people in the media: I have a son who is an American soldier in Iraq.

I care very much about what affects him and his comrades in arms.

I am not fooled, when you partisans spew propaganda that helps our enemies and harms our soldiers, then tell us you support our troops.

I am not fooled, when you focus on, highlight, and exaggerate the negative things that happen in Iraq, while ignoring our positive accomplishments, then tell us you support our troops.

I am not fooled, when you focus attention on American soldiers killed and wounded in Iraq, to use these brave patriots as an anti-Iraq-war political football, then tell us you support our troops.

I am not fooled, when you keep criticizing why and how we invaded Iraq - that is done; our troops are there - then tell us you support our troops.

I am not fooled, when you engage in constant, carping criticism of what the U.S. has done and is doing in Iraq, then tell us you support our troops.

I am not fooled, when you search for and trumpet to the world anything that will diminish respect for our soldiers and their leaders - even when it endangers greatly their lives, then tell us you support our troops.

I am not fooled, when you tell our soldiers and the rest of us that they are stuck in a "quagmire" and will suffer a Vietnam-type defeat, then tell us you support our troops.

I am not fooled, when you spout propaganda that undermines the morale of our soldiers and the American public and boosts the morale of our enemies, then tell us you support our troops.

You are giving aid and comfort to our nation's deadly enemies! They know they cannot defeat us militarily in Iraq. However, you cause them to think they can win here politically by breaking our will, if they kill and wound enough of our soldiers.

You despicable partisans! You are stimulating our enemies to attack our soldiers and the people working with them. The blood of many Americans and Iraqis is already on your hands. And your hands collect more blood every day!

You are determined to regain the political power you have lost, and you believe your presidential candidate and congressional candidates will win, if the U.S. fails in Iraq.

If your anti-American propaganda contributes to the deaths of many Americans and Iraqis, that is a price you are willing to make them pay. You are pathetic and dangerous!

I am not fooled, when you contemptible politicians and other political partisans, including many in the media, tell us you support our troops. I know that is a lie!

I am not fooled, when you claim spreading your pernicious, divisive, anti-American venom makes you patriotic. I know it does not - and I know you are not!
 

Motorcyclist Don Woodrick, left, of the Patriot Guard Riders, from Mayfield Ky., shows patriotic support with others from his group while looking over at a group protesters before the start of a memorial service on Wednesday, Feb. 8, 2006, for soldiers killed in combat from the Army's 101st Airborne Division in front of the main entrance to Fort Campbell, Ky. The Patriot Guard Riders travel around the country showing support at military funerals and memorials, while the protesters, largely the extended family of the Rev. Fred Phelps from the Westboro Baptist Church of Topeka, Kan., have toured the country protesting at the funerals of U.S. soldiers. They see their deaths as a sign that G-d is punishing American for its tolerance of gays. They also protested at the funerals of dead coal miners in West Virginia last month. (AP Photo/Christopher Berkey)

Here's a military story the mainstream media isn't
rushing to cover...

Responding to growing protests targeting funeral services
of fallen soldiers, a biker group known as The Patriot
Guard Riders is now escorting families of fallen soldiers
to the services.

In less than a year, membership in the group has swelled
to more than 10,000 with chapters in all 50 states and
Puerto Rico.

Bikers Guard US Military Funerals Against Protesters
By Nathan Burchfiel
CNSNews.com Correspondent
February 27, 2006

(Editor's Note: Some language in the following article may be offensive to readers.)

(CNSNews.com) - A group of motorcycle riders who attend U.S. soldiers' funerals to protect them from anti-homosexual protestors on Saturday surpassed the 10,000-member mark.

The Patriot Guard Riders (PGR) escort families of fallen soldiers to funeral services and stand between the funeral proceedings and protestors from the Westboro Baptist Church, who picket the ceremonies with anti-American and anti-homosexuality slogans.

The Westboro Baptist Church, according to its website www.godhatesfags.com,  believes that G-d uses improvised explosive devices (IEDs) in Iraq to avenge the August 1995 bombing of the church headquarters in Topeka, Kan. Church founder Fred Phelps Sr. believes the 1995 bomb was a government attempt to silence his group. Topeka police ruled it a random attack that was part of a string of bombings in the area.

Members of Phelps' church stand outside funeral services holding signs that say, "G-d Hates Fags," and "G-d Hates the USA." They also sing songs with anti-homosexual messages. Patriot Group Riders stand between church members and funerals, usually using American flags to obstruct the protestors' view.

The "rides," as PGR members call their events, began in August 2005 when members of the American Legion rode motorcycles to funerals as a response to Westboro's protests. PGR spokesman Kurt Mayer said the group has seen "an explosion of growth" since it went nationwide in November and opened chapters in all 50 states and Puerto Rico.

Mayer added that the group "completely crosses all demographic boundaries" and that the membership includes veterans and non-veterans, corporate executives and coal miners, the young and the old. He said the cost of running the PGR website is "self-absorbed."

The group also recently started a pen pal campaign that pairs members with soldiers serving overseas and recovering in Veterans Affairs hospitals in the United States

Fred Phelps Sr. has written on his church's website that soldiers deserve to be hated because "they voluntarily joined a fag-infested army to fight for a fag-run country now utterly and finally forsaken by G-d who Himself is fighting against that country."

The church teaches that anyone who does not vocally oppose homosexuality and preach G-d's hatred for homosexuals is damned to hell.

Westboro spokesman Jacob Phelps, the 22-year old grandson of Fred Phelps Sr., told Cybercast News Service that the church doesn't care about the counter protests. "They can be out there if they want," he said of PGR members, "but it doesn't change our message or view. We're going to continue to preach G-d's word to these people."

Jacob Phelps said members of the PGR have "struck us a couple times," a charge that Mayer denies.

"I know that since the organization's been formed, there have been no physical altercations or confrontations," Mayer said, adding that "there've been no charges filed." He said his group has strict rules against interacting with Westboro members.

"What we tell our members is that the way to show disrespect and the ultimate, absolute sign of disrespect is to turn your back on somebody," he told Cybercast News Service. "You're not going to solve anything by a war of words or with a physical confrontation."

Jacob Phelps criticized states like Kentucky, which are seeking to ban protests at funerals. He said the bans would constitute a violation of their free speech rights, but said church members would "respect the law."

"We're not going to break any laws that will give these people an opportunity to throw us in jail, because G-d also says that we're supposed to abide the laws of man," Phelps said. "If they say that we have to be back 500 feet, then we will. Then, if our lawyers feel that we should sue, then we will."

Mayer said he thinks the laws are necessary and that he is "saddened that we would have to pass laws that cover common sense in terms of human decency."

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