Those anti-gay bigots wanted to protest a military funeral close to where I lived. They sent out this hateful press release... it was seriously twisted. The "Patriot Guard Riders" were on the scene though, keeping the bigots at a distance, protecting the family from further trauma.

I don't like their nationalist style, but I admire them for what they are doing. They're a great example of why we don't need government restrictions on free speech.

Hope they restore the draft and send all of you right wingers to Iran and Iraq. Then lets see how favorable you think of the war and war heroes!!!!!

How revealing, Shannon. You think of military service as a punishment, to be inflicted on those with whom you disagree. I happen to see it as a calling, and am enormously proud to live in a country where people have to work to get IN to the Service, not strugle to get OUT.

Why do you loathe our Soldiers and Sailors and Airmen and Marines, Shannon? Why do you see their service to our nation as a form of punishment?

J.

Thank you, Lorie, for sharing this story. It seemed too touching for people not to see. I love the part about accidents with no injuries and stalled cars the police just couldn't seem to clear up for cars from Kansas!

"They're a great example of why we don't need government restrictions on free speech."

Hate speech should be restricted. Noone should be allowed to stand on a corner and insults people because of their religion, race, or sexual orientation , etc.

The link doesn't work. Try this

Clearwarerconservative,

That comment didn't sound very conservative at all to me. Are you another DU troll pretending to be a conservative here?

P. Bunyan -

Judging from other comments from the same name, I think you pegged it. DUers have this idea about how 'conservatives' are supposed to think - and like so many in the 'reality-based community', their ideas and reality don't even have a nodding acquaintance.

Jay, I agree wholeheartedly with your statement in response to "Shannon". I always find it interesting that people like "Shannon" always assume that no one they are insulting has ever served before.

"Shannon":
"Hope they restore the draft and send all of you right wingers to Iran and Iraq. Then lets see how favorable you think of the war and war heroes!!!!!"

My family has served in the armed forces of this great nation since (at least) 1863. The direct involvement of my surname lineage is at least four generations. So save that sort of talk for your socialist friends "Shannon".

Additionally, they don't have to "restore" the Draft, it was never "removed" per se. The Selective Service is still in effect in the United States and a Draft is made (via Congress) when additional military personell are needed. Men are required to register with the selective service at age 18, if you fail to do so by age 26 you are in violation of the Law. If you have ever applied for Federal Financial aid, you registered for the Selective Service, it's kind of a "gotcha" clause for all the deadbeat lib's who would rather bitch while they go to school on taxpayers dollars.

But I digress. See the Selective Servcie site for more information, I suspect you will be surprised at what you find.

feh.

They should all have those SUPERSOAKERS and if those antiwar protester hippies show up waving their stupid signs and displaying their 70s chicken footprint they should turn their supersoakers on them and leave them dripping wet and well satuerated

Lorie, I am glad you picked this up. I sent to as many bloggers as I could, and posted a link on my homepage to this article by Jeanette and DavidM. This needs maximum exposure

How revealing, Shannon. You think of military service as a punishment, to be inflicted on those with whom you disagree. I happen to see it as a calling, and am enormously proud to live in a country where people have to work to get IN to the Service, not strugle to get OUT.

Good for you, Jay. And as I recall, you're in your mid-30s, so the reserve is still a possibility -- if you can pass the physical.

I can.

DUers have this idea about how 'conservatives' are supposed to think - and like so many in the 'reality-based community', their ideas and reality don't even have a nodding acquaintance.

Uh-huh. Have all you "conservatives" been reading William F. Buckley lately? Are you familiar with the conservatism of Barry Goldwater? You're not conservative; you're neoconservatives.

If Barry were here, he'd kick the crap out of all you borrow-and-spend "conservatives" in a heartbeat.

My father is a newish member of the Patriot Guard, and has participated in at least two rides so far.

It's a novel concept: protestors get to protest, shout and speak to their black heart's content. The principle of freedom of speech, however, does not connote a right to be heard. And believe me, tens of dozens of idling Harleys, Hondas, Suzukis and BMW's do they job of making sure that grieving families need not hear Phelps' followers shouts about how their fallen son or daughter is "rotting in hell".

At the first Patriot Guard ride my father took part in, the family of the fallen soldier, after the interment of their son, took the time to shake the hands of and thank every one of the riders who participated in the funeral. That's how much it meant to them!

Asti, old schmuck, how many times to I have to say it before it sinks in through that impossibly thick skull: it ain't about me.

J.

The links above wouldn't work for me, but this works.

hangrightpolitics.com/2006/08/15/a-hero-laid-to-rest-in-peace/

The left wingers are watching way too much CNN/NBC. They need to spread their wings a little and, Ooop's they can't do that, their friends and anti-american teachers would dis-own them. 22 years of military service and would go back if they would let me. Besides the draft would effect very few 'right' wingers since the are consistantly patroitic, but would ravage the world of un-patroitic lefties while flooding Canada with more deserters and cowards. I hear Canada has all of the deserters (welfare riders) they care for right now.

Jay:

Asti, old schmuck, how many times to I have to say it before it sinks in through that impossibly thick skull: it ain't about me.

No Jay, I don't think you get it. It is about you. It's about me too, and every other person here that supports the war.

In order to have pride in our country's military...we must be enlisted in it. In order to agree with what they're doing, we must be there next to them in the trenches.

This same reasoning is why I don't support astronauts, professional athletes, politicians and a whole other slew of professions.

astifaga has it easy though, all he has to do to support his cause is have a loud mouth, carry a sign, or think up a conspiracy theory...whereas, I have to go to boot camp.

"Fundamentalist?" As far as I know, fundamentalist Christians are never happy to see somebody "go to Hell" so they can hold a protest. Nor do they have the right to determine who goes to Hell or not.

Lord, I hope when I get to heaven I find these supposedly Hell-bound fallen soldiers have already checked in, just to shut up the idiots.

Just because a person doesn't support or condone homosexuality doesn't mean said person has to hate homosexuals. That whole "love" thing was for everybody, not just those one deems are "good enough". And yes, love and lack of condonement can go hand-in-hand.

/rant

Hate speech is what must be protected...who determines what hate sppech is? ...The actions of this homophobe is what the 1st Amendment is all about. He and his family first surfaced at the Matthew Shepard funurnal. Before 2006, outside of course of his hate filled spew similar to Pat Robertson..Focus on Family folks who said 9/11 was God punishing the homosexual lifestyle, he did not surface at military furnals.
I am glad to see the riders...it is a non-violent response to his hate. Their presence sends a clear message.Our military dead must be honored.. I applaud them...

However, I wish they would also go to Dover...it is there that the hero returns in a flag drapped coffin..it is there that our President refuses dignified photos of their return.

If you wish to join the Patriot Guard Riders, or to learn more about them, then visit their website. You can do so by clicking here.

For what it's worth, I have some photos of the Patriot Guard Riders taken at the PGR's annual Gathering of the Guard. To see the photos, click here.