America's favorite spiritual family, Fred Phelps' Westboro Baptist Clan, came to Silverton, Oregon on Monday, November 24th, 2008, spreading the good news that God hates Silvertonians (having earlier visited Portland and Tigard to share the news that the lord cannot stand Portlanders and the country of Finland). The Mayor of Silverton (Stu Rasmussen) is transgender, and that ticks off the deity but good. Alas, the Lord had other commitments and could not deliver His condemnation in person: instead, He who is the One True God chose to delegate the job of sharing His bellicosity to one man and three young women from Kansas who had some free time. The God of the Israelites is one mysterious dude, and His hiring practices are opaque. He is nothing if not the King of "Go Figure."
As part of God's plan to splash wee-wee all over our national symbols, the good ladies of Westboro stood upon the flag of the United States, in a symbolic act believed to have something to do with wearing extremely patriotic shoes.
And in case you didn't already know:
To their unmitigated shame, the Silvertonians responded by smiling and displaying their own signs...
A point is made:
A response was forthcoming:
It was grand fun while it lasted, but the Westboro Baptists had miles to go before they slept, they waved goodbye and off they schlepped...
and some say they heard Jesus, who most surely wept...
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UPDATE: A Silvertonian shares his perspective on the the day's events.
UPDATE UPDATED: The Oregonian reported on the festivities.
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Comments
I love it!
Silverton rocks!
Call me a cockeyed optimist, but I'm left wondering whether or not the Mormons made a huge mistake when they decided to put their money behind Prop 8. The ugliness is becoming very hard to avoid noticing even by middle-of-the-roaders who haven't yet imagined that they might know and care about someone who is gay, or transgendered.
What the Mormons have given to those of us who figured that out a long time ago, just on the general principle that we are all created equal by whatever, is renewed energy and determination, riches greater than actual gold.
Bless you, MJS, and all of us, everyone of us.
Leah-- applications are not necessary. We are a very accepting and all encompassing community. Come on up when the feeling hits. Moving here was one of the best things I have ever done in my 59 years on the planet. I don't want to ask what took me so long... it was the right time when I did it.
MJS-- thanks for bearing witness, documenting and generally participating in everything from a drink and a game of stick at Mac's to a walk along the reservoir.