foolishxearthxcreature

Found this article on FoxNews.Com:

A radical Baptist church in Kansas known for picketing the funerals of soldiers who perished in Iraq said it intends to protest Heath Ledger's memorial service with signs claiming the actor died and is in Hell because he played a gay character in “Brokeback Mountain.”

Shirley Phelps-Roper of the Westboro Baptist Church in Topeka said that she and other members will picket Ledger’s United States memorial services, not those held in his native Australia.

“You cannot live in defiance of God,” she said. “He got on that big screen with a big, fat message: God is a liar and it’s OK to be gay.”

A press release circulated by the church references Leviticus 18:22 in the Bible, which states that “thou shalt not lie with mankind, as with womankind: it is abomination.”

“Heath Ledger is now in Hell, and has begun serving his eternal sentence there,” the Westboro Baptist announcement says.

Started 1955, the Topeka, Kan.-based church has conducted over 34,000 peaceful demonstrations opposing the homosexual lifestyle, according to their Web site, GodHatesFags.com.

The organization runs various Web sites, including GodHatesAmerica.com and others that condemn lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people, Muslims, Roman Catholics and Jews as well as certain nationalities, according to Wikipedia.

The Southern Poverty Law Center classifies the church as a hate group and the organization is monitored by the Anti-Defamation League, according to its Wikipedia entry.

Phelps-Roper said the church group will also be picketing the Academy Awards this year.

Both the printed release and Phelps-Roper’s verbal diatribe about Ledger were rife with homophobic slurs. She said that those who call her and other members of Westboro Baptist Church bigots must also think God is a bigot.

“God hates fags,” she said. “The wrath of God has been revealed before the eyes of this nation with the death of Heath Ledger. … This nation worships the dead almost as much as they worship their filthy sex acts. America is doomed.”

See previous journal for my veiws on this. I don't have the mental strength to rant again.

The tragic news that Heath Ledger, the Australian Oscar nominated actor, died in his SoHo apartment has been at the forefront of my mind for the past day or so. While not an avid fan of his work (he was the only good thing about "10 Things I Hate About You" and I have never seen "Brokeback Mountain" in full), I was saddened by his death. Another case of (yes, I know how cliche this is...) a young actor who died before his time and with so much promise. He has already been likened to James Dean in several articles and news items. And I don't disagree. Having eagerly been keeping an eye and ear out for "Batman" (or "The Dark Knight", as they call him now) news, I was extremely impressed with the glimpses of Heath Ledger as The Joker. The trailer alone sent chills down my spine. So I am in no doubt that Hollywood has lost a great talent who surely had so much more to offer. My heart goes out to his family (especially after the way that they heard of his death: on the radio) and his friends, and his beautiful young daughter.

 As an Atheist, I do believe that wherever he may be now, Heath Ledger will suffer no pain and will rest in peace. I respect that this tragedy effects his fans, his industry and most importantly his friends and family. The media, on the otherhand, will have (and are having) a field-day (although, to be fair, they aren't being the total jackasses I was expecting them to be). But, such is life. And evidently, death.

So why then, do I thank God that I am an Atheist? Atheists are often criticised for their beliefs/lack of beliefs, particularly in the event of death. Atheists also tend to be more uncomfortable and/or afraid of death as they are, unlike their religious counterparts, not expecting a welcome reception in Heaven. Well, this is what sociological and psychological research has told us, but I beg to differ. 

But on this day (and all those days before it, and everyday after it), I am proud to be an Atheist.

Apparently, Westboro Baptist Chruch (yes, the crazy motherfuckers who have previously picketed the funerals of American soldiers killed at war) plans to picket Heath Ledger's funeral because of his portrayal of a gay cowboy in "Brokeback Mountain".

Here is a link to a flyer from the church, posted by all15minutefame:

http://all15minutefame.buzznet.com/user/journal/1706671/just-as-i-suspected-religious-psychos-picketing/#comment39751791

The man is dead. His family is grieving. His daughter will grow up without a father.

We all have a right to free speech. You can believe what you want to believe. But, you CANNOT infringe on the rights of others. You CANNOT tell others that what you believe is right. You SHOULD NOT disrespect a mourning family. You SHOULD NOT disrespect a fallen soldier, whether he died in his apartment or on a battlefield on foreign soil.

It is disgusting. It is immoral. It is wrong.

So that is why I thank God that I am an Atheist. I would never persecute anyone for their sexual orientation, race, sex, or acting roles and I am extremely tolerant of the diversity of human beings. However, today I find myself intolerant of religion.

R.I.P Heath Ledger, fallen soldiers and everyone else who ever dies, no matter who are and what did in this life.