The service was nearly overshadowed by threats of pickets by the Westboro Baptist Church of Topeka, Kan., which vowed to send delegates to express its belief that American soldiers are being struck down because of the nation's tolerance of homosexuality.
Members are known for carrying pickets with inflammatory statements, including "Thank God for dead soldiers" and "God hates fags."
There are at least two problems with the reasoning these folks conjured up.
First, they are saying that the terrorists and insurgents are doing the will of their deity. Therefore, they are putting themselves in the position of being terrorist sympathizers. I rather doubt that's what they intend.
Second, look at this country's war deaths over the years. If there is a cause-and-effect correlation between America's growing acceptance of homosexuality and war deaths, it seems to be a preventive one. That would signal that their deity is pleased with America's tolerance of gays. The folks who are really suffering in the war are Iraqis. And theirs is the much more homophobic culture than ours, by far.
Peace,
Tor
