In times of tragedy, we can always depend on the Westboro Baptist Church to make horribly insensitive and completely uncalled-for remarks that remind everyone just how awful they are. And yesterday’s bombing at the Boston Marathon is no different.
At 2:30 Monday afternoon, two explosions went off near the end of the annual marathon, the world’s oldest, which had gathered some 23,000 runners this year alone.
According to CNN, three people — including an 8-year-old boy — were killed, while at least 144 were hospitalized. Of those, 17 are in critical condition, 25 are in serious condition and at least eight of the patients are children. Numerous victims had to have their limbs amputated.
Police have no suspects in custody, but federal authorities are classifying it as an act of terrorism.
How about we take this to the next level?
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“We will get to the bottom of this,” President Obama said, speaking from the White House. “We will find who did this, and we will find out why they did this. Any responsible individuals, any responsible groups will feel the full weight of justice.”
In response, the WBC filled their Twitter feed with the vitriol we have all come to expect and know by now that is best to simply ignore. Just a taste of their specific brand of hate:
In light of today’s events, I must again ask: How is that fag marriage idea working out for you, America?!?! #oops! twitter.com/WBCsigns/statu…
— Westboro Baptist (@WBCSays) April 16, 2013
Meanwhile, Boston Pride chose a different route and sent a message of hope and support to those affected by the explosion:
As members of a community that loves and cherishes the city of Boston, our thoughts are with those impacted by today’s tragedy at the Boston Marathon – those who were injured or killed, the runners, the Boston Athletic Association, residents, spectators, and others. If you are looking for someone that was at the Boston Marathon you can call The Mayor’s Hotline at 617.635.4500. Also, if you saw something or have any information that could help please call the TIP LINE at 1.800.494.TIPS (8477).
Many people have opened up their homes and are offering help anyway they can, including Google, which has set up a Person Finder for those looking for or having found someone lost in the resulting confusion.
Westboro can continue their neverending diatribe against “fag marriage” but their calls fall on increasingly deaf — and frankly, fed-up — ears.
Our thoughts and prayers go out to the victims of the bombing.
Photo: Twitter user Nadia Neophytou
CleJoke
Ugh these guys again.
I was going to blame it on the NRA since the Newtown parents were at mile 26 commemorating the Sandy Hook kids. Um hey Wayne where’s the “good guy with a gun” to help in this situation.
Aaron in Honolulu
Queerty, why at a very sensitive time do you give light to the most insensitive, vile, and violently offensive group of people in the US? Who cares what they’re saying!? We already know what they are going to say! Just ignore them please.
2eo
This reeks of a white supremacist christian bombing ala Timothy Mcveigh, and not of an islamist plot.
Also, on a more detached note I hope some of the people who donated to the Boston NORAID in the past understand that this is what their money did to my fellow Brits all those years ago.
There is no reason for these horrible attacks. One death is too many, one injury is too many.
Sohobod
“Also, on a more detached note I hope some of the people who donated to the Boston NORAID in the past understand that this is what their money did to my fellow Brits all those years ago.”
I completely agree!
Dionte
How do we know westboro baptist church is not involved in these attacks? Motive?
Dakotahgeo
Westdonkey (burro) non-Baptist Cult has no more sway on the nation then Richard Nixon in the grave.
Ottoman
If the media stopped reporting on WBC they would lose all their power. Unless a congressman is found taking money from them, why do we need to know what they’re up to?
Cam
Fine, then I would respond with all of the natural disasters that have hit places like Mississippi, Kansas, Arkansas in the last few years are obviously because Gay Marriage is NOT legal there.
So there WBC…guess I showed you.
And yes, Fred Phelps is a closet case.
Charles175
Isn’t Kansas known for tornadoes? Then if one were to descend on their little church, who or what then would they blame?
tardis
Westboro church is compromised of 40 members. They’re irrelevant.
Daggerman
..well to be honest I don’t think this bombing had anything to do with ‘homosexual issues’ because an eight year old boy was killed! An eight year old! What exactly is the point of killing him?? Poor kid. Some real stupid ass’ole must have come out with this!
MuscleModelBlog.com
@Ottoman:
Exactly. WBC is just like a bully; ignore it, and it will go away.
BJ McFrisky
@MuscleModelBlog.com: Agreed.
@Ottoman: Agreed.
We need to stop giving WBC a platform to spew their venom. Why do we care what they think or tweet? It only emboldens them to do further damage.
2eo
I’m finding it incredibly odd how the right wing extremists have being so quick to swamp the media with conspiracies. With Sandy Hook it took over a week for the main conspiracy [government sponsored anti gun operation] to take root. These rumours about the government purposely planting the bombs that have saturated the media were posted on the same day.
I find this incredibly disturbing, I’m bothered at how quickly they’ve put together collage images and video clips. It’s like they were completely prepared for this.
That is scary, not in a poking fun and hoping for a reaction scary. Scary as in these people are everywhere in our countries, coordinating.
Raquel Santiago
Really? (my newest word im addicted to it) Children died in this, has nothing to do with gay marriage. This act was done by a senseless moraless person who has no respect for any life gay or straight. This marathon was partially an event to fundraise. Right on que their mouths overloaded their asses again.
Kini
“IT’S THE GAY PEOPLE’S FAULT!” http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-LW3oG-2Nqgo/UW1_UVS_hNI/AAAAAAAAGzw/PaHQgK7nWbE/s1600/Wifey.jpg
Annalisa
Can we quit giving these guys the press they crave???!!! If we quit talking about them, they will finally fade away into the abyss of obscurity.
Boricuaex
Honestly, does regurgitating anything Westboro Church has to say really matter anymore? Why don’t we do something really radical like ignore them?
DBBromberg
the church has been doing this kind of thing to someone,some group since the beginning any lie any opportunity to promote their beliefs, stand, issue etc,. politicians do it all the time were do you think they learned to do so?
Back in days of old when the viking attacked they went to the church because they knew that is where the wealth was, that the church had already stolen, taken etc anything of value from the people so they just went to the churches for plunder. The church in response blamed the people saying that they ahd lied or withheld money valuables etc from the church, from God and that the viking were punishment sent by god for their actions.
Yes conspiracy this smells of another false flag event the damage and lose of life could have been much worse and gives the air of being measured. The use of false flag events is not something new has been being done by governement all over the world for a long time. 911 was a false flag event if you watch the evidence with a open mind you will see it and know it to be true.
Gearge Bernard Shaw said “Patriotism is the conviction that your country is superior to all the other countries because you were born in it”
Victor_in_PA
These are the most vile people on the face of the planet. They deserve nothing but what they put out in return 10 fold.
queerty1958
Of course they blame gay marriage. Because they have nothing better to do with their pitiful little brain-dead lives.
queerty1958
They’re probably saying that to shift the focus away from themselves. Would that mean they would do such a thing for there God? Hmmm….
2eo
Can I distance myself from this piddling halfwit @DBBromberg please, he in no way supports my point and is an idiot and conspiracy mentalist.
Dakotahgeo
@Kini: (How did a picture of Phreddy and his daughter, Shirley, get in here??? I’m furious!)
Dakotahgeo
@2eo: I’ve heard that to ignore a person or his comment works quite efficiently.
irishbanshee315
westboro are you sure it was not you behind this, after all you are the biggest bigots against same sex marriage. Did your group stage this as you seem to be the most focal bigoted group right now. I say the FBI should look into any connections you may of had with this
Mike
The CIA and Homeland Security need to make a very close inspection of senior officials with Westboro Baptist to determine if these kooks didn’t stage this terrible act of terrorism to further their personal agenda.
Yiannis
@2eo: “Scary as in these people are everywhere in our countries, coordinating.” They are plotting and coordinating in their secret societies. They will do anything to fight progress and the recent domino crisis in European economy is part of the plan. They learned their lesson well from the only time they showed weakness, in the late 60’s and 70’s. (Hippie movement and anti-war protesting, Watergate and Nixon resigning, French May of 1968, feminism, black liberation and gay liberation movement). They broke the hippies with heroin, they broke us with AIDS, they killed MLK, they broke the unions with Thatcher and they nurtured the Islamic fundamentalists who have now become their mortal enemy (or have they?)
I wonder if we, the progress-loving people, whose only god is common sense and common decency, have a way to fight back?
hotshot70
can we just have the security that is supposed to protect them while they protest “take a LONG break”? I’m sure others would be sure they are safe. I’ll send my Rainbow Warriors and my drag family out there to make sure they stay “cozy”
2eo
I, along with everyone here who isn’t a pissing nutbar extends their thanks to the group that have taken many website names out of circulation relating to this horrible event to keep them out of the hands of the extreme right wing gun maniacs.
Your quick work has saved a lot of grief from the rights lies and hate of the good people in America.
film@11
WBC has struck another all time low. Please do whatever you can to voice your opinion on other blogs, sign petitions on change.org preventing WBC from protesting at funerals, whatever it takes to stop these hatemongers once and for all. I just created a page on FB that hopefully in time will grow, please feel free to add to it. https://www.facebook.com/WBCmembersSeeTheLight
DOFEK
The final solution for the “Westboro Baptist Church” members IS! be exterminated in concentration camps! leave it to us we know all about gassss. AdamHomo
EGO
Hey, if we are stupid like the “Westboro Baptist Church” congregation we can say the “Westboro Baptist Church” did it, let’s bomb them! Really! Gays are the problem? Get a life.
I find the bomber(s) of the Boston Marathon the most cowardly as this event is not a political or religious event. It is an international pride event where people meet to participate in a race and to support each other and there is no evil intent.
The Boston Marathon is on Patriot’s Day and celebrates what Americans fought for, freedom and the pursuit of happiness i.e. the American Dream.
tdx3fan
Someone please tell me why they are allowed to have a Twitter account. I do not normally promote censorship, but there is no way that any organization should be allowed to use social media of any type to simply spread hate!
2eo
@tdx3fan: If they were an islamic group they’d have being banned a long time ago.
It sadly is because they’re white and christian.
Bulls Eye
God sent bombs to punish gays by killing an 8yr old child?
But who was God punishing by making Fred Phelps gay?
Bulls Eye
@tardis: they’re also in-bred.
heydavis
Christian? Not in my book! Not the Westboro scum!
The irony is that if there actually is a Hell about which they constantly preach,
it no doubt already has a particularly deep and excruciating fiery pit awaiting them