Eeee gads. Sick. The Screen Actors Guild should gather as many out of work
actors as they can get and stage a memorial. Let them picket that. Then in
a
private, unannounced location they can have the real memorial.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/22813570/?GT1=10755
Church plans to protest Ledger's memorial
Actor's role in 'Brokeback' calls 'God a liar,' radical group claims
By Courtney Hazlett
The Scoop
updated 12:00 a.m. ET, Thurs., Jan. 24, 2008
The radical Baptist church known for picketing the funerals of American
soldiers who lost their lives in Iraq has announced that they intend to
protest Heath Ledger's stateside memorial service because he played a gay
character in "Brokeback Mountain."
"You cannot live in defiance of God. He (Ledger) got on that big screen
with
a big, fat message: God is a liar and it's OK to be gay," said Shirley
Phelps in a statement sent out by the Topeka, Kan.-based Westboro Baptist
Church.
The only compelling reason to ignore Westboro Baptist's reprehensible
intentions is that highlighting the vast inappropriateness of their
thoughts
and actions only brings the church more publicity. However, if the members
of Westboro Baptist get to speak their minds, every individual who feels
that this is an affront to most basic standards of human ethics should be
able to as well.
"Wow, that should make his family feel great," one person close to Ledger
said angrily in response to the announcement. "I seriously don't
understand
what is wrong with people. This is the last thing his family needs."
The Gay and Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation (GLAAD) told me, "We
sincerely hope that Heath Ledger is laid to rest and his family is allowed
to grieve in a private and peaceful ceremony."
On Jan. 22, GLAAD said that "Heath Ledger will forever be remembered for
his
groundbreaking role as Ennis del Mar in 'Brokeback Mountain.' His powerful
portrayal changed hearts and minds in immeasurable ways." Those close to
Ledger agree. But moreover, those close to him want Ledger to be
remembered
as a man who loved his family and appreciated the career he'd had.
To be fair, the people of the Westboro Baptist Church aren't the only ones
displaying poor taste. Fox News' John Gibson on Jan. 22 opened his radio
show with funeral music and mocked a signature line from "Brokeback,"
saying, "Well, he found out how to quit you." (When Gibson was contacted
to
explain his comments, he declined.)
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