God hates Westboro.

Okay, so I don't believe in God, so I can't actually claim he hates the Westboro Baptist Church, but I fail to see how any God could condone the kind of ignorant, hateful and hurtful message this church adheres to.



Last night I watched "Louis Theroux's Most Hated Family in America" and in the documentary, he spent three weeks living with the Phelps family. It really showed how demented their thinking is and only served to confirm my abhorrence for everything they stand for. However, it also showed how manipulated and brainwashed their children are and left me feeling sorry for these kids as well as everyone else the church targets. In this show, some were too young to understand the signs they are holding up but will no doubt continue to be indoctrinated as they grow up.

The funeral picketing they carry out is truly despicable and I can only imagine the horrible effect it must have on grieving families. In fact, just writing about Westboro makes me mad, as I question whether it is better to just ignore their existence all together. But in the end, this kind of hate-mongering needs to be talked about.

Today is the memorial of Ronnie James Dio, a truly great man who is known for his kindness and generosity. Not only is his impact and influence on heavy metal music arguably unmatched, but on a more personal level, I grew up listening to "Love Is All" on my parent's record player and it is still one of my all-time favourite songs.

Westboro church has stated they will picket the memorial of this "satan-worshipper" in an effort to reach out to the "heavy metal sycophants". I cannot imagine anything more hurtful to his grieving family and the millions of fans who hold Dio in the highest respect than to have to deal with these clowns on such an important day.

The response from Wendy Dio (Ronnie's wife) to Westboro is remarkable in its restraint and demonstrates how forgiving and loving people can choose to act in the face of such hate...

"Ronnie hates prejudice and violence! We need to turn the other cheek on these people that only know how to hate someone they didn't know. We only know how to love someone we know!"

I hope Dio's memorial goes well today and I hope that Westboro stays the hell away. This whole situation has made me want to do something to show my support of Dio's beliefs as well as a fuck you to Westboro and this morning I donated to the Ronnie James Dio Stand Up and Shout Cancer Fund. It wasn't much (may have been about the same amount I found at the cinemas...) but every little bit helps and I hope that in some small way, it contributes to all the good things in this world.

And if I ever see the Westboro church in my life, I will raise the devil horns in their face and feel sorry for their miserable lives.

All you need is love and understanding...