Last nite, Nov. 12, 2010 I got a phone call that citizens were needed to show up to show support for family of local Army hero (Sgt. Jason McCluskey) who was killed in the war in Afghanistan; and that the urgency was due to Westboro Baptist Church announcing that they would be invading the town to disrupt this soldiers funeral. The funeral was held today, Nov. 13, 2010 at 9:15am at the 1st Baptist Church on 1st & Washington. There were thousands of folks for 3 blocks, most of whom were carrying American Flags.
While the family were in the church for funeral service, the Westboro Baptist Church thugs showed up today on 3rd & Washington St. holding hateful signs. It appeared that there were no more than 6 of them. Most of whom were children. A portion of the citizens hurried for 2 blocks to see what was going on. The Patriot Guard & other riders surrounded the Westboro
group, as the cops & McAlester Mayor shielded them from thousands of very unset citizens. One sign in particular that upset the crowd was the sign saying: “Thank God For Dead Soldiers”. The Westboro woman removed American flag from her waist, and then stepped on it. I guess she was trying to provoke the people. Many in the crowd, including myself wanted to rescue Old Glory from the abuse of these hateful Westboro thugs. But the cops & McAlester Mayor Kevin Priddle kept telling crowd to move back. And several times, we were asked to ignore Westboro folks & turn our backs to them. I detected that the Westboro children appeared as though they were scared or rather timid.
Things got pretty heated when the crowd moved in closer, as some folks were planning to break thru to grab Old Glory from under the Westboro woman’s feet. But cops again made us all move back.
Where the Westboro thugs were situated was on side of the St. Johns Catholic Church. Someone in the crowd said that the catholic priest came out and that it appeared as though he was sprinkling holy water on the Westboro folks. Though, I did not witness this, but I will see if I can find video evidence.
As the crowd got anxious, the Westboro folks starting leaving. The crowd then proceeded after them to make sure they were leaving town. Westboro members dashed to their vehicle, but both tires were flat. The cops did not give them a ride, so they fled on 2 flat tires.
ArleneArmy 
Arlene, Thank you for posting this hypocrisy.
Take care of yourself.
Liberty
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My favorite non-monent was when all of the oaprevid celebrities in the US banded together, pooled the billions of dollars they get paid annually to entertain, and bailed out the failing economy by sharing the dough with all of us little people, thus ensuring that we could still afford to watch their movies, purchase their music and support their drug habits.
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wouldnt the ppl who slashed their tires technically be the thugs rather that some ladies and children holdings soem signs. someone needs get an education. You cant just assign new meanings to words whenever it suits you!
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Your little dipshit friends were breaking some unwritten rules which have a lot more severe consequence. Thank your God he let you live one more day, because you really are pushing your luck.
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If they need an aducation, then you need spell check (soem) you D-bag
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My favorite non-moment was in early June when I tuohght I had the flu and turned out to be exactly right. I took a couple of days off work and then returned as healthy as ever. Even now I can toss a buick over a brick wall instead of reminding myself I have to use my strong hand if I want to open that Coke.
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Superb information here, ol’e chap; keep burning the midnight oil.
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Your right someone does need to get an education. Because they can’t even spell the word “SOME”. And they deserve far worse than what they got. So unless you have something to tell the folks in Oklahoma and the troops they are protecting, be a man and show up. Unlike these people who only sent their women and children.
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It serves those misguided clowns right to have 2 flat tires on their car; too bad all 4 weren’t flattened…but that’s another sticky issue. Those foolish hate mongers should be glad that the funeral goers took the high road. Pastor Fred is a demon possessed “wolf in sheep’s clothing”, and is under a Satanic delusion.
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Myfox,
I see those westboro folks as terrorist. Its like they deliberately sought to harm us in Oklahoma. Causing distress on the family of the soldier at the funeral & the citenzery in our time of mourning. We have been victimized.
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Amen Arlenearmy. The family as well as your community are victims. It just makes me sick when crappy people like that use their rights against a soldier who willing died for their rights.
It is a shame. Great post girl.
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Tony
For all we know, the Westboro folks probably slashed their own tires. Remember, the cops were the body barrier between the towns people & the westboro agitators.
I also noticed that one of the westboro folks (probably a woman) kept disappearing to the rear. I wonder where she went.
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I was there to honor and protect the family from this hateful group. As disgusting as this group is I was disappointed that the crowd did not follow the Patriot Guard and turn their backs on them. Instead it turned into a circus atmosphere with screaming back and forth which I don’t believe any mourning family would want. Thankfully the Patriot Guard gunned their bikes until the noise was drowned out. Please understand that businesses that refuse to serve them and acts of vandalism will be seen by their group as winning as they will be sued and probably put out of business. This happened to a friend of mine. They got exactly the response they wanted.
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Well, Judy .. I was one of those people who at 1st complied by turning my back & then turned back around. To me it was a natural reaction considering the situation. My whole hearted instinct was to take a stand for what was right. I even tried to convince myself that I could talk some sense into Westboro … such as to let me have the flag that they mistreated. I am not used to dealing with the sort of species that we encountered on 3rd & Washington. It was like none like Ive seen before.
I know 1 thing, yesterday when I drove by that spot where they were standing, I got a very bad feeling. It felt like a really bad crime scene. I havent had a good night sleep since.
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Picketing the funeral of an American soldier is the action of a treasonous,dishonorable rabble. They should be forced to walk point in Hell for the rest of eternity. Salutes to you, Arlene, and the patriotic citizens of McAlester.
American Thinker on McAlester: http://www.americanthinker.com/blog/2010/11/mcalester_oklahoma_honors_its.html
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There’s many in town who are very proud that they took a stand. Even the children & other young folks felt proud. Many thanks go to Mayor Priddel who got the people together at the last minute. Had it not been for him who spearhead the round-up, many folks would not had known that Westboro was coming to do harm. Thanks also go to the Patriot Guard who served as keepers of the peace of mind.
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In the youtube video titled patriot gaurd riders at westboro, mcalester , oklahoma…. I am the biker on the left with the bandana…. and an ex army iraq afghanistan vet. my favorite part of the whole thing was when the lady complained of our exhaust bothering her children and I was told that she recieved a reply that went as such ” When you start worrying about mcalesters kid down the street in that coffin then mcalester will worry about yours”!!! priceless! thanks everyone for coming. america still lives!
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Thanks for being there, partner. Army vets are never AWOL.
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I sure can’t wait for Thanksgiving to get here. Im gonna kick back & relax and watch a wholesome movie, after cooking the food. After going thru all this, I need to be thankful that the town survive the turmoil.
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Doctors announce that oveaerting on the holidays is conducive to good health and weight loss. 6 out of 5 Doctors agree that Americans should eat more crap and consume greater amounts of alcohol before the need to return to work.They also recommend the same behavior for the College National Championship game where Oklahoma will win another National Title and again at the Superbowl. Then one more time for the inauguration party. This should set the tone for a happier, healthier 2009.
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I’m so proud to be from McAlester OK and only wish that I could have been there to stand alongside my neighbors to stand up for this soldier’s family. How hateful in your soul do you have to be to do something so heinous to a grieving family? That soldier died protecting the rights of those Westboro morons to be the morons they are and if for no other reason, at least respect the freedoms you have because of young people like him.
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I tried to look at the eyes of those Westboro folks (even though I was at a distance). I saw pure evil. On that day it was like trying to take America back.
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Good job, Arlene. And thanks for the post and pictures.
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and thank you Ruth for dropping by. Ive been trying to find my DVD movie the “Postman”. This Westboro group reminds me so much of the bad dude – Bethlehem as they ride into town to town trying to terrorize the towns people.
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I believe that free spceeh does enhance the educational experience, and does so at all levels beginning from pre-school, if it were more encouraged! I have observed that as young kids we are learned that Silence is Golden . As children our rights of spceeh are taken away in schools and in many homes. For examples, when i was in elementary school, we had a stoplight that represented; green for free talk, yellow for talk only when necessary, and red for no talking at all. I don’t remember ever seeing the light green, and seldom yellow. Even in my son’s school, during non-instructional times, I have observed that the children are still not allowed to talk in more cases than where they can. Once we get to the high school level, we are then encouraged to do more talking, but some issues still remain un-free in educational systems. Once at the college level, we can do all of the talking that we want most times.Unfortunately because spceeh is so free at this point, a person is bombarded by new ideas coming from each and every way. Usually many people will chooses or have specific beliefs, but because of the “battle-royale” bombardment from both “anti” and “pro” ideas, passions usually take over where intellect should. The restraint of free spceeh in earlier education, inhibits the lessons of intellectual free spceeh and therefore seems destroyed at the higher education levels. By encouraging children to share ideas about our world, we then also teach them how to respect others, and decipher how to use the passions they have for their beliefs in ways other than starting riots (not saying that everyone who is passionate starts a riot)! Not everyone who practices free spceeh is a non-intellectual, but in the example that you provided, I’m sure it was. As for protesting and other methods of free spceeh, they are people’s rights, in which they should not be taken. As far as Free Speech itself, we do have to remember it was based on the principle that no matter how absurd the idea, or how offensive to others, and as long as it is within restraints of the law anyone is allowed to freely express their beliefs!
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I just found out that these lunatics are coming back to McAlester. We need to pray for these people.
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I just heard that too Christopher.
Seems WBC had no legal basis for filing lawsuits which is the object of their professional trolling scam. It’s all done for money… derived from lawsuits.
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WAY TO GO MCALISTER! They are coming back on the 10th of December. I will be coming down from Tulsa to join you guys in protesting WBC. They have NO BUSINESS BEING HERE.
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Lyzander and thankyou for your fcbdeaek!!! Your points are very thought provoking. I agree that the primary educational process does appear to be designed to squelch creativity and thought as it manifests in communication ( I know I am straying from the subject a little bit ;p). Especially in public schools Children are essentially cogs in the educational machine. Education is standardized and anything outside of the powers that be’s perception of relevance is tossed aside. Children and parents are expected to conform to these notions without question then BAM as soon as you enter an institution of higher education you are expected to be able to decipher, question, and articulate LOADS of information from various different perspectives its unnerving!
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It’s a relief to find someone who can explain things so well
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These goons popped in Brooklyn, New York about a week before then ended up in McAlister about 1 1/2 miles from my home. Lucky for them it was on a weekday when most of the community was in school or at work. They interrupted a funeral at a synagogue protesting in front of the Yeshiva. They horrified the young children and darned near started a riot. It was barely containable.
These people are nuts. I get the feeling, however, that the tide is turning now they are finally getting theirs. Shame on them.
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Happy New Year to you and yours Adam, this is by far, my favorite list yet.I would like to add one for me tohguh On December 23rd after being questioned about the lack of Christmas bonuses, my boss didn’t say your bonus is the fact that you still have a job. and actually coughed up some dough.
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Good to find an expert who knows what he’s talking about!
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Just cause it’s simple doesn’t mean it’s not super helpful.
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God Bless you Arlene and your family. Have a wonderful Thanksgiving.
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Happy Thanksgiving Arlene to you and your family this day.
Peace and blessings,
Denise
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I had a rather hard time conshiog just one type of physician I would want to work for. So many of them fascinate me, and with me not really going into any medical field other than support, I never gave this any thought in the past. After reading the list, I am more favorable of working for a neonatologist. It is difficult to think about how neonatologist physicians sometimes have the most difficult job in the world, but I can only imagine how amazing it would be to be a part of saving a baby’s life. I had a coworker once whose baby was born at 36 weeks, and her baby had a lot of heart and lung problems. There were concerns about whether or not they would ever fully develop once she had him, but after many months in the NICU, and many scares that happened during it, the doctors were able to save him and he is now a very healthy 5 year old. It is because of that I have a higher interest in the neonatologist field.I hate to say which type of physician I would care less to work for, and it is because I worry that many will take it the wrong way. When I was 16, I used to help my mom at an assisted living home as a caregiver. We would get to work at 7:00 A.M. every morning to prepare breakfast for four of the elderly men and women that we were caring for. We would then make sure that all bedding was changed, rooms were cleaned, meals were prepared, and appointments were handled. We worked 12 hour days, and they were always grueling. The owner of the home made sure that everyone had their medicine and made it to their doctor appointments on time. However, she was more worried about getting paid for her services than actually helping the elderly. She would yell at them if they did something wrong, and even call them terrible names. My mom reported her and we both quit our job, but it has always left a sting in my heart since then. It is because of my experience with that situation that I do not think I could ever work for a gerontologist. I know that the situations would be much different, but ever since my experience with caring for elderly individuals it is very hard for me to think about assisting a physician in geriatrics because I worry that someone else might treat the elderly in the same way the owner of the home did. I am a firm believer that the elderly deserve the ultimate care and comfort when going through any treatment and aging in general, but I do not think I could ever work in that environment again.
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I would want to work for a general surogen or a family practitioner. My dream in to be a traveling health care provider in other countries. Working with either specialist would be amazing! Also either of these skills would be beneficial to what I will be doing overseas. A family practitioner for the wide variety of people that would need medical help. A general surogen would have a little knowledge in all of the different areas and would be more affective for my work experience.I would not want to work for a gynecologist, I delivered a baby when I was in the Philippines last year, and it was to crazy. I don’t believe that is something I would want to do every day for work. If it’s every once and awhile I’m ok with that, just not a department I would like to work in all of the time.
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Your answer was just what I needed. It’s made my day!
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I’ve been looking for a post like this forever (and a day)
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TYVM you’ve solved all my problems
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Nobody stands on our Flag !
My Father was draped in it when he passed.
You, and I will also be so adorned when we go.
God Bless America.
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Experiencing different potins of view of religion is a big part of the Public University experience. College graduates tend to be more accepting of different religions and cultures because, in their studies, they learn to work with or around a large number of people who think differently from them. In a completely different light, the Westboro Baptist Church also has the very important right to protest and express their ugly and terrible views publicly and there is no way that right can be taken away. However, I would like to see restrictions placed on protesting funerals. These situations draw up strong emotions and I feel that they COULD fall under the Fighting Words Doctrine’ as first articulated in Chaplinsky v. New Hampshire . Not allowing these groups to express their RIDICULOUS opinions and beliefs would be an egregious imposition on one of the most important American rights, but limitations may be fair.
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I’d venture that this article has saved me more time than any other.
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We could’ve done with that insight early on.
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Nasty bullies will get their return in the end. Thank you for posting about these creeps.
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Ms. Army I never knew you had a site, if I have your right email I’ve been sending you daily blasts this is J.C. from Dancing Czars. Feel free to drop by and take anything you like we are all in this together. I have 3 blogs, http://www.dangersofallah.com. http://www.dumptherino.com and dancing czars which has be renamed achargingelephant.com but now I’m flying as we the people. Take care I like your site, Jim OK to cross link with you? I’m at liberalsareclueless@gmail.com
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