Hello internet, long time no see. I have been thinking about you, just haven’t really had anything amazing to write about, you know, like all my other blog post type of amazing. So, I have something that I wanted to write about but I wasn’t sure how. You see, my husband has a cousin that he both admires and envies (you know you do) because he is a top sniper for the Army Rangers. He gets to shoot big guns and jump out of airplanes, not sure what he see’s in it but I know he would love to live a day in his shoes. Tragically and to the complete shock of everyone, 23 year old Tyler Juden was killed in combat in Afghanistan on Saturday, September 12th.
Unfortunately I never got to know him as well as I know his parents and sister, but it’s apparent from his facebook page that he had many many friends and was well liked by everyone. It’s truly sad, as are all deaths as a result of this seemingly never ending war. Young people sacrificing their futures and lives and families in the name of freedom for another country.
So, we will are preparing ourselves to drive to Kansas for his funeral. We don’t have the details yet on when it will be but we are assuming Monday. Something disturbing I’ve learned about military funerals is that there is a religious group that travels the country to protest them. They are based out of Kansas, so Tyler’s funeral should be quite convenient for them. At first I assumed they were protesting the war, and I can obviously relate because I wish they would have pulled out of the middle east a long time ago, but seriously? You have to protest at a funeral? Then I decided to do some research on it today and found out the real reason they visually and vocally harass mourners. They claim that it is God’s will that our military men and women die in retribution for the acceptance of homosexuals in the military. AREYOUFUCKINGKIDDINGME?!? Let me get this straight, men and women dying in Iraq and Afghanistan are doing so because God hates homosexuals? And they have to share that with everyone at a funeral? This is one of thee most ridiculous things I have EVER heard, PERIOD. I understand that there are a lot of brainwashed people out there that still think that you have a choice to be gay or not and that those millions of people will go to hell for loving someone of the same sex. Shoot, there are a lot of people out there that still think segregation laws should be in effect, so you can expect homosexuality to catch a lot of hell for a long time to come. But this is beyond comprehension for me. Why don’t you protest at gay clubs and parades? Ugh, it’s beyond explainable. My husband and his family are royally P.O.’d about the prospect of seeing protesters at the funeral, enough so that I fear for the protester’s safety (not really, but I don’t want to have to bail anyone out of jail). My whole view on it is, you know what? If they wanna piss me off, I’m gonna piss them off right back at me. Here’s my plan:
YES!! I would totally love to make signs that say things like “I love Ellen DeGeneres” and “Pro-Gay Marriage” and “Hell sounds like more fun than a Baptist Church” (the protest group is baptist) and of course like my man above “Homo Sex is GREAT!”. Would that not be the most hilarious thing? I mean if you wanna make the best out of the situation, make people laugh. I’m a lover not a fighter.
As I have many military folks in the fam, I was extremely saddened to hear of your and our loss. Great men and women die every day in pursuit of this great country’s beliefs, and then you get jackasses (To quote Obama) like that who protest? Seriously? I almost pray that they have gay children… You should make the queer nation sign “We’re here, we’re queer, get used to it.” or this one’s pretty funny…. “You don’t have to be straight to be in the military; you just have to be able to shoot straight.” ~Barry Goldwater or this is my personal favorite… “War. Rape. Murder. Poverty. Equal rights for gays. Guess which one the Southern Baptist Convention is protesting?” ~The Value of Families
You have to take pics if you make a good sign! My heart is going with you and yours to the funeral. May you all find the peace in your hearts that he’s in a better place now.
Well said my dear …well said!!
You have it right, God is love. And they are the ones that will ultimately have to suffer for what they are doing. Honestly the best thing to do would be to simply say “I forgive you” and walk away. God will handle the rest.
Sarah:
My son served with Tyler in Afghanistan. What a tragic loss! Our prayers go with the family during this time of sorrow. My brother is part of the Patriot Guard in Utah. As you may or may not know, they can be called upon to help “alleviate” the strain caused by protesters. No family should ever have to bury their loved one with people protesting in the wings so to speak. I’m sure you could find the local chapter that would be happy to assist. Isn’t it ironic that Tyler lost his life fighting religious zealots only to have the prospect of another set of “religious zealots” protesting at his service. One thing to keep in mind……he gave his life so that ignorant people have the freedoms they enjoy. Including their freedom of speech. I read a quote the other day I found most compelling. “Serve your country, before you exploit it!” God bless.
I stumbled across this in search for more information on if Fred and his gang were actually going to be on campus tomorrow, and I’m in awe of what you had to say. Way to tell it! :] I plan to make a sign as well if that’s what they’re doing.
[...] Read Sarah’s complete post here [...]
To Whom It May Concern,
I’m a documentarian, making a film on homosexuality and christianity, and I was kind of hoping that you might let me use the “Homo sex is great” picture in my movie, let me know…
Joe
Actually, I didn’t take the picture. I ran across it on google images, I don’t remember the keyword I searched. Maybe “funeral protest” or something along those lines. Good luck!
hey fine little blog site ya have here
I am using the same theme on mine although for whatever silly reason it looks to reload more rapidly on this website despite the fact that your own includes much more multimedia. Are you currently implementing any specific plug ins or widgets which will speed it up? Do you think you might be able to have the widgets so that I would be able to use them in my own website so twilight breaking dawn supporters could watch twilight eclipse online trailers and videos more quickly I would be happy – thank you ahead of time 
I’m not using anything special on my website. I was using WP Super Cache for a while but haven’t been for a bit. It could be your internet host. I’m using BlueHost.com to host my website. Good luck!
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Thats some quality fundamentals there, already knew some of that, but you can always learn . I doubt a “kid” could put together such information as dolphin278 suggested. Maybe he’s just trying to be “controversial? lol
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