Tragedy in Omaha; protests at funeral

Jet · 01-08-2011, 03:02 PM

WTF is up with protests at funerals? A friend sent me this story because I lived in Omaha and went to high school there. I didn't attend Millard South, but I knew people who did. Reading about how cruel and fucking rude people can be blows me away as you'll read towards the end of this story.

Tragedy in Omaha; protests at funeral

By NANCY HICKS / Lincoln Journal Star

Friends and family of Robert Butler Jr. filled the Southwood Lutheran Church sanctuary to mourn the young man and the tragedy that ended two lives this past week.

Pastor Greg Olson offered a quiet celebration of Butler's life while acknowledging the terrible decision Butler made during a period of despair.
"He did something that no one should do," Olson said during the service Saturday morning.

On Wednesday, Butler, 17, shot the principal and the vice principal of Millard South High School, where he was a student. Vice Principal Vicki Kaspar died from the wounds. And Butler took his own life.

Outside the sanctuary, the family set up a table with pictures of young Robert, growing up, with friends and family. Olson remembered the boy with the impish smile who wanted to go into law enforcement, who had many friends, who always had his hand up during confirmation class.

Butler attended Sheridan Elementary School, Scott Middle School and Lincoln Southwest High School and was a member of the church and its youth group.
Olson asked friends and members of the Southwood church to comfort Butler's family and friends while also remembering the others whose lives were changed by Butler's decision: the assistant principal who died; Principal Curtis Case, who is still recuperating; and the students at two schools -- Millard South, where the shooting occurred, and Lincoln's Southwest, where Butler was a student until this fall.

We will probably never know why Robert made the decisions he did, said Olson. Robert was in despair, without hope, the pastor said.
He turned inward; he isolated himself. He turned off his phone. He did not reach out for help, Olson said. And if there is any lesson to be learned from this tragedy, it is not to isolate during those times of hopelessness, he said.

The pastor spoke particularly to the many young people at the service, asking them to turn to others they trust if they ever get to that place of hopelessness and despair.Olson also said that a God of love can "heal the hurt" of Butler's friends and family and of those who know and care about Case and Kaspar.

In the prayer that followed the funeral message, Pastor Sara Spohr said:
"Lord God, we are full of questions, saddened beyond belief, and searching for some kind of answer. We pray for your peace to rest upon all those affected by this senseless tragedy."

Olson also briefly acknowledged the half dozen protesters from the Topeka, Kan., Westboro Baptist Church who held hateful signs at an intersection north of the church before the service and whose news release announcing the protest closed with "Thank God for more dead Nebraskans."

Those who mourn Butler can become either "bitter or better," Olson said.
Those protesters are bitter. But those who knew Butler can choose to be better, he said.

Police had an overt presence outside the funeral, with police cars parked near the protesters and near a small counter protest nearby.
This was a large funeral, and the police always have some type of presence when there are protests and counter protests, said Lincoln Police Capt. Joseph Wright.

Dutch Leonard · 01-08-2011, 06:49 PM

F**cking Westboro. There has to be a special place in Hell for them.

"They will know we are Christians by our Love"- not those guys.

waxnrope · 01-08-2011, 06:54 PM

What a terrible thing. I am confused by the protest. Is there something that I'm missing?

Linus · 01-08-2011, 06:57 PM

This is the Phelps gang. They've been protesting funerals of soldiers killed in Iraq and claiming that they died because the US has homosexuals. Various biker groups will often protect the funerals against them but they don't get everywhere.

Welcome to freedom of speech.

lipstixgal · 01-08-2011, 07:04 PM

Yeah Fred Phelps they are awful they protest everywhere. When I lived in KC MO they protested all the time there because of gays and lesbians and everybody really, its a real shame...

Gemme · 01-08-2011, 08:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by waxnrope

What a terrible thing. I am confused by the protest. Is there something that I'm missing?

I get what you are saying, wax. Though Phelps is a class A boil on the butt of mankind, I still am not exactly sure why they would be protesting the funeral of a teenage boy who killed a Vice Principal and shot the Principal. Is it a race thing for them? Agism? Guns? Or are they showing up at any and all funerals now?

I do my best to not follow the news on this group, as my head would surely explode, so pardon my igrorance if I have missed a very clear point here, other than the travesty of losing such a young life and someone who opted to help children mold their futures. All I see is a very sad situation.

01-08-2011, 03:02 PM	#1
Jet Timed Out - TOS Drama How Do You Identify?: .. Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: .. Posts: 3,471 My Photo Gallery Thanks: 292 Thanked 2,647 Times in 1,293 Posts Rep Power: 0	Tragedy in Omaha; protests at funeral WTF is up with protests at funerals? A friend sent me this story because I lived in Omaha and went to high school there. I didn't attend Millard South, but I knew people who did. Reading about how cruel and fucking rude people can be blows me away as you'll read towards the end of this story. Tragedy in Omaha; protests at funeral By NANCY HICKS / Lincoln Journal Star Friends and family of Robert Butler Jr. filled the Southwood Lutheran Church sanctuary to mourn the young man and the tragedy that ended two lives this past week. Pastor Greg Olson offered a quiet celebration of Butler's life while acknowledging the terrible decision Butler made during a period of despair. "He did something that no one should do," Olson said during the service Saturday morning. On Wednesday, Butler, 17, shot the principal and the vice principal of Millard South High School, where he was a student. Vice Principal Vicki Kaspar died from the wounds. And Butler took his own life. Outside the sanctuary, the family set up a table with pictures of young Robert, growing up, with friends and family. Olson remembered the boy with the impish smile who wanted to go into law enforcement, who had many friends, who always had his hand up during confirmation class. Butler attended Sheridan Elementary School, Scott Middle School and Lincoln Southwest High School and was a member of the church and its youth group. Olson asked friends and members of the Southwood church to comfort Butler's family and friends while also remembering the others whose lives were changed by Butler's decision: the assistant principal who died; Principal Curtis Case, who is still recuperating; and the students at two schools -- Millard South, where the shooting occurred, and Lincoln's Southwest, where Butler was a student until this fall. We will probably never know why Robert made the decisions he did, said Olson. Robert was in despair, without hope, the pastor said. He turned inward; he isolated himself. He turned off his phone. He did not reach out for help, Olson said. And if there is any lesson to be learned from this tragedy, it is not to isolate during those times of hopelessness, he said. The pastor spoke particularly to the many young people at the service, asking them to turn to others they trust if they ever get to that place of hopelessness and despair.Olson also said that a God of love can "heal the hurt" of Butler's friends and family and of those who know and care about Case and Kaspar. In the prayer that followed the funeral message, Pastor Sara Spohr said: "Lord God, we are full of questions, saddened beyond belief, and searching for some kind of answer. We pray for your peace to rest upon all those affected by this senseless tragedy." Olson also briefly acknowledged the half dozen protesters from the Topeka, Kan., Westboro Baptist Church who held hateful signs at an intersection north of the church before the service and whose news release announcing the protest closed with "Thank God for more dead Nebraskans." Those who mourn Butler can become either "bitter or better," Olson said. Those protesters are bitter. But those who knew Butler can choose to be better, he said. Police had an overt presence outside the funeral, with police cars parked near the protesters and near a small counter protest nearby. This was a large funeral, and the police always have some type of presence when there are protests and counter protests, said Lincoln Police Capt. Joseph Wright. Last edited by Jet; 01-08-2011 at 03:06 PM.

01-08-2011, 06:57 PM	#4
Linus The Planet's Technical Bubba How Do You Identify?: FTM Preferred Pronoun?: He/Him/Geek Relationship Status: Married to my forever! Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: Redondo Beach, CA Posts: 5,440 My Photo Gallery Thanks: 2,929 Thanked 10,727 Times in 3,172 Posts Rep Power: 21474857	This is the Phelps gang. They've been protesting funerals of soldiers killed in Iraq and claiming that they died because the US has homosexuals. Various biker groups will often protect the funerals against them but they don't get everywhere. Welcome to freedom of speech. __________________ Personal Blog \|\| [] \|\| Cigar Blog "We become Human Doings instead of Human Beings." -- Ram Dass

01-08-2011, 07:04 PM	#5
lipstixgal Senior Member How Do You Identify?: femme Preferred Pronoun?: She Relationship Status: coupled Join Date: Feb 2010 Location: New Jersey Posts: 3,028 My Photo Gallery Thanks: 201 Thanked 1,690 Times in 1,064 Posts Rep Power: 1494761	Yeah Fred Phelps they are awful they protest everywhere. When I lived in KC MO they protested all the time there because of gays and lesbians and everybody really, its a real shame... __________________ Gail

01-08-2011, 06:49 PM	#2
Dutch Leonard Member How Do You Identify?: Stone Butch Tournaments Won: 7 Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: East of the Rockies Posts: 291 My Photo Gallery Thanks: 1,901 Thanked 389 Times in 120 Posts Rep Power: 4100778	F**cking Westboro. There has to be a special place in Hell for them. "They will know we are Christians by our Love"- not those guys.

01-08-2011, 06:54 PM	#3
waxnrope Timed Out How Do You Identify?: Permanently Banned 5/27/2011 Preferred Pronoun?: hy ho, hy ho; he, she, it, whatever Relationship Status: Going slow ... Join Date: Apr 2010 Location: in her orifices ... la frontera Posts: 1,433 My Photo Gallery Thanks: 6,414 Thanked 2,957 Times in 952 Posts Rep Power: 0	What a terrible thing. I am confused by the protest. Is there something that I'm missing?