Bardstown Fire

You probably heard about the fire Tuesday morning in Bardstown, KY, that killed 10 people, 6 of whom were children. It's the largest fire in Kentucky in many, many years, and a tragedy any way you look at it. We were actually supposed to have a lunchtime talk on forensics on Tuesday by the state's chief medical examiner, but it was called off because she was called to the scene of the fire instead.

Anyway, the fire gained even more notoriety in the last few days when it was discovered the Westboro Baptist Church planned to protest at the funeral today. You may have heard of the Westboro Baptist Church, from Topeka, Kan. -- they're the people who believe that soldiers' deaths in Iraq, and this family's deaths in Bardstown, are God's punishment for the fact that we as a nation condone homosexuality. Their behavior is quite disgusting, if you ask me.

They've protested all over the place, causing states to enact laws prohibiting "peaceful" funeral protests, but those laws were ruled by a federal judge to be un-enforceable. On Thursday, Kentucky's attorney general told the group that a Kentucky law "doesn't allow anyone to block access to a funeral, engage in violent or threatening behavior, make unreasonable noise or create a hazardous or offensive condition within 300 feet of a funeral home, memorial service or cemetery during a funeral or burial." Needless to say, the family and community were pissed.

Well, Thursday night, Mo, a DJ for the local rock radio station, WLRS, called up the group and cut a deal: He would give them an hour of airtime on his afternoon show if they agreed not to go to the funeral. They agreed. So yesterday, Mo talked to Shirley Phelps-Roper, daughter of the Westboro pastor, for one hour. Mo said he invited them on the air to "spout out their insane propaganda so the family and community in Bardstown could mourn in peace." I listened to part of the interview, but it got too revolting, so I had to stop. All I can say is, I'm EXTREMELY impressed with Mo. He kept relatively calm, considering the nonsense he was listening to, and did an amazing thing to allow the funeral to proceed in peace. VERY impressive.

Mo's interview with Shirley Phelps-Roper (scroll down a little)
C-J story about the fire
C-J story about Westboro planning to protest
C-J story about Stumbo warning the protesters
C-J story about Mo / WLRS deal