Fred Phelps / Phelps Family / Westboro Baptist [mega-merged]

[xbuzzerx]

Re: Almost 250K people sign petition to have Westboro Baptist Church legally recognised as a hate group

So, with all that in mind, do you believe they'll actually take a stand on something that is such a political/religious hotbed of clusterfuck?

I mean, beer brewing (very nice) and not using monkeys to test shit (very ethical) is one thing, but this hot mess?

As you said, when it comes to something with any real substance, the government seem to be a bit more "stand off", what makes people think they won't do the same here?

Your question kinda implies that people are evenly divided on hating/loving the Westboro Baptists... most sane people are pretty disgusted with their hate rhetoric spewed in inappropriate places like soldier funerals.

 

[LaughOutLoud]

Re: Almost 250K people sign petition to have Westboro Baptist Church legally recognised as a hate group

Your question kinda implies that people are evenly divided on hating/loving the Westboro Baptists... most sane people are pretty disgusted with their hate rhetoric spewed in inappropriate places like soldier funerals.

No no, not at all. I'm just amazed it has taken so long for the government to do anything about it (if they actually do).

One can't help but think there must be some reason behind them lasting so long, given their fame/notoriety.

 

[IAMTHATIAM]

Re: Almost 250K people sign petition to have Westboro Baptist Church legally recognised as a hate group

Sorry I didn't read all the post, so KNOW it's been said countless time, but I share in this...


THEY exemplify the TRUTH of the HORROR created, perpetuated and reinforced by organized religion.

They do one thing best... show other some-what minded Christians what HORRIBLE HUMAN BEINGS THEY TRULY ARE.

They do humanity a service in this.

Christianity has killed enough loved, lovable, beautiful human beings.

It is the last gasp.


There are other religions, but at least for some Westboro Baptist is the LAST CALL for madness, HATE, HORROR, DESTRUCTION.

 

[zoltanspawn]

Re: Almost 250K people sign petition to have Westboro Baptist Church legally recognised as a hate group

Why shouldn't non US citizens vote? WBC came over to the UK and tried to cause trouble before being thrown out

Indeed. The US isn't the only country in the world to suffer their hatred. Their cancer spreads far beyond the borders of their country.

The proper forum for popular international legislation is the United Nations. If the petition were located there then I think I would welcome open signatures.

But I'm reasonably content with the idea that the citizens and natives of a nation should determine the laws therein, and not foreigners.

If you believe that all nations should enjoy petitioners from all other nations, then I hope you'll be equally happy, for example, entertaining the notions of the NRA regarding Canadian gun laws and Saudis regarding the UK's civil rights' laws.

Have either of you successfully signed the petition at the White House?

 

[gsdx]

Re: Almost 250K people sign petition to have Westboro Baptist Church legally recognised as a hate group

They do one thing best... show other some-what minded Christians what HORRIBLE HUMAN BEINGS THEY TRULY ARE.

But the do it at the expense of thousands of innocent people. They hide behind several amendments to promote their hatred. Just like the KKK and the Neo-Nazis, they use religion as the basis of their organizations and they hide behind it and do what they do because the Constitution says they can.

The WBC is not a church. It pretends that it is so they don't have to pay taxes, and the money they save in taxes goes to paying their members to travel around the US and even to other countries to promote their hatred.

It needs to change.

 

[KaraBulut]

Re: Almost 250K people sign petition to have Westboro Baptist Church legally recognised as a hate group

So, with all that in mind, do you believe they'll actually take a stand on something that is such a political/religious hotbed of clusterfuck?

They already have taken a stand- sadly not over the "God Hates Fags" shit but instead when WBC started picketing at soldier's funerals. Picketing at funerals with signs that imply that soldiers deserved to die is what it took to get the government to intercede.

The irony is that the same First Amendment that allows for citizens to petition the government also prevents the government from restricting the practice of religion or free speech. Fred Phelps was an attorney at one time (I believe he was disbarred). The Phelps family has 13 children, almost all of them are attorneys, so these legal challenges don't cost them a lot of money since the family is represented by their own family members which keeps legal costs very low.

The Phelps family has been threatening more protests than they actually perform. And their "protests" seem to be 3-10 people. I don't think I've seen an interview with Fred Phelps in a while. Phelps is in his 80s. Probably this will end when he dies.

 

[Spiff]

Re: Almost 250K people sign petition to have Westboro Baptist Church legally recognised as a hate group

I didn't know that The White House was in the business of officially identifying hate groups. Nonetheless, it doesn't take a petition for the people to realize WBC is filth.

 

[LaughOutLoud]

Re: Almost 250K people sign petition to have Westboro Baptist Church legally recognised as a hate group

They already have taken a stand- sadly not over the "God Hates Fags" shit but instead when WBC started picketing at soldier's funerals. Picketing at funerals with signs that imply that soldiers deserved to die is what it took to get the government to intercede.

The irony is that the same First Amendment that allows for citizens to petition the government also prevents the government from restricting the practice of religion or free speech. Fred Phelps was an attorney at one time (I believe he was disbarred). The Phelps family has 13 children, almost all of them are attorneys, so these legal challenges don't cost them a lot of money since the family is represented by their own family members which keeps legal costs very low.

The Phelps family has been threatening more protests than they actually perform. And their "protests" seem to be 3-10 people. I don't think I've seen an interview with Fred Phelps in a while. Phelps is in his 80s. Probably this will end when he dies.

Thanks for that

Yeah, from what I've seen, it does seem to be Fred that controls them all. One documentary maker spoke to family members that had chosen to leave and not be part of it, and Fred pretty much cut them off from contacting any of the rest of the family. Guy's a nutter.

Anyway, I guess all we can do now is sit back and see what (if anything) the government does off the back of these petitions.

 

[gsdx]

Re: Almost 250K people sign petition to have Westboro Baptist Church legally recognised as a hate group

I didn't know that The White House was in the business of officially identifying hate groups.

They do, I suppose, when the group hides behind the guise of a church and, therefore, doesn't pay taxes.

 

[USEDCAR]

Re: Almost 250K people sign petition to have Westboro Baptist Church legally recognised as a hate group

Come to find out Westboro Church is coming to my town to protest a funeral from a guy i went to High School with..

 

[zoltanspawn]

Shirley Phelps' gay friend

God Hates Fags, but Shirley Phelps doesn't! (2:40)

Outfitted in all the accoutrements of hate, Phelps is convincingly nice to her gay friend.



Is she the mouthpiece of a god whose malice she herself doesn't feel?

 

[youfiad]

Re: Shirley Phelps' gay friend

I actually have nothing against the Westboro Baptist Church.

 

[PreTTy PeTe]

Re: Shirley Phelps' gay friend

Don't know which one's more repulsive.

True both are media hounds and disgusting.

 

[eastofeden]

Re: Shirley Phelps' gay friend

Shirley is mentally ill. I help out a (formerly thanks to me) homeless guy who is now dying a horrible death who sounds alot like Shirley Phelps. I recognize he is mentally ill and I remind him often that he has been brainwashed. Funny...now that he has stage four cancer...a pee bag that he doesn't change that makes him smell really foul...under 110 pounds with a broken collarbone and shoulder as he fell down off his bike because he had a heart attack while riding and had to be helicoptered off to the hospital....

...none of his good Christian buds are around...they all abandoned him when it wasn't convenient for them to give a damn...I remind him often that I am the only one who actually practices what they all preach. I also tell him that when he dies to have an apology ready for God for daring to speak on her behalf

 

[FPNY]

Guy buys house across from Westboro and is rainbow painting it.....

Westboro Neighbor Makes Bold Move


This is so cool.

 

[jensu846]

Re: Guy buys house across from Westboro and is rainbow painting it.....

awesome! just hope he has video cameras on 24/7 cuz I wouldnt be surprised if they tried some of their sick shit or try to burn down the house by some "accident" . WBC is just too crazy. It takes some serious balls to live in their turf. But good for him!

 

[bankside]

Re: Guy buys house across from Westboro and is rainbow painting it.....

Yes; excellent news….I still want those guys picketing my funeral.

 

[loveguys72]

Re: Guy buys house across from Westboro and is rainbow painting it.....

I feel divided. It's really cool, but it gives the wignuts publicity. I do think it's pretty, though.

 

[Kahaih]

Re: Guy buys house across from Westboro and is rainbow painting it.....

I feel divided. It's really cool, but it gives the wignuts publicity. I do think it's pretty, though.

Ya, there's that.

And, too, it would be better if it wasn't such an ugly, run down, hodge-podged/eclecticuted old house.

The driveway is crumbing, and so is the chimney. And, those shabby aluminum storm windows - ick - do something.

And for crying out loud, at least get out a lawn rake before the next camera crew shows up.

 

[HunterM]

Re: Guy buys house across from Westboro and is rainbow painting it.....

^ That's usually how a run down neighborhood gets transformed into a gay neighborhood. When more gays move in to clean it up, property value increases.