Oh, for . . .the stupid trolls are back

[pegkerr]

The Westboro Baptist church (of www.godhatesfags.com fame) announced plans to picket the funerals of the Virginia Tech victims because:

"God is punishing America for her sodomite sins. The 33 massacred at Virginia Tech died for America's sins against WBC (Westboro Baptist Church). Just as U.S. soldiers dying in Iraq each day for America's sins against WBC."

Comments

[http://users.livejournal.com/anam_cara_/]

Wow. So the entire world revolves around them, huh? I missed that memo.

They are really scary attention whores, forget any empathy, sympathy, or basic human consideration.

[thistlerose.livejournal.com]

*Sigh* I try not to advocate murder, but could someone please throw a javelin through Phelps's chest already??

[tinymich.livejournal.com]

Wait, that's a REAL CHURCH? I thought they were an Onion-style joke!

[lilisonna.livejournal.com]

Well, at least they have now firmly crossed the line into cult-hood. Notice how it's not punishment for America's sins against God, but for our sins against them.

I can't even be angry with them anymore. I watched an interview series with the family, and it's just sad. The children are all brainwashed, and they live in such a tightly controlled world that they can't see anything but what is fed to them.

(Not that I think that what they're doing is in anyway anything except horrific. It's awful and it makes me want to shake them and yell "How dare you!")

[blpurdom.livejournal.com]

Not-so-dear Rev. Phelps:

You evidently have zero understanding of cause-and-effect. Just thought you should know, in case no one has mentioned this to you before.

No love,

Me

P.S. Also, picketing any type of funeral for any reason is incredibly mean-spirited and, well, just plain tacky.


Of course, he's threatened to picket our church many times in the past and never showed up, so this could just be another one of his empty threats. Let's hope so, to spare the families and friends of the victims of this tragedy.

[naomikritzer]

Why hasn't anyone killed him yet? Seriously, how hard could it be? Maybe one of the chickenhawk warbloggers who swears he'd enlist if only the military would take him could do alternative service by shooting Phelps in the head.

[loup_noir]

These people are just horrid. I can't help but wonder what the rest of the Baptists think of them. I hope there's a special place in hell for them.

[pazlazuli.livejournal.com]

I thought people like that existed only "B" movies!

[la-belledame.livejournal.com]

I am a person who tries her best not to wish harm on anyone, but in the shower this morning, I found myself thinking how satisfying it might be to have a tornado touch down only on the WBC during services. Just sayin', in a schadenfreude sort of way.

These are also the people who were going to picket the funerals of the Amish girls killed at Nickel Mines school here in Lancaster County, and who said the girls deserved to die, and that it was punishment for Ed Rendell insulting Phelps.

[http://users.livejournal.com/_lindsay_/]

the tolkien quote is right on the money.

[nmsunbear.livejournal.com]

Ugh. That seriously makes me sick to my stomach.

[mattador.livejournal.com]

Usually, when the WBC goes to picket a funeral, they find the Hell's Angels already there- for military funerals, anyway- keeping them away. With any luck, they'll roll out for this one too.

[nmalfoy.livejournal.com]

Good thing Will Rogers never met Phelps.

[rachelmanija.livejournal.com]

I swear, if I am ever at any event where those bastards show up, I am going to deck Fred Phelps and take the consequences.

[airemay.livejournal.com]

Dear God. I'm with the commentor above. I hope Hell's Angels shows up to these as well!

[mab-browne.livejournal.com]

One of these days, someone will arson Westboro Baptist. Which would be entirely wrong, but alas entirely understandable...

[aeditimi.livejournal.com]

that's just a disgusting publicity stunt. it's a high profile funeral, so Phelps knows he'll get a lot of coverage for picketing. that man makes me cringe to be a member of the Cloth; he redefines evil.

[mamculuna.livejournal.com]

God has nothing to think about but one little church?

[glinda-w.livejournal.com]

I was just thinking: these people thrive on publicity. Take their reward away. We have still freedom of the press, which means freedom to *not* report things as well as freedom to report them.

Whenever Phelps and his group threaten to show up somewhere, the press release should be passed on to local authorities, and the local group of those veterans on motorcycles. Nothing else. No TV coverage, or radio, or newsprint, or internet.

Just a real-world extension of the "don't feed the trolls" idea...

[alfreda89.livejournal.com]

It's that damnable flip side of the first amendment.

Perhaps the only way to deal and not get arrested ourselves is the "oops-ie" torture. Invented just for the occasion.

A bunch of people get as close to the group as they can, smiling, etc. and then let them have it with string cheese, whipped cream, seltzer pumps, etc. Nothing dangerous (Honestly, officer, they were behaving so much NOT like Christians, I thought it was an Onion joke and just joined in the fun!)

Because all we can do is make it plain to the survivors that no one takes these people seriously. Except the riot police, who have to take everything seriously.

[johnridley.livejournal.com]

Why is it not possible to get these people investigated for hate speech and instigating violence? They're doing way more harm to America than any random thousand people on any watch list.

[aerden.livejournal.com]

Say WHAT??!!!

Miss Manners needs to open up a can of whup-ass on these people--several cans.

I am appalled that these people are so wrapped up in their own agenda that they can't allow themselves to show any respect for others. Messing with the veterans' families was bad enough; this is outrageous. And am I mistaken, or did they threaten to picket the funerals of the Amish children, too, after they were killed in that school?

Chantal

[firedragon9.livejournal.com]

Wow. People suck.

[amaliedageek.livejournal.com]

Perhaps a better response might be inspired by this? (http://www.autbar.com/fred_phelps_press_release.htm) A fundraiser, with the proceeds to go to a student outreach program at the university, with people pledging a certain amount for every minute the protestors are near the site?

[bohemianspirit.livejournal.com]

Is there ANYTHING these people can't make into an occasion for gay-bashing???

Just wondering.

Never mind The Problem of Evil. My big question for God is The Problem of Stupidity: "How could a loving, powerful Divine Being create STUPID PEOPLE???" ;-)

WBC

[minnehaha.livejournal.com]

Wow; these people have a real inflated sense of their place in the world.

B

[eileenlufkin.livejournal.com]

I don't think it's a totally bad thing that the most prominent anti-gay activist in America is so obviously a hate-filled lunatic. Maybe I'm being over optimistic, but I would guess that for some conservative religious people the realization that being against gay right puts them on Fred Phelp's side, could help clarify their thoughts on the issue.