Fred Phelps assholes going to funeral of two young boys who drowned on icy pond.

[gbate]

Members of the church show up at funerals for young people nationwide because members say the deaths are God's punishment for condoning homosexuality. The group contacted the Harford County Sheriff's Office before the funeral to make sure its protest was within the newly defined boundaries, said Sgt. Chris Presberry, sheriff's spokeswoman.

The department was prepared to make arrests at the funeral, if demonstrators violated the state law, which was enacted last year and took effect in October.

"People were screaming expletives at us," Phelps said.

The demonstrators, who plan to be at a funeral today for two brothers who drowned after falling through the ice near their Cambridge home, left soon after the service began.

"We give our message to those going to the funeral, and that is that God is killing American children as punishment for sin," said Megan Phelps-Roper, a Westboro member.
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Can something be done about these people?????

[Hav]

1. .

I guess they only want publicity and they always get it.
I can't imagine what it must be like for relatives. I wouldn't be surprised if one day these aholes get attacked by some peeps who can't take it anymore.

[Dr.Phool]

2. Don't yell expletives at them!

This calls for beating the holy dog shit out of these people. A good, old fashioned ghetto stomping.

[Bob Loblaw]

6. I am not a violent person

by nature and am somewhat surprised that my first reaction is physical retribution. However, that is my second, third, and fourth reaction as well. A well placed swing of a Louisville Slugger to the knee seems a reasonable act where these folks are concerned. What jury would convict you?

[Obamarama]

12. Huh??? Why stop at the KNEE?

Persistent vegitative state has a certain ring to it.

[Katherine Brengle]

34. If I ever ran into Phelps, the bat would be aimed for the fucker's face, not his knees.

And I've never been in a physical altercation in my life.

Shit like this makes me believe in vigilantism.

[notadmblnd]

7. And while the person is beating them say....

God told me to tell you this is punishment for your sin.

[Bob Loblaw]

8. Or the sins of others.

That seems to be their modus operandi. Not recognizing one's own sins always seems to go hand in hand with the condemnation of others where these self righteous types are concerned.

[zanne]

47. Well, I never claimed to be a pacifist..

I think every mourner should get a rose and a baseball bat.

[deutsey]

3. Those two brothers drowned about twenty minutes from where I live

I wish I had known those ghouls were planning to be at the funeral...I would have gone to show my support and condolences for the family somehow.

Phelps and his brood have no humanity, not one shred of it.

[TheCowsCameHome]

4. I hope the protesters stage the demonstration on thinner ice.

[Chulanowa]

5. Laugh at them

Ask them for the scripture that says Jesus will kill kids for sins.

Mockery in one hand, fact-checking in the other. It's like smacking two rocks against an egg.

[Marrah_G]

44. actually, not a good question

They would just point to the section of the bible where God kills the first born in every house in Egypt. Sick I know, but trying to reason religion with these people will never work. You are dealing with a sick group of people, brainwashed from birth by an insane and sociopathic man. I hate to say it, but getting their asses seriously kicked a few times is the only thing short of death that might stop them.

I am all for freedom of speech, but I believe that you should not be allowed to protest at funerals. I think this is a time that common curtesy of your fellow man during a painful time trumps any right to voice your own views. I don't care who the person is or what you think they've done. In my view this is akin to yelling fire in a crowded theatre.

[Cheap_Trick]

9. what can be done about them?

"sorry officer, my brakes must have failed. I didn't mean to slam into the Phelpsfuuckers at 70mph."

[originalpckelly]

24. Yes, I know, I have a feeling one day these folks are going to be offed...

in a little vigilante justice for all the horrible things they've done.

[Cheap_Trick]

30. might make them martyrs

but damn, would it be satisfying

[DivinBreuvage]

33. it would NOT make them martyrs

Nobody much gets too worked up when a**holes get killed. Who wept for Nero?

[Obamarama]

10. One day, somehwere, someone will lay waste to this pathetic waste of carbon...

And when they do, I will be dancing in the streets. I think I'd even part with the sheckels to travel to HIS funeral and shout obscenities at HIS fucked up, repugnant family and hangers-on.

These poor parents aren't dealing with ENOUGH already, and now THIS? Unfuckingbelievable.

[Leopolds Ghost]

31. Jesus would not take the same attitude toward these people as some on this thread

Even our Constitution, without reference to Jesus, allows these people to make despicable statements...

and Jesus says "love thy enemy".

A very LIBERAL sentiment, if you ask me... :shrug:

[Nevernose]

36. I, for one, am not a Christian.

And while Jesus does indeed say, "Love thy enemy" -- a statement to be cherished and meditated upon -- does not also Dr. Phil say, "Sometimes the best love is tough love."

Maybe seven or eight years ago I beat the holy living shit out of a neo-nazi skinhead. No, it wasn't in self-defense or in defense of another: the guy was just an asshole, and had it coming to him. You should try it sometime. It puts a whole new perspective on things.

[WinkyDink]

11. Ten bucks says Fred Phelps is that which he excoriates.

[proud2BlibKansan]

15. Actually he is just crazy

[Cerridwen]

13. These, um, people have been very effective at

creating an atmosphere in which laws are now being enacted which limit the right to protest.

They've also been very effective in smearing, horribly the name of "Christian".

They've also been very effective at inciting others to attack them so they can sue and collect monies which allow them to continue to be effective (the whole, er, family are lawyers).

What are some viable ideas to shut them down? They attack people (yes, I consider their protests to be attacks) when they are at their 'weakest' and so the families rarely fight back. Can the families who've had to deal with Phelps and his gang in the past, now come together to sue them into oblivion? It's the only non-violent way I can think to get rid of Phelps, et. al. Tie them up in so much legal red tape, responding to so many suits that they don't have time for this monstrous activity.

Is that a viable option? What about IRS investigations?

[proud2BlibKansan]

16. Many people have tried to sue them

So far that has not shut them up.

[Cerridwen]

17. Do you know the outcomes of any of the suits?

Were any of them successful?

I'm actually thinking more along the lines of dozens (scores?) of suits at once rather than one at a time. Bombard them so they don't have time to come up for air. So that they're so busy defending themselves they don't have time to hurt other people.

*sigh* It's a dream I have.

[proud2BlibKansan]

18. They have all been to law school

Most are disbarred now but they are all trained attorneys. They fight back hard and they usually win. I wouldn't recommend suing them.

[Cerridwen]

19. I've been reading about them.

I went a googled after I posted my question to you.

Thanks for replying.

[proud2BlibKansan]

20. There's a book online somewhere written by a reporter in Topeka

I think Muserider has the link. I lost it when I got a new computer. But I will see if I can find it.

[proud2BlibKansan]

21. Go here

http://cjonline.com/webindepth/phelps/specialsection.shtml

[Cerridwen]

23. Thank you!

Will do.

[NewJeffCT]

22. The way to really shut them down

is to make sure that they are tied to Republics. If Republics get embarrassed by them, it will assist in them at least being ignored.

[proud2BlibKansan]

26. We have tried that

Trouble is, Fred is a registered Dem and at one time was a high profile Dem here in KS. There is a picture easily found on the internet of him and Al and Tipper Gore. He was involved in Gore's campaign in KS in 2000.

So the republics always drag out that picture when we try to give them Phelps.

[Leopolds Ghost]

32. I thought you believed in the right to protest.

That means you believe in the right of people you consider despicable to protest.

Rest assured that you (and me) are next, on the list of protestors who many consider despicable.

(Unless you're a member of the "protest police" contingent who feel civil disobedience is immoral?)

It is interesting to see some of the Phelps clan have been disbarred... for their beliefs?

They are certainly testing the limits of our willingness to uphold the ideals of this nation.

I find it interesting that REAL Christians, like some of the Amish, have no problem dealing with these people.

Perhaps certain liberals on DU could take a page from them on the subject of tolerance and free speech.

We're better than the Phelps clan, after all... aren't we?

What does "better" mean if we countenance restrictions on some, but not others, depending on what their signs say? Why do so many "neoliberals" believe that the right to peaceable enjoyment extends to unwanted / nasty belief systems? That is not a liberal belief.

[Cerridwen]

48. Of course I do. - Peacefully.

And by 'peace' I mean more than just an absence of violence.

I'm not sure holding an entire city hostage is peaceful.

Our right to free speech doesn't allow us to create a hostile work environment. Your boss nor mine, has the right to berate you each and every day you come into the office; there are consequences if s/he does. This is much the same thing on a larger scale. What gives phelps et. al. the right to create a hostile living environment? Doesn't the community also have a right to the pursuit of happiness? What about freedom from an occupying force? What about freedom to pursue ones life without constant threat of being accosted on the street?

Most of us also don't believe in mob rule. Nor incitement to violence. Yet this gang acts in a way which promotes both. They don't even have the Grace to let their neighbors mourn their lost ones in Peace.

Where is the fine line between the right to peacefully assemble and 'protest' used to abuse the community? For that is what this is - abuse on a large scale in the name of 'protest' and 'god.' Where is the fine line between 'protest' and the constant threat of abuse or violence? When does peacefully assembling cross the line to bullying?

The phelps clan have been disbarred for abusive and unethical practices. Not their beliefs. Unless you think their beliefs include unethical and abusive behavior.

One of the things that upsets me most about this; is this clan's actions have been used to limit the right to protest for everyone else. The people in the communities they've accosted and abused have decided they can no longer find that fine line and have crossed it. Perhaps they should have been tried for community abuse rather than the right to peacefully assemble; and maybe they needed to understand Peace as more than an absence of violence. The problem is, when dealing with bullies, most of us tend to overreact. So now all of us pay the price.

As far as 'we' being 'better' than the phelps. Well, speaking for the me part of we - I don't find it necessary nor even acceptable to accost people in their daily lives to berate them about how wrong they are about whatever belief system they hold; much less by standing and waiting on a corner for them to pass each day. I don't need to verbally abuse people to get my message out. I don't find it necessary nor acceptable to waste taxpayer dollars, tie up my local courthouse with unethical and abusive lawsuits, nor constantly sue my neighbors because they refuse to admit my beliefs are right and theirs are wrong. And I surely don't go to funerals to further my agenda of harassing and bullying my neighbors. Nor could I ever justify that kind of perversion of my rights to do so. I doubt that makes me better in phelps' book.

[proud2BlibKansan]

14. We have been trying here in KS

and I am so sorry to hear this.

The best tactic so far seems to be to ignore them. Actually an argument can be made that this is working since they are leaving Kansas to get attention. They really are attention hounds and love every bit of publicity they get. The local media ignores them. We hear about them only when they go out of state to protest at funerals.

[rasputin1952]

25. One of the most moving moments I have seen was when that young

man in WY was killed and some of the residents showed up as angels and stared Phelps down in silence.

There have been times when people have turned their backs to the rantings.

Personally, I would laugh at them, not argue w/them. They look for argument, but cannot stand the laughter.

These people are sick, and they portray Christianity as a religion of fear and vengence...precisely the opposite of what it is/should be.

[proud2BlibKansan]

27. Is Act-Up still around? Look what I found:

On the day -- April 10, 1993, a Saturday -- of Kevin Oldham's memorial service, police in Kansas City sealed off the church at 9 a.m. Bomb squad officers, along with a bomb-sniffing dog, searched the church. As the afternoon service approached, at least 20 police officers, including officers from police tactical units, took up positions inside and outside the church. Other officers waited nearby in case there was trouble.

Phelps and his followers began picketing. Gay rights activists from the group ACT-UP arrived, too. Phelps left almost as soon as the ACT-UP protesters arrived.

http://cjonline.com/webindepth/phelps/stories/080394_phelps06.shtml

[rasputin1952]

28. I don't know...I don't follow gay issues that much...

my main purpose on this issue is to get people to look at gays, and everyone else, as people first. As a straight guy, I have witnessed and stopped much of the abuse gays come across. I figure if I can get the dehumanization out of the way, peoiple would be more accepting of others.

[Rhythm]

41. Lately, motorcycle-riding vets called the "Patriot Riders" have been coming to counter-protest

...at the funerals of our dead soldiers. They position their bikes and flags between Phelps' f*cktards and the mourneers, and then rev their engines to drown out their hateful chants.

[Dorian Gray]

29. Giving them any attention

is all that they are striving for. But, if they came to a funeral of one of my loved ones, I'd be hard pressed not to murder them with my bare hands. So....

They are hateful, vile, assholes.

[Warren DeMontague]

35. I don't believe in hell

but I wonder if The Universe won't make an exception and open one up special for Phelps after he dies.

[Poiuyt]

37. Didn't a motorcycle gang show up at one of the military funerals just to keep

Phelps and his people away

[BreweryYardRat]

40. That's happened several times.

"Patriot Guard" or "Patriot Riders" or "Freedom Riders," a group named something like that. From my limited understanding of it, they show up and both physically block the Phelps scum from getting too close, along with revving their engines to drown out the hateful shouts.

[CBHagman]

46. Perhaps the only good thing to come of this Phelps business...

...is that people of various political stripes, Freepers and DUers and others, are united in their revulsion at what Phelps is doing.

I remember too that when the young Amish girls were killed in the schoolhouse shooting last year, the non-Amish community made an effort to protect the privacy of the grieving Amish. "English" neighbors would shoo away reporters who tried to trail Amish schoolchildren, for example.

Again, if mutual understanding, respect, or consideration grow in response to an evil situation, that's at least something.

[Sapphire Blue]

38. Where are the cries of "free speech" in Phelps' defense?????

I'm waiting for them to jump on this thread.

[lonestarnot]

39. Those people don't speak, they rattle nonsense. Is nonsense protected? Heh

[rasputin1952]

43. Phelps has every right to Free Speech, just as the rest of us have...

he knows his message is one of vile hatred, that is why he leaves so quickly after his obscene message is delivered.

The only way to counter these people is to laugh at them; laughter takes their power away, while hot diatribes and hatred on fuel him and his "flock" to continue.

Phelps is evil in pure form, he is driven by hatred and feeds off of the emotions of those he berates; deny him the nourishment of hate, and he will shrivel up and die.

After saying that, I also have to say that if those were my children at that funeral being buried after this tragic accident, I, being merely human, would be hard pressed to hold myself to my own prescription for situations like this....I'd want to kick his ass right into one of those graves...:(

[Deja Q]

49. Maybe people could go to one of Phelps' supporters' funerals...

Free speech is a given and maybe Phelps deserves a taste of what he does.

Just because it's free speech doesn't mean it's right for Phelps to do what he does. He's a troll.

[Bucky]

42. If you do not believe in freedom of speech for those you disagree with...

I don't think there's anyone more disagreeable than Fred Phelps or anything more disagreeable than heckling a funeral. Appropriate laws need to be carefully crafted to keep his free speech from attacking a grieving family. I'm still not sure why no one has sued him into abject poverty yet. He's pulled this stunt often enough to make a class action suit of it.

[Deja Q]

45. Nobody's stopped that cretin yet.

So, I think the answer is 'no'. :(


Corrected typo

[soup]

50. "Can something be done about these people?????"

I think the only way to deal with it is not give them the attention they crave and thrive on. The only voice these hateful, despicable people have is the one we give them by publicizing their attendance. It gives them power they don't deserve. The sick s.o.b.'s become the story. They become what's important, even though they're not.

This thread is proof of just that.

Although it doesn't always work, sometimes the best way to deal with something is to ignore it.

I felt the same way when the motorcycle group started attending services to shield the families at military funerals - Wasting energy on a worthless piece of shit trying to gain attention. Why give it to him? Why allow him to control the message? It appears that over time the group has grown and morphed into more of an honor guard, but I think their original intent was to drown out the Phelps.

Here is the real story:

Two children died. An 8 year old climbed a fence and fell through the thin ice covering a pond. His 12 year old brother tried to rescue him, and both tragically drowned.

article here:
http://washingtontimes.com/metro/20070212-111912-8984r.htm

Rest in peace dear children. May your parents find a way to get through this.


Phelps,
Go crawl back under your rock and fuck yourself. You're not worth the time it took me to write this post.

[Deja Q]

51. That philosophy doesn't work.

Bullies, trolls, and the ilk know when they are being ignored. The nasty ones will keep going and going until their prey responds.

Here's the solution: Respond but not in the way they are anticipating. That gets 'em to go away, back to the slimy rock from which they came.

[opihimoimoi]

52. He and his crowd are a waste of food, air and water,,,they are a drag on Society

[toddaa]

53. Push him into the pond

Hey, I got a good idea. Instead of getting rid of homosexuals, let's get rid of Freddie and his should have been aborted children.

[HuffleClaw]

54. wow, are they ever desperate for 'publicity'

they couldn't have found something remotely relevent to their loony hateful beliefs instead?