Your not going to believe what Fred Phelps is protesting now.

[William769]

I won't even litter DU with the remarks, I'll just give the link.


http://www.365gay.com/newscon05/08/080505phelps.htm

[Lefta Dissenter]

1. the last time I read an article about Phelps

and his protests at military funerals, I stormed into work, almost crying because I was so angry, and when my boss asked me what was wrong, I started in with "That homophobic FUCKHEAD ASSHOLE PHELPS..." and must have gone on for about five minutes.

Fortunately, I'm sure partly because my boss' sister is a lesbian, he was in total agreement with me. In a more 'normal' job, with a 'normal' boss, I probably would have lost my job.

[stepnw1f]

2. I'm Surprised He Hasn't Gotten A Beating Yet (nt)

[Lefta Dissenter]

3. when phelps was here in Madison,

there was quite a controversy as to whether or not there should be protests against him and his sick little group of asshole pricks. The trouble was that the GLBT 'community,' if you want to call it that, was split. Some thought protest beautifully and peacefully, some thought just ignore them so there's less press.

Not being gay myself, I wanted to defer to whatever those who are most affected wanted, but it was hard to know what to do. As it turned out, there was a small, peaceful protest across the street from those shitfucking hatemongers.

You know, I don't swear that often, but that guy brings out the absolute worst in me. I can see how hate stirs up hate.

[stepnw1f]

5. It Must Have Been Extremely Hard

I thought about being at a conter protest, and kept imagining myself beating the living shit out of him... so I didn't go. I do imagine having more restraint then that of course. But at the time he came around my way, I was already in a very bad mood.

I just couldn't cool it down enough to go. I'm glad I didn't. I did the right thing.

[kbm8795]

14. Actually, I believe a group in Ann Arbor

and one in Indiana used his picketing to raise money for AIDS organizations, etc. I think the scheme was to get local residents to pledge like..so much money per half hour or hour they picketed. They made a good haul for charity and it made the Phelps crowd get upset over it. . .

So, if you are creative, USE them for a charity event. If they picket for six hours, ask people to donate for a service family's memorial fund for every hour they are picketing. Then give the money to the family or to an organization that will help provide services to those serving our country.

[Gronk Groks]

10. Hell, I'm surprised somebody hasn't shot the lot of them...

...of course I do have these violent fantasies...
but it's ok !!!
...my Meds are doing a fine job...
I think...:smoke:

[marbuc]

4. Fred Phelps is a gift to the GLBT community

Protests by nuts like him highlight just how insane that position is, and builds support for gay rights. Preach on...freak.

[shaniqua6392]

6. That is so true

Hi! I just signed up, but I have been reading on DU for a few weeks now. I AM NOT ALONE IN THIS INSANITY!! I do agree Phelps is a gift to GLBT's and the fact that he professes to be a baptist minister makes me sick! His website has a horrible name if you look him up and the stuff that is on there is horrifying...including a count of the days that Matthew Shepherd has been in hell...God help us.

[Lefta Dissenter]

7. Welcome to DU,

shaniqua! :hi:

...on a slightly brighter note, have you seen the website to counter his... www.godhatesfigs.com

It's absolutely fabulous! :7

[terrya]

8. Why isn't the religious right turning on him after this?

I mean, picketing military deaths???

This is just....bizarre.

[shaniqua6392]

9. The religious right

They are going to avoid this guy like the plague....Also, this guy is not in the media much, yet. I am not sure he should be either. I did hear that veterans groups are going to start attending the military funerals where this loony and his followers are and counter-protesting. Good idea. But, these poor families of the fallen soldiers. They are trying to keep it a secret when the funerals will be held, but that is not working too well either. They have even went to Arlington with signs that say "Thank God for I.E.D.'s" and stuff even more horrible. The good "minister" has his website titled godhatesfags....unbelievable.

[Broken_Hero]

11. Last I heard

about Phelps he was going to protest that walmart guy who died a few weeks ago, cause walmart recognizes homosexuals, or something like that.

[Ian David]

12. Phelps also protested at the funeral of Mister Rogers

He said Gawd blew-up the spaceshuttle because Mister Rogers squandered the opportunity to use his show to speak-out against gays.

See related threads:

8 Things you need to know about Fred Phelps
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=221&topic_id=12512#12521


Also:
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=102&topic_id=1470630&mesg_id=1472580

[kweerwolf]

13. Freddie and his "klan" are a mixed blessing ...

I live about 50 miles from his "compound" in Kansas City, Mo. He was just starting to get a lot of press by picketing funerals of people who had died of AIDS when Kansas City was considering expanding its human rights ordinance to include sexual orientation. This, of course, got Freddie's attention and his brought his traveling freak show of inbred followers to town. As a result, the city council was so shocked that the ordinance passed unanimously (or at least overwhelmingly) largely in part to council members reaction to Phelps.

That's the "blessing" of Phelps. He gives a face to homophobia that many straight folks never saw before and drives them to empathize with "our side."

The downside to Phelps is that he is so extreme that he makes people like Dobson, Falwell, Roberts, etc., look downright reasonable when their views are equally homophobic but just wrapped in a more pleasing package. This allows people to vote against issues like gay marriage, hate crime laws, and even basic rights like housing, job protection, etc., because it allows them to think "we're not homophobic because we are nothing like Phelps."

Also, the LGBT community spends so much time and energy worrying about the Phelps klan and whatever their latest publicity ploy is that we lose sight of the anti-gay work the Dobsons, et al. who present a bigger threat are doing to undermine us.

Sometimes I think the best way to confront Phelps is just to show up at his "protests" and stand there pointing fingers and laughing loudly at him. Don't dignify his extreme hate with a response ... just laugh at him for the pathetic clown he is.