Baptist Church celebrates at deaths of US Soldiers

[NAO]

Fred Phelps is at it again. This time he is celebrating at the funerals of US Soldiers killed in Iraq. He says he is glad they were killed, so that God might punish the US for tolerating homosexuality.

http://news.yahoo.com/s/afp/20060312/ts_alt_afp/usiraqunrestreligionprotest

[Rabrrrrrr]

1. He's been doing that for months - that's why WI and some other states

have enacted laws against protesting at funerals.

[rkc3]

3. PA is working on it as well - personally I think Fred Phelps should

have an ankle bracelet and be forced to stay on his property. Would solve a lot of problems.

[Drum]

2. This is absolutely sick.

Remind me, who are the terrorists???

[CBGLuthier]

4. attention whore Fred Phelps

Yeah he started this months ago because he knew it would get him attention.

He can't do it in Oklahoma any more though. Although the law may not pass constitutional muster and I am usually a constitutionalist, anything to shut that asshole up is fine with me.

[rhino47]

5. From a man that was rumored to be arrested for obscene act with a man

Yep phelps is a closet case for sure.
Phelps' virulence and frequently graphic condemnations of anal sex could mask a deeper issue than a radically literal interpretation of the Bible, Potok speculated.

"This man probably thinks more about gay sex than any other person in the United States of America and one can only guess at what that means," he said. "Many of the most homophobic people are deeply afraid that they might be gay."

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rev._Fred_Phelps
There are also rumors that Phelps was once arrested (but not charged) for obscene conduct with another man, and that this prompted his anti-gay stance

[Lowell]

6. Patriot Guard formed to foil Phelps

The Patriot Guard has been very effective in neutralizing the effectiveness of Phelps and his congregation of in bred degenerates. I've ridden on four Patriot Guard Missions here in Florida since November 05. Phelps and his minions were at three of those funerals. We were able to shield the family from his hateful message by standing between the protesters and the family and when necessary erecting a barrier of flags to obstruct his filthy signs.

Phelps and the WBC is not new. They have been putting on hateful demonstrations for years at the funerals of "suspected" homosexuals. It was when they began protesting at the services of fallen soldiers that many were moved to take action. Right now there is legislation pending in several states to curtail his first amendment rights by banning his ability to protest.

I've personally faced these dirt bags down in my participation as a Patriot Guard rider. As disgusting as I personally find their message I don't think it is right to dilute the first amendment to correct the situation. There are other ways to deal with lunatic fringe groups like this, without limiting everyone's constitutional rights.

That said, I really wonder about Fred Phelps himself. I don't understand why anyone could be so obsessed with other people's sexuality. My guess is that he has deep psychological issues of his own. One thing for sure, he is a hypocrite. Demanding to exercise his rights while degrading the very ones who have insured that we all can enjoy them.