Dealing with Fred Phelps

[ck4829]

We try to stop Phelps when he protests funerals, that's fine and all, but that's playing the defensive.

I think we need to go on the offensive.

We need a nation-wide boycott of the town that the Phelps Church is based in, and that would be Topeka, Kansas.

I think that it is right to boycott the town, according to this article from the Southern Poverty Law Center, Topeka lets the Phelps Klan do whatever they want.

A boycott of Topeka until they decide to do something about Phelps, who's in?

[Ian David]

1. I'm also going to protest at the funeral of any Phelps member that dies. n/t

[racaulk]

51. I'm with you, Ian!

I don't care when or where it happens, I will drop anything and everything to be there.

[Whoa_Nelly]

2. How do you boycott a city?

Much less the capital of a state?

[ck4829]

6. You can boycott a state, can't you?

But, it is mainly psychological. I remember there being boycotts of Idaho and North Dakota when they tried to produce abortion bans, which produced mixed results.

[ChairmanAgnostic]

114. is Kansas a state?

a state of confusion? a state of religiousity? a state of intelligent design?

what a sad state of affairs.

[havocmom]

131. Depends on how much tourism they rely on. Topeka- probably not a lot

One can look at what organizations may hold regional meetings there and lobby those groups to go elsewhere.

But unless a city relies heavily on tourism, any boycott would be mainly ceremonial. Not really much point of boycotting Topeka. Willing to guess most visitors there are from Kansas and need to do things in their capital.

Now, if you wanna make a statement, buy beef and wheat products from Montana and not Kansas ;). Some of Phelps' sheep tried to protest outside a service for Phillip Baucus and the locals made sure the bigoted asses didn't get close to the Baucus ranch that day.

Write to farming associations in Kansas and let them know you are gonna make sure you get your grain from Montana until Kansas reels in the Phelps Gang.

PM me if you need flour, bread, cereal sources for MT. I'll find them for you! There are places here in MT that will sell range fed, hormone free beef too.

Tell Kansas to let Phelps know he is poison.

[BonnieJW]

3. You can count on me.

I have no plans to even drive through Kansas. Your only problem will be finding anyone who has. Have you ever known anyone who had plans to visit Kansas?

[proud2BlibKansan]

16. Some of us live here

We have an extremely active group DU group here. There are even DUers coming from other states to join us at our St Patrick's Day meetup.

And no, you are not invited.

[ayeshahaqqiqa]

28. Will be there in spirit

some nice folks live in Kansas.

[proud2BlibKansan]

42. thanks

:)

[Mr. Ected]

46. I Hereby Relinquish My B.A. From Washburn University

So much for practicing law.

[quinnox]

23. ...

"I have no plans to even drive through Kansas. Your only problem will be finding anyone who has. Have you ever known anyone who had plans to visit Kansas?"

Ain't it the truth!
:rofl:

[daveskilt]

108. I got through the whole state without stopping once

It was impressive - midnight to 5am behind a semi with a tailwind. i got 50mph in my little crappy hyundai. Almost out of gas but had to try for the last 50 miles when it looked like it was possible. I had to pee something fierce too.

[Mabus]

34. Let's see, Bill Clinton was here last week

and we've got DU'ers from at least three states coming here for a St. Pat's DU Day party.

[proud2BlibKansan]

43. sshhh

I don't want any nasty people coming.

[Mabus]

48. I guess I shouldn't mention that Dean kicked off the 50 State Strategy in Kansas either

or that we re-elected Democratic Governor who lives in Topeka too?

:shrug:

Reminds me of something a prof once told me. He was worked in D.C. for a while and whenever someone asked him about Kansas he'd tell them horrendous stories about us. I asked him "why?" and he said, "you don't really want all those small-minded assholes coming here and fucking it up, do you?" :P

[proud2BlibKansan]

50. LOL

That's funny.

This is just one of the dumbest things I have ever read on DU. Let's research where all these people live and plan some silly protest or boycott against their whole state for something they have no control over. Yep, that makes great sense.

[Mabus]

53. We're getting Gored

Talk about nit picky. All the wonderful things we've done and are doing here but all they see is Phred. There are people dying every day in Iraq; the climate is changing for the worse because of our gluttonous ways; there is corruption at the highest levels of government, but hey, let's drop everything and go after Topeka. :rofl:

[proud2BlibKansan]

54. Thread starter is from Ohio

That's where the Kent State massacre was. Or we could go after them for that river that was on fire in the 60s.

[Mabus]

59. We could just talk about the voting problems in 2004

I mean, until they can assure us that Ohio will have elections where all the votes are counted, you know, for things like presidential races, I don't think they have much room to talk.

[proud2BlibKansan]

63. Good heavens, I can't believe I forgot that

But then I am just a dumb yokel from Kansas. :crazy:

[HiFructosePronSyrup]

4. How about a memorial when he kicks the bucket?

Saying how he deserved it and is now rotting in hell?

[BonnieJW]

7. That sounds good.

Everyone can post that it's about time.

[HiFructosePronSyrup]

9. No, I mean an actual stone memorial.

In his home town.

Like the one he had for Matthew Shepard.

[jmowreader]

146. Isn't the Shepard memorial still in Phelps' garage?

I think Fred's responsible for the removal of more permanent displays of religion from the public square than Michael Newdow and the ACLU combined.

Here's what happens:

Fred finds a medium-sized town somewhere that has a Ten Commandments monument in a city park. Fred, being the head of a whole clan of disbarred lawyers, knows of the Supreme Court's decision that any community that accepts one religious monument in the public square must accept them all.

Fred goes before the City Council and informs them that, since the Supreme Court says they have to accept Fred's monument, he'll be by with a crane to put it in.

The City Council immediately votes to put the Ten Commandments memorial in front of a church, thereby ending the Phelps threat.

As far as I know, Phelps has never found anyone who'd take his ugly-ass monument.

[Kali]

5. Usually just ignoring assholes like this (or that coulter jerk) is the best

punishment. And offensive as he is, doesn't he have a right to do what he does? And doesn't what he does expose him and his repulsiveness to daylight where it really is better to be than hidden and doing who know what?

[BonnieJW]

10. What I would love to see

would be him and his fellow assholes screaming at a funeral. Then all 100 funeral attendees pull out airhorns and go after them, drowning them out and maybe bursting some eardrums.

[ck4829]

11. The problem goes much further than being obscene

The Phelps Church has been accused of hitting, stalking, harassing, and spitting on people they encounter.

And when someone tried to bring them to accountability, they produced massive amounts of complaints and sued people who tried to bring justice to them.

[Kali]

32. Well clearly that deserves arrest, jail and monetary punitive damages.

I doubt if many cops would be sympathetic to this shit, call 'em to maintain the peace.

[Ian David]

8. People need to remember that Phelps hates Mister Rogers and Larry The Cable Guy

God hates 'Git-R-done'
From a new Westboro Baptist Church press release:




Which does make a bit of sense, actually, as Satan would seem to be a literal "red neck"! However, this protest is still completely absurd on Westboro's part, as everyone knows the Prince of Darkness is much more of a Jeff Foxworthy fan.

"If your nipples get hard in the middle of the desert -- then you might be a Beezlebub!"

More:
http://www.goodasyou.org/good_as_you/2007/02/god_hates_gitrd.html



Larry The Cable Guy = Pro-Gay?

user icon Angie | Feb 12, 2007 |

I'm sure that many of you all know and love "Pastor" Fred Phelps, founder of the Westboro Baptist Church and GodHatesFags.com. I've gotten to see his work (what they call "love crusades") in action at two funerals in my hometown...and it's not to be missed.

In recent years, Phelps and his band-o'-picketers have expanded their repertoire beyond protesting LBGT funerals, and frequently picket military funerals as well.

Now, they've got a new target: Larry The Cable Guy.

That's right, ladies and gentlemen. Larry The Cable Guy, who gave us big (apparently gay) pearls o' wisdom like "Git-R-Done" has a one-way ticket to Hell, and he's taking all of America with him.

Phelps and his crew are just doing us a favor by telling us. How thoughtful.

More:
http://blog.youngpeoplefor.org/story/2007/2/12/13832/3012



Fred Phelps Hates Larry The Cable Guy?

So Fred "God Hates Fags" Phelps now hates Larry The Cable Guy! Why? Well if you read his twisted press release, you still have trouble knowing why. Fred just hates anyone who has any sympathy toward Gay and Lesbian people, plain and simple. Personally I kind of like Larry in a big furry bear way.

Most interesting is a letter I found reprinted in the Topeka newspaper from one of Fred Phelps estranged sons. The letter says a lot about Reverend Phelps and his church of hate. It also says a lot about the character and honesty of his son.

I will not include a link to Phelps Westboro Baptist Church site, since it will only make you want to spit at your computer screen.

More:
http://dungeondiary.blogspot.com/2007/02/fred-phelps-hates-larry-cable-guy.html

[Touchdown]

12. Would that really hurt Topeka?

Who the hell vacations in Topeka anyhow? Insect lovers? How much biz can possibly be lost when they're near zero anyway?;)

[proud2BlibKansan]

67. Topeka has a very nice zoo

And the state capitol has a fabulous John Stewart Curry mural.

[youthere]

13. I'd much rather see people pool their money and start

some sort of outreach and resource center for the GLBT community in Topeka...with a huge plaque "honoring" Fred Phelps...and publicize the HELL out of it.

[proud2BlibKansan]

18. That's been done.

You all need to do some simple research before you start posting crap about stuff you don't know.

[youthere]

36. Excuse the hell out of me.

I beg your forgiveness for not spending more time researching Fred Phelps.:eyes:

[proud2BlibKansan]

41. No you need to some research on Topeka

[youthere]

110. Why the hell would I research Topeka when I live in Iowa?

How much research have you done on Ankeny?

[proud2BlibKansan]

112. Is there a god hates fags preacher there too?

[youthere]

117. There are those preachers everywhere-not as bad as Phelps, but still.

I don't need to know the businesses, buildings, and organizations of Topeka just because asshat Fred Phelps happens to have a church there.Just like I don't need to do research on Crawford to know that Bush is an asshole. I'd like to see a democratic retreat center or a facility for progressive ideals there. MAYBE THERE ALLREADY IS ONE..*GASP* I didn't do the research-naughty me.
My point is that you came across as rude and condecending in your original response from me. So, I didn't know Topeka had an outreach center. I apologize for offending your KANSAS sensibilities by not knowing the organizational makeup of Topeka.

edit: because topeka is not in OKlahoma..duh!

[proud2BlibKansan]

119. I'm sorry I was rude

If DUers attacked Iowa like they attack Kansas, maybe then you would understand why we Kansans tend to jump into these threads. It has gotten so old.

Sorry you got caught in the middle. I have always liked Iowa. :)

[youthere]

143. No problem..

I'm a little hypersensitive this week.
I have nothing against KS..I think it's great that Topeka just ignores Phelps and his ilk. I wish the rest of the nation would do the same and the media would boycott the WBC.
Good on Topeka.

[Not Me]

14. I swear never to go to, or spend a nickel in Topeka

Easy to say, because I'd never go there anyway.

[proud2BlibKansan]

15. We have some great DUers in Topeka

It is a large city and this is a really dumb idea.

And FYI, no, Topeka does NOT let Fred get away with just anything he wants. They have battled Phelps for years.

[Bake]

17. Find any businesses that are based in Topeka and boycott THEM.

And let them know WHY you're doing it. Conventions are already avoiding Topeka like the plague, according to the SPLC article. Take it one notch further.

Hit them in the pocketbook long enough and hard enough, and they'll "find" a way to deal with Phred.

Bake

[proud2BlibKansan]

19. Topeka is NOT a convention town!

LOL

[Bake]

25. And apparently won't be, as long as Phreddie is around!

I'm going only by the info in the SPLC article.

I'm sure there are a lot of good people in Topeka. But you're not doing a very good job of handling one of your own. And by that, I mean getting the city's political and business leaders to DO something about Phreddie. So it may take something more, and that is what the OP suggested.

Frankly, I'm surprised somebody at one of the funerals WBC has picketed hasn't already just shot the whole lot of them and gotten it the hell over with. Not that I would necessarily approve of such action ...

Bake

[proud2BlibKansan]

45. Like I said, they have been battling him for YEARS

And surely you realize that shutting him up would involve also shutting up ALL protesters. We greeted bush in style in Topeka in November. If Phelps can't protest, then we would have been prohibited from that action. And the peace community there (DUers are regular participants) would never be able to hold any vigils.

The first amendment is a wonderful thing.

This is a much more complicated issue than many of you realize. It is ignorant to propose a boycott of Topeka. And your comment about shooting them is stupid too. Then they would be martyrs.

[ComerPerro]

95. Remind me never to visit or purchase anything from your racist ass state

[proud2BlibKansan]

102. That DUer is from Mississippi!

And guess who grew up in Mississippi???

Shit, let's just send his ass back home.

[Bake]

120. I'm not "from Mississippi."

I'm FROM Tennessee. Lived in Kentucky for over 20 years. I live in Mississippi for now. Is it a "racist-ass state?" Yes and no, like anywhere else. But feel free to insult me, because everybody has to have somebody to look down on. But frankly, I don't need to be insulted by a Topekan who is embarrassed by one of its own residents. Hell, I'm embarrassed by a lot of crap that comes out of Mississippi too.

I didn't advocate shooting Phelps, but when the picket/protest at the funerals of US sevicemen and women, where emotions are already running high, sooner or later somebody is going to pop one off. And if/when that happens, I'm not going to waste any tears over it.

Boycotts always hurt somebody. If you boycott a company that, e.g., advertises on Ann Coulter's website, the boycott might end up hurting a minimum-wage employee who consistently votes Dem but also has to have a job. So are boycotts wrong? Historically, especially in the context of civil rights, they have been considered a valid and valuable tool for making a group's collective voice heard.

Phelps may have the legal right under the First Amendment to say whatever hateful things he wants. The First Amendment, however, deals only with STATE ACTION. It doesn't mean that if Phelps spouts a lot of vile hateful bullshit, that there will be no other repercussions. There are always consequences.

Bake

[proud2BlibKansan]

122. Well we are recommending moving the boycott to your state

Since that is where Fred was born and educated. And since you don't mind, that's great.

[Bake]

124. One red state to another.

Fine. I believe the title of a recent book was "What's Wrong With Kansas," not Mississippi.

Bake

[Name removed]

129. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[ComerPerro]

130. again with the stalking, what the fuck?

[Name removed]

134. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[Name removed]

135. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[Madspirit]

136. whatever you say ...hahahahahaha n/t

[ComerPerro]

137. George W Bush, Tom Delay, and you still have the nerve to bash another state?

[Name removed]

138. Deleted sub-thread

Sub-thread removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[TlalocW]

20. I'm from Kansas. Lived there for 24 years. I've been to Topeka once

It's not a mecca of tourism. What are you going to do - stop buying little replicas of the green-copper-topped capitol building? Stop buying Washburn University Fighting Ichabod sweatshirts? ("What the hell is an Ichabod?" I hear many of you cry. Exactly)

TlalocW

[quinnox]

21. why limit it Topeka, go for the whole state!

I have never set foot in and will never set foot in the state of Kansas in protest! <tounge slightly in cheek>

[proud2BlibKansan]

47. No problem

We have been getting along just fine without you for a long time now.

[ck4829]

22. Update: I'm not sure a boycott will do anything meaningful

We do have many DU'ers in Topeka too.

I'm reevaluating the strategy, I think that a 'resistance effort' against the Phelps church would be much more effective.

This is the homepage for Concerned Citizens for Topeka, a group created to counter Phelps.
http://www.topekacpj.org/cct.htm

[Initech]

24. I don't really have a reason to visit Topeka anyways...

But I think if we wanted to go after one of the biggest douchebags in the country, we may have to go beyond just Topeka.

[Beelzebud]

26. I can't wait to see the God Hates Fred signs at HIS funeral!

[ayeshahaqqiqa]

27. Nah

what you do is have a bunch of gays, military people, families and supporters of same---and they all go to Phelp's church. They try and get in. What will Phelps do? Deny them entry? Fine--but that says bunches about his church, doesn't it? Michael Moore did a piece about Phelps in his old TV show, where gays went to Phelps and guess what? He ran away from them!

[Fridays Child]

29. Get Fred's goat...

Have one shirtless, well-oiled muscle guy attend each Phelps protest with the following large sign:

[MissMarple]

33. Sounds interesting. How about that on a big billboard on I 70?

:rofl:

I don't think we should be mean to Topeka, but to Fred....well, he's a big boy. I think getting his knickers all in a twist is the way to go.

[Madspirit]

140. That is so funny!

I like it!
Lee

[Colobo]

30. So Kansas is to blame

because Fred Phelps happens to live there? There has to be another way...

[santaclawsz]

31. just ignore him

both sides think the guy is scum. He only makes news because we make it so.

[ComerPerro]

106. Actually, you know whats completely stunning and amazing?

I was talking to my right wing uncle about Phelps. Uncle hates him cause of the military funerals, rides with the Patriot Guard or whatever the hell those wannabes call themselves.

Anyway, during the converstaion, he drops this bomb on me (which, by the way, I've always suspected of the RWers who hate Phelps, and my RW uncle confirmed it):

"I have no problem with him otherwise, in fact I agree with him about gays. But he needs to stop going to soldier's funerals!"


um........

[Bronyraurus]

35. It's amazing he hasn't been shot yet.

[meldroc]

37. Think some IRS audits and such can be arranged?

Maybe if he feels persecuted enough, he can move his clan to South America, then he can follow Jim Jones and drink the Kool-Aid...

One can dream...

[AshevilleGuy]

38. My psychologist friend says that Fred is a closet case.

As odd as this seems, my buddy is adamant about this: Phelps is homosexual, but so closeted he might have completely blocked out all vestiges of it, and deflects it by viciously persecuting gays and Lesbians (and everyone else he hates, which is pretty much everyone). I have trouble buying this, but my friend will not hear no for an answer.

[proud2BlibKansan]

49. No he really isn't gay

He's just a raving lunatic.

[AshevilleGuy]

57. How do you know??

Yes, of course he is a lunatic. His hideous daughter is the mocking face of evil. But he could still have the tendencies; having kids proves nothing.

[proud2BlibKansan]

58. I have studied him for years

Read a book about him. Read interviews with his kids. (He has 2 sons who are estranged from the rest of the family) I live in Kansas and know people who know him and his family. People have been accusing him of being gay for years. There was also a rumor that his son is gay and Fred started his crap when he found out. But there is no proof to any of these rumors. He really is just a crazy mean son of a bitch.

He's also a registered Democrat. :)

[AshevilleGuy]

79. Perhaps a campaign against him, protraying him as gay

would drive him over the edge and he would short circuit and self destruct somehow. Such as photoshoped photos of him in compromising positions, put up all over Topeka. If the local media would get involved in it, report embarassing stories that have been manufactured, etc. it could help. Ridicule is always the most potent weapon.

By the way, do your state officials ever say or do anything about these demons?? Brownback? Dole? Or are they frightened into submission?

[proud2BlibKansan]

84. Actually our governor is a Dem and the 3rd most popular governor

in the country. We have an AG and a Lt Gov who were republicans a year ago and switched to Dem to run for office. And we unelected the idiot right wingers on the state board of ed.

Brownback is a nutcase who is losing his base. He is a laughing stock. And Dole doesn't even live here anymore.

As for Phelps, the hatred for him is bipartisan. It's probably the only issue the Dems and Repukes in KS agree on. LOL

[ComerPerro]

93. Trust me, he's not a closet case. Have you ever personally interacted with him or his cult?

[proud2BlibKansan]

98. Comer!!!

Whassup?

Are you coming to the St Pat's party?

:hug: How's Gilmore? :hi:

[ComerPerro]

100. St Pats party depends on our finances.

And I need to get some addresses. I have save the date cards for our wedding to send out.

[proud2BlibKansan]

103. All you have to do is drive to KC

That's not that expensive, is it?

We have out of town DUers coming! We met them in DC.

I will PM you addresses.

[Mabus]

139. If you need a ride

We can make room in our car. I think there are several leaving Lawrence and heading to evl's.

[daveskilt]

109. a closet gay republican - well i never.

bless my jeff Gannon and Mark Foley shaped stars!

[proud2BlibKansan]

111. Phelps is a registered Democrat

[daveskilt]

116. gracious! that like Ted bundy joining the glee club

[Yukari Yakumo]

39. Better Idea.

Seize his property as "Eminent Domain", demolish it, and build something like a Wal-Mart on the land.

[piedmont]

40. No offense to you, but this is a stupid idea.

The people of Topeka seem as exasperated by these loons as we are. The SPLC article even calls them "held hostage." They're NOT supporting him:

And if, as some say, the city and church have grown more tolerant of one another in recent years, credit may be due as much to Phelps' intimidation as to any success by the city or its inhabitants in leashing his mad-dog tactics.

"Topeka is now identified with Fred Phelps," a chagrined Mayor Wagnon said in an interview with the Intelligence Report. "If someone could figure out how to get him off the streets, they could be elected mayor for life."

Yeah, let's boycott those eeeeeeeeevil Topekans! :eyes:

[Puregonzo1188]

44. I'm sorry, but why boycott the town, what are they suppose to do?

Banish Fred Phelps? :shrug:

I don't like him or his beliefs, but the town can't really do anything to him, he has the right to have them.

[rasputin1952]

52. The best way to deal w/Phelps and his type...

is to laugh at them.

Yes, I know, this sounds simplistic, but in cases like this, the simplistic is the way to go.

Those that dressed up like angels in WY when Phelps showed up, did another simple act, they walked up to him, then turned their backs to him.

Why these simple things work is because Phelps wants confrontation, and will get it any way he can; then he sends out the family lawyers to try and sue those that were in confrontation to his view.

Phelps is a coward, pure and simple. If he truly was prepared to confront people w/his views, he would NOT go to funerals to push his point, 99.9% of Ame5ricans of any faith or position find this reprehensible. If he had guts, and truly believed in the hatred he spews on gays, he would go to a gay "enclave", somewhere where gays are known to be in #'s. He'll never do that because any of a number of things could happen to him, including bodily harm.

Those of us that believe in what we are doing, are not afraid to take a stand for what we believe is right, no matter where we are. Is there something so terrible about equality for individuals that I missed somewhere, a seminar or something? I know there wasn't a test, I would have stayed awake for that.

Phelps, like Coulter and a fistful of other hardcore hate types go for the lowest possible shots on the ladder, they have no decency, they have no honor, they have no dignity; that is why they have no problem trying to take away those assets that make us human. If any of these hatemongers had the smallest bit of empathy or compassion, they would be fighting for the downtrodden, instead of stomping them into the dirt and mud.

Despise Phelps and all the others that push this vile crap down the ears of the good people of this nation...but do that in private, in public....just laugh at him, get the jokes going through the crowd, get people to laugh. He will flee for he fears the laughter, and lives off the hate.

[proud2BlibKansan]

55. You wanna hear something funny?

I live in Kansas and the ONLY time I ever hear anything about Fred Phelps is here on DU. Really. Our media and the people here have developed the BEST strategy. It's called IGNORING him. He thrives on attention and publicity. It drives him crazy to be ignored. So he travels all over the US to get the publicity he doesn't get in his home state.

He picketed a funeral right up the street from my house 6 months ago. My son saw him and told me about it. NO media was there. That was awesome.

[rasputin1952]

56. Gotta love the passive approach as well...

ignoring him is highly recommended.... =

[Mabus]

60. The last time he made any news locally was when someone tried to run him over

And then the local news outlets stressed where to send money for the driver's defense fund in the event the Phelps clan tried to sue. :rofl:

[rasputin1952]

62. LOL...He would been a good mudflap...

[ComerPerro]

97. uh, that might have been me

I got into a very vocal argument with his cult a few years back because they were blocking the road. They were on campus here, protesting the new multicultural center or Dole center or something or other, and I had to give a guitar lesson and was running late. They were all over the road, I honked, they crowded around more, so I got out and started yelling at them to move. Campus security showed up, they tried to get the cops on me, but since they are douchebags AND were illegally obstructing traffic, lets just say the cop was less than sympathetic to their cause.

[Mabus]

101. Nah, this one was a woman

I think it was a KU employee to boot. Similar situation though. Trying to get somewhere and she was blocked by Phred and his cult/clan, so she did what she thought was best: she gunned it through the crowd of Phelpsian miscreants.

But, I'm damned glad you did what you did! :thumbsup:

[ComerPerro]

104. I considered doing that, but

I figured, "fuck, they're all lawyers, I don't want to hit any of them unless I can kill them all!"

[atommom]

125. I remember that. She originally said she was trying to knock the signs down

but then realized the signs were being held by people. I believe she worked in one of the campus libraries. Most of us wanted to give her a medal!

:rofl:

[Mabus]

141. That's the one

That was her story and she stuck to it. :rofl:

It was, gosh, ten to fifteen years ago! That's about as much press as Phelps gets and/or deserves.

[walldude]

61. You live in Kansas?? I am so boycotting you...

Don't tell me you live in Topeka, I'd have to get Cheney to take you hunting. :evilgrin: :pals:

[proud2BlibKansan]

65. I live really close to Missouri

It's only a 5 minute drive. So surely that would give me a reprieve from this boycott? And I can always go over there and hide out. I know my good friend evlbstrd will put me up if I am threatened.

evl! Where the hell are you? I might need your couch. :scared:

[evlbstrd]

68. Get across the state line safely, and it's yours.

Are those Savage Kansans acting up again?

[proud2BlibKansan]

69. No we are being threatened by crazy DUers

So I will probably show up early for the St Pat's party. A week early. Time to get out of Dodge if you know what I mean.

[evlbstrd]

73. I see.

Shall we pick on other states alphabetically?

[proud2BlibKansan]

74. Mabus and I decided to start with Ohio

[evlbstrd]

76. Oh, so much material there.

Wasn't their entire state government corrupt or something? And I heard they hold elections that suck really bad.

Q: What are the worst three years of an Ohioans life?
A: Fourth Grade.

[proud2BlibKansan]

77. How do you get an Ohio State graduate off your front porch?

Pay for your pizza.

[evlbstrd]

80. You know you're from Ohio

If you know which leaves make good toilet paper.

[proud2BlibKansan]

82. Okay now we need to move on to Virginia and Colorado

Who needs mountains?

[evlbstrd]

85. Who?

[evlbstrd]

87. This one's true.

In Virginia, there is a state law prohibiting "corrupt practices of bribery by any person other than candidates."

[proud2BlibKansan]

88. Hey when we go to DC in June,

let's go over to Virginia and bribe each other. I have always wanted to break the law in Virginia.

[evlbstrd]

89. It's not hard to do.

When I was a sailor there, I frequently walked on people's lawns.

[proud2BlibKansan]

96. What a bad sailor you must have been

but after all, you did come from Kansas back then, did you not?

[evlbstrd]

115. I did.

Did you know the Navy doesn't have prairie schooners?

[Mabus]

94. You know when my parents got married they were violating a Virginia law

Yep, Loving v. Virginia (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Loving_v_virginia) was decided by the SCOTUS in 1967! The ruling in Loving struck down race-based legal restrictions on racially mixed marriages. See, although my parents met and courted in the southern states, the reason they got married in Kansas is because it was one of the states that would recognize their act of miscegenation. It was also the reason they stayed in the midwest. People were more open-minded here and they could raise a biracial family while having a legally recognized marriage.

[Mabus]

99. Don't get me started on Colorado

Denver used to be the location of my tribe's winter camp ground. Then the whites came, found silver and started a town. Next thing we know, we're being hunted down by Col. Chivington (I am descended from a survivor of the Sand Creek Massacre) and then we were off to some lands they set aside for us in western Oklahoma.

[proud2BlibKansan]

105. Colorado = Tancredo

Nuff said. :rofl:


Then of course there are all those crazy evangelicals in Colorado.

[rasputin1952]

64. I'm in NE, just a few hours away...

We have out nutcases up here too, but nothing like Phelps that I know of...:scared:

What's the name of his "church" anyway....'Gates to Hell'?

[proud2BlibKansan]

66. Westboro Baptist Gates to Hell

Where are you in NE? I went to college in Omaha for a year and a half. And I come up to Arnold for the Blues Fest every July.

http://www.southloupbluesfest.com/2006festival.html1.html

[rasputin1952]

70. I'm in Norfolk up in the NE corner...I figure it will be 1988 here in an other

4 years or so...:D

[proud2BlibKansan]

71. You ought to come party with us in Arnold in July

It's a great blues fest.

[rasputin1952]

72. Right in the center of NE...

I'll see what I can do, I am making a trip back East this Summer that hasn't been finalized looking at the Jun/Jul time frame for the Eastern Sojourn...but I am flexible at this point.

Besides my brother, I've never met anpther DU'er face to face...:D

What is the time frame?

[proud2BlibKansan]

75. It's always the 2nd weekend in July

And since Arnold has only one motel, make your reservations early. We usually stay in Gauthenburg (sp?)

[rasputin1952]

78. That's right off of I-80...

Just for fun, why do they have this in Arnold? There is nothing out there, (well at least according to the map).

Kind of wild and it sounds like a deal..I can finalize plans in the next week or so and figure a timetable...:hi:

[proud2BlibKansan]

81. I don't know the history but they have been doing this blues fest for years

Arnold is about 40 miles off of I80. And it is in really pretty country.

A friend of mine here in KC is from North Platte. Her brother lives in Arnold and he runs the sound for the blues fest every year. Bob always saves us a great spot for our lawn chairs. And we have back stage access too. Plus, the best part is the tickets are not at all expensive - I think they were only $20 last year. For 2 days of great music. I am telling you, this blues fest is one of Nebraska's best kept secrets.

[rasputin1952]

83. Sounds good to me...and I had to laugh when I saw...

"one of Nebraska's best kept secrets." Out there, it has to be a secret, how would any one find out...;) Broken Bow is not that far away either:D

[ComerPerro]

91. Phelps gets discussed here all the time now, and its funny, because

the people who don't really know shit about him are the ones screaming the loudest. He's old news to those of us who have known about him for years...

[Madspirit]

86. Texan Here

...and I just hate State Bashing threads.

It sounds like the whole damn town is really scared of the man and that's ridiculous. Something must be done but I am not sure boycotting a whole terrified town is the answer.

Fred Phelps is way beyond anti-gay. He's clearly insane and I'm not meaning figuratively and I'm not using hyperbole:

"The 50-odd adult and juvenile members of the Westboro Baptist Church are almost exclusively the extended family, by blood or marriage, of Fred Phelps, Sr.

Although four of his 13 children are estranged from Phelps and the church, nine — all attorneys — remain loyal. Most of those live on or near the same city block that holds their church."


That's not normal. A whole movement, a whole church, just basically one giant sick-o family.
They are more like a Jim Jones type thing. They are a cult. Surely the government can do something. This town is being held hostage.

Lee

[Name removed]

92. Deleted sub-thread

Sub-thread removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[Name removed]

132. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[ComerPerro]

133. hypocrite. you certainly did your share of state bashing, especially in this thread

[ComerPerro]

90. Cute thread, but completely immature and amateurish at best

Kansas far and wide have been working actively against Fred Phelps since before you and most of DU even knew who he was. You know why Phelps travels all over the country with his message of hate? Because the city of Topeka, and the surrounding area, doesn't even pay him any attention any more. He protests here every week, and one day, swear to God, I watched them set up, drove to the grocery store to get some stuff to serve for lunch, and while I was driving back home they were taking the protest down because no one was paying attention.

He comes to your areas because he knows you tools will pay him the attention he wants. So enjoy him.

By the way, how many of his little displays have you even personally witnessed, live an in person? Talk to me after you've protested or blocked or worked against him even ten times in one year. And trust me, thats nothing.

[GreenZoneLT]

107. Great. Pile on to Topeka.

Sounds like from that article that Topeka is the No. 1 victim of Phelps and his shenanigans, and you want to make their lives worse? Nice.

[donheld]

113. I'm sorry but this is a dumb idea

You can't blame the town for this fool.

[porphyrian]

118. Any self-proclaimed Christian who promotes hate is a lying piece of shit.

As an unfortunate member of the Bible Belt, I encounter plenty of these assholes daily. Most of them are white and call themselves "Baptists." If the rest of the Christian community can't be bothered to police their own and put an end to those who corrupt the name and ideologies of their own belief system, I have to question their legitimacy as well. Quite frankly, there is no better reason for becoming an atheist than the behavior of most people who call themselves Christian.

[ComerPerro]

123. Thats why I laugh so hard when I see prominent christians say things like

"well, Islam may be a beautiful religion, but if they want to be seen fairly and taken seriously, they need to do some housecleaning."

Projecting much? LOL

[atommom]

121. I used to live in Topeka, and they have enough problems without

being punished for the Phelps family's shenanigans. The city can't exactly lock them all in their compound and forbid them to come out, tempting as that might be.

I'm not even sure how the average DUer would go about boycotting Topeka, even if it were a good idea. :shrug:

[ComerPerro]

126. No kidding. You can spot Phelps "noobs" by how they want to fight him

Hell, even the estranged member of the Phelps clan can't get much business for his law firm because of his name. Topeka stands up to him in the best and most effective way. They ignore him or laugh at him.

But yeah, I don't know what these people want. Are they suggesting we storm Westboro and lock him in his compund?

Its funny, because he is vocal because we so respect free speech that we don't take measures to outlaw protesting, like some have suggested.

[atommom]

128. True. If the Phelpses could be easily stopped, it would have happened a long time ago.

But doing what it would take to shut them up would require a police state. That's just too high a price.

[Little Wing]

127. In that case, I've been boycotting Kansas as long as I've been alive

[Mabus]

142. Did you know that a lesbian activist beat one of Phelps' spawn for city council?

That was back in 2005. Tiffany Mueller beat Jael Phelps for a city-wide seat. Better than that, Mueller came in second overall in the primary. If the Phelps clan was so powerful, why do they lose everytime one of them runs for office? Why have several of them been disbarred? People around here ignore them. We treat them like freepers. We don't give them the attention they crave. Since they can't get it here they travel the country and get others to give them attention.

As for boycotting Topeka: that's one of the most ridiculous ideas I've ever heard. Our Democratic governor lives there. Our state party is there. It is our state capital and I would venture to guess, based solely on the few trips I make there a year, that the majority of the city's tourism is related to education. Because Topeka is the capital city, thousands of school children go there on fieldtrips to the state legislature, Cedar Crest (the People's House where the Honorable Kathleen Sebelius resides), to the state libraries and places like the zoo.

Besides that, why launch a boycott against Topeka when they already have enough people and organizations that don't hold events there because of the Phelps clan? Yes, there are people who stay away from Topeka because of the Phelps family. Most sane people know that the family isn't here a lot. They're on the road getting the attention they crave elsewhere. So, why try to drag Topeka down further? There are enough small-minded people who don't go to Topeka because they're afraid of running into the Phelps clan. I've been to Topeka more times than I can remember (they had a couple of great gay bars downtown that I used to go to back in the early 80's. One is stil there.) and I can count on one hand the number of times I've encountered any of the family members there. Proud, Kiteinthewind and I were among over 100 protesters who turned out for a visit from Bush in October but I didn't see the Phelps clan. He rarely protests anything in Kansas because he doesn't get any attention. They go elsewhere because people in other places talk about them, give them publicity and allow them on the air waves.

Another thing, the Phelps family does not have any clout in Topeka. They live in their little world and only come out when they think they can get attention. Phred is like David Koresch and other small cult leaders: the only people who listen to them are people in their own family group. Topeka is not under seige.

Is Phred a dangerous moron? Yes. Personally I think the state ought to step in and take the children out of there. If you want to help, why don't you try to organize something to save those kids instead of trying to rally people to boycott an innocent city?

[Vinca]

144. What, exactly, can Topeka do about Phelps?

There's nothing in the Constitution about being a crazy, lunatic, annoying, hateful fanatic. Phelps reinforces my atheism. If there was a god, she'd take Phelps out with one lightning bolt.

[jmowreader]

147. Topeka can't do a damn thing about Phelps

They've tried, believe me. But this man KNOWS how to work the legal system and exactly what his rights are. The guy will sue you in a heartbeat. He's good enough at it that Winning Lawsuits and Settlements has become the main source of funding for his "ministry."

I read an article so long ago I forgot where it was, but in it the Topeka chief of police was quoted as saying that he wouldn't do anything about Phelps because he didn't want Phelps living in his house.

[bertha katzenengel]

145. Hell, let's just nuke Kansas! . . . What a crock of shit.

You and SPLC - and Soulforce, for that matter - give Phelps too much attention. I can't think of anyone besides the media who gives those people the slightest bit of credence.

It is the Bill of Rights that allows them to desecrate funerals as they do. Let's nuke the Bill of Rights, too, to stop them.

This post won't be read because the thread has 150 replies already, but what the hell.