NationStates Jolt Archive

COMMENTARY: How in the hell can these people claim to speak for God? This is one of the most dispicable, insane and downright evil things I have ever heard perpetrated in the name of "religion!"


Police, veterans prepare for protests
at soldier’s funeral (http://www.armytimes.com/story.php?f=1-292925-1455851.php)


Associated Press
EVANSVILLE, Ind. — Police and county officials urged veterans to avoid confrontations with anti-gay protesters who plan to picket at the funeral Tuesday of an Indiana soldier killed in Iraq.

Hundreds of area veterans have said they will try to shield Pvt. Jonathan R. Pfender’s family from members of the Westboro Baptist Church in Topeka, Kan., the Evansville Courier & Press reported.

Church founder the Rev. Fred Phelps contends that American soldiers are being killed in Iraq as vengeance from God for protecting a country that harbors gays. Church members have protested at scores of military funerals, and the church informed Evansville police Saturday it would protest at Pfender’s services Tuesday at The Centre.

“They are not going to get our goat,” Vanderburgh County Commissioner Cheryl Musgrave told about 100 area veterans who met Sunday at the Evansville Coliseum. “How dare this group co-opt this funeral to make some purely disgusting point.”

Evansville police special operations Sgt. Chris Pugh said about 12 to 20 protesters, some with signs, were expected. He said the group will be restricted to public sidewalks and protesters will not be allowed to enter The Centre, the funeral home or Sunset Memorial Park, where Pfender is to be buried.

Police also likely will block access to the route from The Centre to the cemetery, Pugh said. He said police would not tolerate any legal violations.

Pugh urged veterans to use restraint. “I can understand why you’re going to be as mad as you’re going to be,” Pugh said. “But whatever they say, you’ve just got to let it go.”

Mark Acker, the county veterans service officer, echoed the point.

“Our theme is we’re here to honor a fallen comrade and pay tribute to his family,” he said.

Pfender, 22, of Evansville, was killed by an improvised explosive device during a patrol Dec. 30 in Bayji, Iraq, the Army said. Pfender was assigned to the 1st Battalion, 187th Infantry Regiment, 3rd Combat Team, 101st Airborne Division. He was the 52nd military service member from Indiana to die in the war.

Basically anyone can claim anything in the name of any religion........ The problem is that some people actually believe the crazy things said

Phelps and his followers have no shame. We should ship them to Iran. They'd like it there.

Pugh urged veterans to use restraint. “I can understand why you’re going to be as mad as you’re going to be,” Pugh said. “But whatever they say, you’ve just got to let it go.”

$10 says at least two protesters will be in A&E after the funeral.;)

Those peopel can claim to speak for god in the same way young children claim to speak for their imaginary friends. Neither party seems to protest the misrepresentation of their words.

Ugh. Despicable behaviour. Definitely the arse end of the the right to free speech.

$10 says at least two protesters will be in A&E after the funeral.;)
Huh? S'plain, please. :confused:

And my friends wonder why I'm more anti-religion with every passing year. I used to think we had the biggest idiots over here in the athiest camp. I'm starting to question that theory lately though.

And my friends wonder why I'm more anti-religion with every passing year. I used to think we had the biggest idiots over here in the athiest camp. I'm starting to question that theory lately though.
People are idiots regardless of what they do or don't believe. Some idiots are a little more vocal and active but I think idiocy is generally spread evenly

People are idiots regardless of what they do or don't believe. Some idiots are a little more vocal and active but I think idiocy is generally spread evenly
Very true. Idiocy knows no bounds! :D

Huh? S'plain, please. :confused:

It'd take the serenity of a saint not to attack one of the protesting scum, I know that millitary training teaches restraint and self control (I have a cousin in the Royal Marines) but with the stress of burying a former comrade and friend I suspect at least a couple of the veterans will go for the protesters (who completely deserve it IMHO).

It'd take the serenity of a saint not to attack one of the protesting scum, I know that millitary training teaches restraint and self control (I have a cousin in the Royal Marines) but with the stress of burying a former comrade and friend I suspect at least a couple of the veterans will go for the protesters (who completely deserve it IMHO).
I just don't want them getting in trouble.

I just don't want them getting in trouble.

Any reasonable judge would let them of on emotional grounds and diminished responsibility due to extreme provocation.

Any reasonable judge would let them of on emotional grounds and diminished responsibility due to extreme provocation.
Except in the Ninth Circuit. :(

Hadn't you heard of these people before, Eut? Here on the east coast we call them the "god hates fags church" because they're always protesting and holding up signs that say "god hates fags." They send their kids -- little kids -- out to scream at people, using words like that and condemning people to burn in hell. They're an insane cult, imo.

Two somewhat positive notes, though:

Last year, they protested at the funeral of two Iraq soldiers in Tennessee, I think it was. They got chased down the highway by grieving hillbillies armed with baseball bats in pickup trucks. :D (I don't know whether they were blasting the theme from Deliverance from the truck stereo. Sometimes it really is fun to be American.)

And, the notorious Howard Stern found out about them and every now and then he persuades one of their leading street-screamers -- a relative of Phelps, I think -- to call in to his radio show and take ridicule from them. She brings her frighteningly indoctrinated kids on the show too. Love shockjocks or hate them, Stern is still an excellent interviewer, and he gets a very clear picture from these people of what they think and how they live. He has done a lot to put them into the public eye, and so far that has not been a good thing for them.

Okay, here's the plan:

First, we have to get Fred Phelps into Georgia. Get him into a county with a jail that's really into sodomy. I mean, really reserach it. Pick the jail with the highest sodomy rates in the country. I'm assuming it's somewhere in Georgia. :p

Anyhoo.. Once there, we frame him for a really juicy crime. Something that will get him locked up for a good long time with some of his favorite type of people. Then he spends the next ten years learning how to toss salads. :D

I'm not surprised. Phelps and his bunch are also planning on protesting at the funerals of the people who perished in the Sago Mine. I may be a Conservative Republican, but it's people like Phelps and his ilk that have driven me away from Christianity. They are such hypocrites.

:sniper: Steph :mp5:

http://www.patriotguard.org/

These guys will help, if you ask.

http://gatewaypundit.blogspot.com/2005/12/hateful-protesters-show-up-at-fallen.html

On November 2, 2005, in South Haven, Kansas, the hateful Westboro Baptist Church members had gathered to protest at the funeral of Sgt. Evan Parker.

But this wasn't their day!

Over two hundred Patriot Riders had gathered at the funeral to honor Sgt. Evan Parker!


Before anyone arrived for the funeral service, we formed a blockade, three to four bikers deep, completely obscuring the protesters from view of the high school and the mourners. We held American flags high to block their signs and whenever they would begin their chanting, we would drown them out with our own chants of "USA" and the revving of our engines. They didn't stand a chance. After a couple of hours, they loaded into their van and were escorted out of town.

The family had asked that those of us, who could, attend the graveside service and join them for food at the Methodist church afterward. It seemed main street was the only paved road, so while the service was going on, Craig and I headed to main street to get away from the dust. We parked at the side of the road, found a shady piece of grass, and lay back and relaxed. I was amazed at how many people drove by, pulled over, and thanked us for coming. One older gentleman, a vet wearing a WWII ball cap, even got out of his car and tried to give me five dollars for dinner.

What pathetic pieces of scum. If I was there, I'd shoot one of the brainless, offensive bigots and go to jail smiling.

What pathetic pieces of scum. If I was there, I'd shoot one of the brainless, offensive bigots and go to jail smiling.
I'd bust yer butt outta dat jail, too! :D

www.godhatesfredphelps.com

[hums Great Escape theme under his breath]

Okay, here's the plan:

First, we have to get Fred Phelps into Georgia. Get him into a county with a jail that's really into sodomy. I mean, really reserach it. Pick the jail with the highest sodomy rates in the country. I'm assuming it's somewhere in Georgia. :p

Anyhoo.. Once there, we frame him for a really juicy crime. Something that will get him locked up for a good long time with some of his favorite type of people. Then he spends the next ten years learning how to toss salads. :D

Lol, you're almost as sick and sadistic as me! :eek:

*Pats LG on the back*

I like your style. ;)

For more self-confessed prophets, visit here (www.reandev.com/taliban). I particularly like "We don't have to protect the environment, the Second Coming is at hand."

COMMENTARY: How in the hell can these people claim to speak for God? This is one of the most dispicable, insane and downright evil things I have ever heard perpetrated in the name of "religion!"

What? :eek: This is the worst you've heard? Lad, you've got to get out more! Granted, they are insane, unfeeling bastards that are lacking in human emotions, but this particular stunt doesn't even qualify for the top 100 list of dispicable, insane and evil acts perpetrated in the name of religion. Think Inquisition, man...

Wuff! It's a scary ol' world... :(

Do these "people" have a website of any kind? Some of my friends and I could take it down.

The unfortunate thing is that they are like children with psychological problems, even negative press such as the bashing they get from most sane, normal people counts as attention. So they continue to do what they do because they crave that attention, good or bad.

If only we could find a way to ignore them completely, erase them from everyone's focus, cease to pay them any attention at all, THAT is what would hurt them. Howard Stern, sadly, only reinforces, in their own eyes, that they are important, no matter how bad he makes them look to the rest of us.

After all, remember that Hitler always thought what he was doing was right, but if everyone had ignored him from the start, he would have died an obscure water color painter with delusions of grandeur.
:(

www.godhatesfredphelps.com
Hehehe! Well done!

Several times over the past few years I've been accused of being gay becuase I confont some of the idiots who indulge in "gay-bashing." If it weren't for my family and my not wanting them to suffer, I would write a letter to the local newspaper stating that I was gay ( even though I'm not ) just so I could use self-defense as a reason for eliminating as many of these cretins as exercised poor judgment by attacking me. :D

I have believed, based on some of Phelps other veiws, that if there is a just god, he would damn him to the lowest hell. This only confirms it.

Not from the states so hadn't heard of this guy.This is the second one in two days I am new to, Pat Robertson being the other one.After a quick wiki search on each it seems they might not be quite sane.Was just wondering if there are any others I should put on my 'watch list'.Is there no way through American law that they can be prosecuted ?

Pat Robertson
Fred Phelps
Sen.'s Brownback and Santorum
James (?) Dobson (I'm not sure I got the first name right)

Watch out for these guys. Bigoted, uberreligious, anti-science, anti-reason, anti-anything-but-fundamentalist-Christianity hate-mongerers. Fred Phelps is the craziest, Brownback and Santorum are the most highly placed, and Dobson and Robertson are the most politically string-pulling and outspoken. Dangerous idiots.

Now... don't think of them that way... they're just presenting an opportunity for compassion. :D

Not from the states so hadn't heard of this guy.This is the second one in two days I am new to, Pat Robertson being the other one.After a quick wiki search on each it seems they might not be quite sane.Was just wondering if there are any others I should put on my 'watch list'.Is there no way through American law that they can be prosecuted ?

We could try them under the 1879 'Being an Evil Fuckwit' act but sadly it doesn't exist.:(

I plan to lobby the UK Parliment to introduce the law though.*nods happily*

I'll leave it up to The Big Guy to decide the fate of their souls, however, I don't approve of their opinions or actions. They should try reading the Bible for a change.

Pat Robertson
Fred Phelps
Sen.'s Brownback and Santorum
James (?) Dobson (I'm not sure I got the first name right)

Watch out for these guys. Bigoted, uberreligious, anti-science, anti-reason, anti-anything-but-fundamentalist-Christianity hate-mongerers. Fred Phelps is the craziest, Brownback and Santorum are the most highly placed, and Dobson and Robertson are the most politically string-pulling and outspoken. Dangerous idiots.
And I was getting worried about the 'mad' Mullahs.Shame that these people can hide behind 'Freedom of Speach'.At this funeral though they may aswell spit on the grave of this and all soldiers.

While I certainly share the common disgust with Fred Phelps and his ilk, I must admit that I am surprised to see religious believers condemning his actions. There is as much evidence supporting his claims as there is supporting any other claims about God's wishes, and Phelps is as likely to be right as anybody else. Indeed, a cynic might point out that Phelps' description of a vengeful and petty God is rather more consistent with the current state of affairs on Planet Earth than are the theories of a loving, fluffy, wonderful God who for some reason has decided to let His favorite creations writhe in earthly torment.

While I certainly share the common disgust with Fred Phelps and his ilk, I must admit that I am surprised to see religious believers condemning his actions. There is as much evidence supporting his claims as there is supporting any other claims about God's wishes, and Phelps is as likely to be right as anybody else. Indeed, a cynic might point out that Phelps' description of a vengeful and petty God is rather more consistent with the current state of affairs on Planet Earth than are the theories of a loving, fluffy, wonderful God who for some reason has decided to let His favorite creations writhe in earthly torment.

See, I am a firm believer in the Happy Medium; That God is a dispassionate aloof being that washed His hands of us long ago and really doesn't care what torments we cause ourselves.

The unfortunate thing is that they are like children with psychological problems, even negative press such as the bashing they get from most sane, normal people counts as attention. So they continue to do what they do because they crave that attention, good or bad.

If only we could find a way to ignore them completely, erase them from everyone's focus, cease to pay them any attention at all, THAT is what would hurt them. Howard Stern, sadly, only reinforces, in their own eyes, that they are important, no matter how bad he makes them look to the rest of us.

After all, remember that Hitler always thought what he was doing was right, but if everyone had ignored him from the start, he would have died an obscure water color painter with delusions of grandeur.
:(
It's true that they crave the attention, and I've wondered whether exposing them in the media is a good idea or not. In the end, I decided that it is the best way to deal with them.

First, you can't clean a mess unless you know it's there. When your house gets a termite infestation or black mold, you can't clean it out without ripping open its hiding place and exposing it to the light, to full view. These people claim that they live normal lives and follow Christian rules. Howard Stern shows how these people use and abuse their children; how they fear and hate all of society outside their group, not just gays, so we might be justified in thinking that gays are just their first target; he gets them to admit that they want gays to be executed and that they support gay bashing and murder. Society has a right to know this. Gays have a right to know that they are being threatened by a specific group. I think the police should be made aware of them, especially as they travel from state to state. Also, I first learned from the Howard Stern radio show that almost every member of the church is a member of Phelps's family, either by blood or marriage. They talk about god a lot, but their entire mental and social focus is on Phelps himself. Kinda like David Koresh and Jim Jones and every other violent, lunatic cult we've ever seen.

Second, because they are a violent, lunatic cult, I don't feel confident that if we ignore them, they will disappear for lack of attention, like a candle starved of oxygen. I think they will do what they think they have to do to get attention, and if that means murder or terrorism, then that's what they'll do. The next generation of them -- their kids -- are the ones to be afraid of. Lots of attention to the truth of what they are about is more likely to put an end to them.

Pat Robertson
Fred Phelps
Sen.'s Brownback and Santorum
James (?) Dobson (I'm not sure I got the first name right)

Watch out for these guys. Bigoted, uberreligious, anti-science, anti-reason, anti-anything-but-fundamentalist-Christianity hate-mongerers. Fred Phelps is the craziest, Brownback and Santorum are the most highly placed, and Dobson and Robertson are the most politically string-pulling and outspoken. Dangerous idiots.
This and the American Taliban site are more reasons why we shouldn't ignore these bastards. Phelps is just a lunatic running around the streets and building a hateful harem for himself, but the rest of them are well connected politically or they are actual politicians. What's that thing in the Bible about "whited sepulchres"? All neat and clean and pure and normal-looking on the outside, but inside they are full of corruption and filth. These people are determined to succeed in doing what David Koresh and Jim Jones failed at - to reshape all of society in their own image. We ignore them at our peril. (cue doom music.)

Associated Press
EVANSVILLE, Ind. — Police and county officials urged veterans to avoid confrontations with anti-gay protesters who plan to picket at the funeral Tuesday of an Indiana soldier killed in Iraq.

Hundreds of area veterans have said they will try to shield Pvt. Jonathan R. Pfender’s family from members of the Westboro Baptist Church in Topeka, Kan., the Evansville Courier & Press reported.
What a fucking traitor. It's people like him that make me question free speech rights.

Sadly, the Bible states here and there that homosexuality is wrong. Mind you, thanks to the True Christian website I've learned that there is too much in the Bible that is worthy of contempt. And in case anyone feels like flaming me for that, go to the True Christian site and look up every last Bible reference he has on the site... Oh dear, they're all in there, aren't they?

Not from the states so hadn't heard of this guy.This is the second one in two days I am new to, Pat Robertson being the other one.After a quick wiki search on each it seems they might not be quite sane.Was just wondering if there are any others I should put on my 'watch list'.Is there no way through American law that they can be prosecuted ?
You've been lucky up to now.

Under US law, the 1st Amendment protection of free speech allows them to spew their crap in public, in print, in the media, etc. But the 1st Amendment also allows their opposition (us) to answer them, counter their attacks, expose them for what they are, and generally take the fight to them. It's messy, but it works -- just so long as both sides participate.

Do hate speech laws cover this crap?

It'd take the serenity of a saint not to attack one of the protesting scum, I know that millitary training teaches restraint and self control (I have a cousin in the Royal Marines) but with the stress of burying a former comrade and friend I suspect at least a couple of the veterans will go for the protesters (who completely deserve it IMHO).
Isn't this how Phelps funds his organisation? Suing people who've disrupted legally allowed and cleared in advance protests?

I don't see how he'd manage it....what judge or jury could fail to see extreme emotional justification for the disrupter's actions, and give them minimal damages at best?

Isn't this how Phelps funds his organisation? Suing people who've disrupted legally allowed and cleared in advance protests?

Don't ask me, I'm just an ignorant Englishman.

*sits back and drinks tea*

What a fucking traitor. It's people like him that make me question free speech rights.
And it's responses like that that put the Constitution at risk. Sorry, but.

The right response is what those bikers did at the other funeral -- drown the bastards out with a louder, more righteous noise; or what the mourners did at yet another - tell those scumbags exactly how welcome their opinion is and keep telling them all the way down the highway till they're the hell out of your county.

Yea that is pretty messed up. I don't care who the individual in question was or what your opinion on the matter is, one should respect the dead.

till they're the hell out of your county.

Were that it were "country" instead of "county"....

You've been lucky up to now.

Under US law, the 1st Amendment protection of free speech allows them to spew their crap in public, in print, in the media, etc. But the 1st Amendment also allows their opposition (us) to answer them, counter their attacks, expose them for what they are, and generally take the fight to them. It's messy, but it works -- just so long as both sides participate.
Thats the problem though.They will more than likly stamp their foot ans shout 'Freedom of Speach'.Is it not possible to take a cival case against them.Slander for example?I'm not religious but the back of every U.S coin states 'In god We Trust', if the military of the U.S can't count on that who can?Surly somehow these bastards can be caught out on a point of case law and at least bankrupted?

I don't see how he'd manage it....what judge or jury could fail to see extreme emotional justification for the disrupter's actions, and give them minimal damages at best?
Perhaps I've been misinformed. Isn't it an offense to disrupt or try to stop a licensed protest, though?

Do hate speech laws cover this crap?
They should, but every time Phelps claims 1st Amendment protection, it becomes a matter for lawyers to sort out.

Perhaps I've been misinformed. Isn't it an offense to disrupt or try to stop a licensed protest, though?

Yes, but extenuating circumstances certainly exist in these cases.

Fred,,,,dosn't speak for Evangelicals :)

Thats the problem though.They will more than likly stamp their foot ans shout 'Freedom of Speach'.Is it not possible to take a cival case against them.Slander for example?I'm not religious but the back of every U.S coin states 'In god We Trust', if the military of the U.S can't count on that who can?Surly somehow these bastards can be caught out on a point of case law and at least bankrupted?
Yes, absolutely, people whose funerals or other business are disrupted by this behavior could bring civil suits against Phelps and his "church." They could claim harrassment, or slander, or if they're gay (and alive) violation of their civil rights, discrimination, and some low level hate crimes. But because of the 1st Amendment, the state and feds have no standing to take action against Phelps, unless he commits a crime such as trespass (if those he targets can lure him into entering onto private property) or assault (if he gets into a fight with someone counter protesting). All the other possible charges are civil and can only be brought by private citizens who may not know that they can do that or might be intimidated by his "free speech" claims.

Someday, someone will sue him, and that will be fun indeed.

Fred,,,,dosn't speak for Evangelicals :)
He doesn't speak for anybody who isn't mentally ill or married to their sister, I suspect. Doesn't shut the hatemongering little twat up though, does it?

Yes, absolutely, people whose funerals or other business are disrupted by this behavior could bring civil suits against Phelps and his "church." They could claim harrassment, or slander, or if they're gay (and alive) violation of their civil rights, discrimination, and some low level hate crimes. But because of the 1st Amendment, the state and feds have no standing to take action against Phelps, unless he commits a crime such as trespass (if those he targets can lure him into entering onto private property) or assault (if he gets into a fight with someone counter protesting). All the other possible charges are civil and can only be brought by private citizens who may not know that they can do that or might be intimidated by his "free speech" claims.

Someday, someone will sue him, and that will be fun indeed.
If only I could apply for temporary citizenship I'd certinaly have a go.Form a group of like minded people and the words 'Class action Law suit' spring to mind.Even if each person was to get $5 in damages I'm Sure it would add up!!

Do these "people" have a website of any kind? Some of my friends and I could take it down.Yeah Phelps and the Westbourro baptist church do... I won't post it's link.

But you'd likely have to wait in line... it's probably the most targeted site on the net... it's knocked out and hacked regularly. Sometimes the results are hilarious.

Yeah Phelps and the Westbourro baptist church do... I won't post it's link.

But you'd likely have to wait in line... it's probably the most targeted site on the net... it's knocked out and hacked regularly. Sometimes the results are hilarious.
I found the link but I wouldn't even justify clicking it as I would be registered as visition and giving them more 'followers'.If we could get some account details though......

I found the link but I wouldn't even justify clicking it as I would be registered as visition and giving them more 'followers'.If we could get some account details though......
Frankly, I feel petrol bombs on their real estate would be a more appropiate result than shutting down their website: do you think anybody ever looks at that other than pissed off liberals?

$10 says at least two protesters will be in A&E after the funeral.;)
i say for the price of a return ticket to their from here and all the protesters will be in A & E, stupid assholes!! :mad:

i say for the price of a return ticket to their from here and all the protesters will be in A & E, stupid assholes!! :mad:
A&E isn't good enough.

Frankly, I feel petrol bombs on their real estate would be a more appropiate result than shutting down their website: do you think anybody ever looks at that other than pissed off liberals?
I sure that Marine has a few buds who would be more than happy just to disappear the little shit.*insert revelant smiley*

A&E isn't good enough.
well then we will need to think of something more suiting *grabs shovel*

A&E isn't good enough.
What, you want to Martyr them?

One thing we must have learned by now is that killing people "motivated" by a "Religious Agenda" only encourages their "Quest". By which, I mean that these thugs posing as Christians will only revel in the possibility of a very definite target for their self-devoted rebellion against society.

What, you want to Martyr them?

One thing we must have learned by now is that killing people "motivated" by a "Religious Agenda" only encourages their "Quest". By which, I mean that these thugs posing as Christians will only revel in the possibility of a very definite target for their self-devoted rebellion against society.
OK violence would only justify their actions.If enough people in prominent positions speak out against them maybe they will just cower away.The can't just point and scream 'Homo' at everybody who speaks out.

What, you want to Martyr them?

One thing we must have learned by now is that killing people "motivated" by a "Religious Agenda" only encourages their "Quest". By which, I mean that these thugs posing as Christians will only revel in the possibility of a very definite target for their self-devoted rebellion against society.

I agree.

Killing is such a messy affair, and besides, there is the unintended consequence of martyring them. There are ways, however, of making life so terrible that they may wish they were martyred.

What, you want to Martyr them?
No, I want to kill them and piss on their corpses.

Here's the plan.. all we need is a pre-op transesxual, Fred Phelps,chloroform and a camera...

Here's the plan.. all we need is a pre-op transesxual, Fred Phelps,chloroform and a camera...
And a jealous boyfriend with a blunt implement.

Here's the plan.. all we need is a pre-op transesxual, Fred Phelps,chloroform and a camera...
That's unfair.

I wouldn't wish that on anyone.

I mean, come on.

Poor Transsexual.

What, you want to Martyr them?

One thing we must have learned by now is that killing people "motivated" by a "Religious Agenda" only encourages their "Quest". By which, I mean that these thugs posing as Christians will only revel in the possibility of a very definite target for their self-devoted rebellion against society.

It's simple, really. Manufacture evidence against them that would imply that they have committed treason against the United States government. Tell them that they have two choices: either OD on heroine or they and their entire group gets to be discredited.

If they choose the latter, then you wisk them away in the middle of the night, manufacture evidence to make it appear that they were going to leave the country, fly them down to Brazil, take a helicopter to the middle of the rainforest and then A-shoot them all or, B-leave them there with no food, no clothes, no nothing.

No martyrdom involved, as the government didn't do dick, nor did private citizens. At least not according to anyone but conspiracy theorists.

It's simple, really. Manufacture evidence against them that would imply that they have committed treason against the United States government. Tell them that they have two choices: either OD on heroine or they and their entire group gets to be discredited.
Erm... the Government turns a blind eye on them when they claim both that God is against the US and that they fight for God. What evidence could you possibly create that would make them seem any more treasonous than that?

Erm... the Government turns a blind eye on them when they claim both that God is against the US and that they fight for God. What evidence could you possibly create that would make them seem any more treasonous than that?

Maybe invent some links to Timothy McVeigh. Maybe arrange for a Federal Building to be blown up (at night, in a portion that's been evacuate). And link them to that. Or some other form of active treason (as opposed to passive treason, which is largely protected by the Constitution).

If that's too much trouble, you could just skip to the flying them to Brazil portion.

Erm... the Government turns a blind eye on them when they claim both that God is against the US and that they fight for God. What evidence could you possibly create that would make them seem any more treasonous than that?

Organising a coup?

Organising a coup?
they sound very like Muslim fundamentalists don't they.Swap God for Allah and you have a home growen Osama.

I hope those cretins try something. I want them to try chewing on a riot shield.

So... I expected to read (and full apologies if I missed) that said KIA soldier was supposed to be gay or something (and in the army under the "don't ask, don't tell" envelope, presumably) and that this is why they were protesting...


But it appears not. Are they really just choosing (fairly) random funerals to protest at? Why? Please excuse me while I go and lay down and let me head explode at such... well, it's tangential to mere 'stupidity', and 'maliciousness' is already a given, so I don't know what 'such' it actually is... but it's so 'such' that I can feel the cranial pressure rising already...

I hope those cretins try something. I want them to try chewing on a riot shield.
They don't. They just stand around shouting and whining then sue anybody who loses their temper and infringes on the fuckwits' constitutionally defended right to protest.
It's a scam rather than a church, really.

If only I could apply for temporary citizenship I'd certinaly have a go.Form a group of like minded people and the words 'Class action Law suit' spring to mind.Even if each person was to get $5 in damages I'm Sure it would add up!!
It could happen. There are only 60 or 70 of these obnoxious morons, so it's hard for them to rack up enough offenses to launch a class action suit. And Phelps may be crazy but he's not stupid. He knows where the property lines are. But someday, one of his people will fuck up, and then it will be off to the races for the lawyers and the media.

I do wish American gays would be more proactive in their own defense, though. All we get are a few Queer Power extremists that nobody listens to. Sometimes I think the rest of the community wants to pretend gay bashing doesn't happen. Maybe they think they can avoid trouble by keeping their mouths shut. That kind of thinking let brutal oppression of black people continue for nearly a century after the Civil War ended in the South. They need to organize properly.

They don't. They just stand around shouting and whining then sue anybody who loses their temper and infringes on the fuckwits' constitutionally defended right to protest.
It's a scam rather than a church, really.

Then how about a group of people with a large tarp show up and fence them off?

Then how about a group of people with a large tarp show up and fence them off?
That's infringing on their approved and permitted protest as well.
Great, isn't it?

So... I expected to read (and full apologies if I missed) that said KIA soldier was supposed to be gay or something (and in the army under the "don't ask, don't tell" envelope, presumably) and that this is why they were protesting...


But it appears not. Are they really just choosing (fairly) random funerals to protest at? Why? Please excuse me while I go and lay down and let me head explode at such... well, it's tangential to mere 'stupidity', and 'maliciousness' is already a given, so I don't know what 'such' it actually is... but it's so 'such' that I can feel the cranial pressure rising already...
They show up at actual gay things too. They nearly got violent when Harvey Milk High (the gay/lesbian/transgendered high school) opened in New York. It was very disappointing when they restrained themselves. I think they were really pissed off at god that he didn't hit the city with more hijacked planes because of it.

They're one of that crowd that says bad things are happening because everybody in the world doesn't obey them. Like Pat Robertson saying Sharon's stroke happened because he gave up Gaza when he (Pat) didn't want him to. So these Phelps assholes show up at the funerals of soldiers, thinking that if they point out that this fine young person's death is god's punishment because his daddy didn't kill any queers this week, that will inspire the mourners to say, damn, they're right -- let's go kill some queers and save the rest of our army.

They do inspire some violence, but not against gays. It's all been against themselves, so far. The fact that they haven't figured that out indicates that it's possible to be crazy and stupid at the same time.

Yeah Phelps and the Westbourro baptist church do... I won't post it's link.

But you'd likely have to wait in line... it's probably the most targeted site on the net... it's knocked out and hacked regularly. Sometimes the results are hilarious.

Damn....well, we'll just have to make our hack more spectacular than any that has come before! :D

That's infringing on their approved and permitted protest as well.
Great, isn't it?
Challenge the Permit?

They don't. They just stand around shouting and whining then sue anybody who loses their temper and infringes on the fuckwits' constitutionally defended right to protest.
It's a scam rather than a church, really.
Exactly. As always, you have penetrated right to the core of the issue. :D

And my friends wonder why I'm more anti-religion with every passing year. I used to think we had the biggest idiots over here in the athiest camp. I'm starting to question that theory lately though.


Compare numbers of deaths from the inquisitions, and crusades, to the number of Holy Wars started by atheists.

No atheist ever started a war, becuase "God told me to."

That's infringing on their approved and permitted protest as well.
Great, isn't it?
Yeah. These people even give "protest" a bad name!

Organising a coup?

YES! We could organize a coup, take out Bush, and frame it on Phelps' bunch! Two birds with one stone! [runs off to go plan his coup d'etat] :D

Challenge the Permit?
I'd imagine that this is why they pick on the bereaved and other people who have more important stuff to worry about.

Challenge the Permit?
That's a good one.

One could also arrange a counter demonstration and keep them focused on your "god loves fags" signs rather than on the mourners.

They're basically trying to do to funerals what the anti-abortion-rights movement does to clinics -- barricade them with a circle of intimidation so they can shout their message to people who have to be there. It took many years and a lot of violence, but many states now have buffer zones and other protections for clinic staff and patients. Maybe cemeteries could learn from that experience and lobby for similar legislation. Right now, the cemeteries just rely on the fact that they are private property and can bar demonstrations, but that didn't help the clinics..

One could also arrange a counter demonstration and keep them focused on your "god loves fags" signs rather than on the mourners.





Bingo!

Anybody wanna fund an organization whose sole purpose is to follow the phelps crew around and protest their protests? Who knows, perhaps it would be enough to push them over the edge and after a few they start throwing bibles hehe