Most hated family in America

[Septimus]

they were at Matthew Shepard's funeral... and Mr. Rodgers

why mr.rodgers?!

Because Mr. Rodgers told kids that they are special the way that are, as opposed to telling kids that they were going to burn in hell for being gay.

I am stunned that 95% of the people in this thread seem to have no clue who Fred Phelps is. It's strange that people had absolutely no problem (to the point where some people thought it was funny) when his family was picketing Matthew Shepard's funeral or the funeral of any gay person they could find, but now that they are picketing solders it's an atrocity and everyone must hear about it.

Because 95% of the people on this board were probably less than 12 years of age when the whole Matthew Shepard thing happened. What would they give a shit about this stuff at that age?

He didn't take a break after Matthew Shepard, he kept doing the same thing at the funerals of gay men until a few years ago when he decided that funerals for solders would make more of a splash. Obviously it worked.

[Norelco]

they were at Matthew Shepard's funeral... and Mr. Rodgers

why mr.rodgers?!

Because Mr. Rodgers told kids that they are special the way that are, as opposed to telling kids that they were going to burn in hell for being gay.

I am stunned that 95% of the people in this thread seem to have no clue who Fred Phelps is. It's strange that people had absolutely no problem (to the point where some people thought it was funny) when his family was picketing Matthew Shepard's funeral or the funeral of any gay person they could find, but now that they are picketing solders it's an atrocity and everyone must hear about it.

Because 95% of the people on this board were probably less than 12 years of age when the whole Matthew Shepard thing happened. What would they give a shit about this stuff at that age?

He didn't take a break after Matthew Shepard, he kept doing the same thing at the funerals of gay men until a few years ago when he decided that funerals for solders would make more of a splash. Obviously it worked.

I'm just glad that group of bike riding vets are there to counter-act them.

[Maguspk]

[quote=Norelco]

they were at Matthew Shepard's funeral... and Mr. Rodgers

why mr.rodgers?!

Because Mr. Rodgers told kids that they are special the way that are, as opposed to telling kids that they were going to burn in hell for being gay.

I am stunned that 95% of the people in this thread seem to have no clue who Fred Phelps is. It's strange that people had absolutely no problem (to the point where some people thought it was funny) when his family was picketing Matthew Shepard's funeral or the funeral of any gay person they could find, but now that they are picketing solders it's an atrocity and everyone must hear about it.

Because 95% of the people on this board were probably less than 12 years of age when the whole Matthew Shepard thing happened. What would they give a shit about this stuff at that age?

He didn't take a break after Matthew Shepard, he kept doing the same thing at the funerals of gay men until a few years ago when he decided that funerals for solders would make more of a splash. Obviously it worked.

I'm just glad that group of bike riding vets are there to counter-act them.[/quote:42591]

Ya that website someone posted of those guys is pretty kewl. I used to remember some other Bikers who were really nice who used to go to my old church lol. All the bikers I've ever met seem to have been nice anyway.

Why can't the whole world just be bikers?

[Halleberry]

No offense Septimus, but Phelps mostly deals with gay issues. A lot of people in America in general don't really care, or what to know about gay issues. Yes, it is quite horrible for this person to still exist, and the picketing of anyones funeral is a crime, but you also have to remember what country, and community you are dealing with here. While i feel a gay man is a man regardless and should be treated and respected like the next, I also don't make it my point to research every civil injustice done in our great society. It is unfortunate that not enough people care period, but people like Phelps know how to bring attention to themselves, and thats all this is.

[Septimus]

No offense Septimus, but Phelps mostly deals with gay issues. A lot of people in America in general don't really care, or what to know about gay issues. Yes, it is quite horrible for this person to still exist, and the picketing of anyones funeral is a crime, but you also have to remember what country, and community you are dealing with here. While i feel a gay man is a man regardless and should be treated and respected like the next, I also don't make it my point to research every civil injustice done in our great society. It is unfortunate that not enough people care period, but people like Phelps know how to bring attention to themselves, and thats all this is.

That was my whole point. I didn't say anything out of naive idealism, my posts are built on a solid foundation of cold cynicism.

[Elmer the Pointy]

I am stunned that 95% of the people in this thread seem to have no clue who Fred Phelps is. It's strange that people had absolutely no problem (to the point where some people thought it was funny) when his family was picketing Matthew Shepard's funeral or the funeral of any gay person they could find, but now that they are picketing solders it's an atrocity and everyone must hear about it.

While I agree with your point, I think there's more to the Phelps agenda. The funeral of an army hero is just naturally going to have more people and a connection back to the government, which makes it so much easier for the news to spread. Of course that's just one half, the other being our huge "Support the Troops" culture recently.

The thing is, Phelps isn't really aiming for anti-gay. He's aiming for "piss off the courts, tie them up with his BS and make money from it anyway he can" That's how you rationalize dead troops connecting to divine punishment of homosexuality, giving you the need to protest their funeral.

Why not protest a recruiting center? Because no one would give a shit, your "rights" wouldn't be violated, and you couldn't pocket the results.

[Septimus]

While I agree with your point, I think there's more to the Phelps agenda. The funeral of an army hero is just naturally going to have more people and a connection back to the government, which makes it so much easier for the news to spread. Of course that's just one half, the other being our huge "Support the Troops" culture recently.

The thing is, Phelps isn't really aiming for anti-gay. He's aiming for "piss off the courts, tie them up with his BS and make money from it anyway he can" That's how you rationalize dead troops connecting to divine punishment of homosexuality, giving you the need to protest their funeral.

Why not protest a recruiting center? Because no one would give a shit, your "rights" wouldn't be violated, and you couldn't pocket the results.

It is not "piss off the courts", it is "get lots of media attention". If the media ignored that group, they would move onto the next thing. Protesting at an Army Recruitment center wouldn't gain national media attention, which is what this group craves.

[Elmer the Pointy]

The main goal is to get the media attention needed to generate enough hate so their protesting rights get violated and they can profit off the legal battles.

I'm talking strictly about Fred Phelps here who is the cause of this lunatic family.

I added in "piss off the courts" because his insane anger stems from his legal slip-ups in the past that led to him being disbarred. Ever since then he's gotten more and more bitter and developed this god-complex, causing him to brainwash his family to fight a false crusade against homosexuality.

[Seyrr]

I added in "piss off the courts" because his insane anger stems from his legal slip-ups in the past that led to him being disbarred. Ever since then he's gotten more and more bitter and developed this god-complex, causing him to brainwash his family to fight a false crusade against homosexuality.

Wait wait wait. So if Jack Thompson ever gets disbarred, does that mean we can expect more of this? I'm scared now. ; ;

[Aaros]

I added in "piss off the courts" because his insane anger stems from his legal slip-ups in the past that led to him being disbarred. Ever since then he's gotten more and more bitter and developed this god-complex, causing him to brainwash his family to fight a false crusade against homosexuality.

Wait wait wait. So if Jack Thompson ever gets disbarred, does that mean we can expect more of this? I'm scared now. ; ;

Jack Thompson would probably join their 'church' ,ahem, I mean CULT. He would surely fit right in. What is the most disturbing and sad part of this is them forcing this hatred on their kids. We've all heard of religious indoctrination, but this is purely brainwashing. The kids don't even know what the word 'fag' means yet they re out their preaching this hatred.

[Snoogans]

I actually live in Kansas and this family protests anything and everything they can think of.

I remember in junior high school we had to go see a play at a place called the Leid Center and his group was there shouting "Fags are Gay" "God hates fags" and etc. The weird thing about it was that the play was like the swan princess or something on that level and had nothing to do with homosexuality at all. He just wanted to "protest" for shock value.

Fred Phelps apparently gets some of his funding by family members owning a small percentage of Hobby Lobby a religious hobby center.

[skurlover]

I actually live in Kansas and this family protests anything and everything they can think of.

I remember in junior high school we had to go see a play at a place called the Leid Center and his group was there shouting "Fags are Gay" "God hates fags" and etc. The weird thing about it was that the play was like the swan princess or something on that level and had nothing to do with homosexuality at all. He just wanted to "protest" for shock value.

Fred Phelps apparently gets some of his funding by family members owning a small percentage of Hobby Lobby a religious hobby center.

This I would like to see backed up with a link or something. I, for one, can think of numerous family members including myself that wouldn't frequent this store anymore.