Comments on: God Hates Fred Phelps

By: Jdog

Jdog — Mon, 28 Sep 2009 13:08:58 +0000

Orthogonally, while I'm thinking about it: I've had a little contact with the Freedom Riders / Patriot Guard folks, who have been quite legally and properly (IMHO, and all) interfering with the Phelps clan's harassment of fallen soldiers' families. One of the things that's really impressed me about these folks is how sensitive they are to the wishes and sensitivities of the families -- they're always very careful to be sure that their presence is welcome, and that the families are okay with what they're doing.

By: Jdog

Jdog — Mon, 28 Sep 2009 13:05:08 +0000

I find Phelps phascinating. Here's a guy with a real history as a civil rights lawyer — we're not talking a giant, granted, but a real, serious one — before he went nutso.
Hell, he even sued to prevent the Reagan administration sending an ambassador to the Vatican, on First Amendment grounds, even though it didn't get anywhere.

One theory — and I don't have a feel for whether or not it's true — is that getting disbarred pushed him over the edge. (He did get disbarred in Kansas in 1979, and avoided it for Federal practice with a plea deal where he promised to stop practicing, some years later.)

By: Base of the Pillar

Base of the Pillar — Sun, 27 Sep 2009 13:29:52 +0000

I'd like to show my rare appreciation for Michael Moore: MM vs. Fred But in reality, the only way to defeat Kane is with a charmed Indian lance.

By: Patrick

Patrick — Sat, 26 Sep 2009 20:25:10 +0000

If one prays sincerely that a Phelps be forgiven of his sins, all of them, not just the conduct that makes him famous but certainly including that conduct, Phelps would become enraged. Of course, if one prays that Phelps be forgiven and granted grace merely to spite Phelps, that's an insincere prayer and a sin in its own right, arguably greater than any Phelps has committed.

Fortunately, as an agnostic this doesn't trouble me. I have a moral code but only vague notions of a higher power. I simply think that the idea of giving to worthy charity in Phelps' name, and for spite, is a wonderful one and commend those who did it for Beth Simchat Torah (see one of the links above). Charity is its own reward. When it can be given for such a delicious reason as spiting Westboro Baptist, well, all the better.

By: Shay

Shay — Sat, 26 Sep 2009 19:31:55 +0000

I will save my forgiveness for his children and his grandchildren, who have been brainwashed their entire lives into supporting this vicious hatriot.

By: Below The Beltway » Blog Archive » Federal Court Says That Westboro Baptist Church’s Offensive Funeral Protests Are Protected Speech

Sat, 26 Sep 2009 15:55:31 +0000

[...] at Popehat makes the excellent point that, even though the revulsion at what men like Phelps say is near universal, we still have to protect it… [T]he jury was correct. Fred Phelps should be bankrupt. Fred Phelps should live the rest of [...]

By: Jdog

Jdog — Sat, 26 Sep 2009 02:21:16 +0000

Yup, to all of that. Except for the forgiveness of Fred Phelps. I don't criticize others for forgiving that air thief, not in the slightest; but I don't have the slightest inclination to.

By: Ken

Ken — Fri, 25 Sep 2009 22:49:00 +0000

I was going to buy two new games this week. Donated $100 in Fred's name instead.