October 17, 2002

1:32 PM

Rev. Fred Phelps. Probably one of the vilest humans to be called a human. The man picketed the funeral of Matthew Shepherd with signs stating “God Hates Fags,” and continues to picket on the anniversary of his death each year. Where are the snipers when you really need them! I’m all for freedom of speech, but how does this guy look himself in the mirror???
posted by archimago (22 comments total)

Where are the snipers when you really need them! I’m all for freedom of speech...

And the award for Most Ironic Juxtaposition of the Year goes to...
posted by pardonyou? at 1:35 PM on October 17, 2002

There's a good Gettingit.com article from 1999 about godhatesfags.com.
posted by waxpancake at 1:36 PM on October 17, 2002

Not defending the Rev... But is this just a "I hate this guy!" thread?
posted by Steve_at_Linnwood at 1:36 PM on October 17, 2002

I can't even go to that page. I know bigots live there.... what else? I won't give him the clicks.

I'm not sure what this serves...
posted by dash_slot- at 1:38 PM on October 17, 2002

"I’m all for freedom of speech, but........."

Since you advocate shooting people who exercise this right, I'm having trouble believing you really mean that. Sounds to me like you have a major problem with free speech. Why not just come out and admit it? You don't like free speech.

I, however, *do* like free speech and think Rev. Fred Phelps should speak his mind.

He's wrong headed. But the fact that he's an idiot doesn't mean we take his rights away. Is that what you want? People who aren't "right" don't get free speech?
posted by y6y6y6 at 1:40 PM on October 17, 2002

This post belongs on this site (second link, that is).
posted by soyjoy at 1:40 PM on October 17, 2002

People like Fred Phelps are really best left ignored.
posted by triggerfinger at 1:42 PM on October 17, 2002

you know this guy Phelps, with all his suppressed sexual issues and public hatred of gays, is the same guy who jerks off to kiddie porn in his basement
posted by adamms222 at 1:42 PM on October 17, 2002

Phelps is so over the top that he is almost helpful. By being such a jerk, and by being it so publicly, he vividly illustrates to the public the type of bigotry that gays face. I can guarantee that more mainstream opponents of gay rights are not happy when this guy gets press; he makes them all look like hate-filled freaks.
posted by profwhat at 1:44 PM on October 17, 2002

Fred Phelps is a psycho homophobe.

In other news, hair is hairy.
posted by jonmc at 1:44 PM on October 17, 2002

"... and continues to picket on the anniversary of his death each year"

It's almost like he's just trying to get publicity. I'm sure he appreciates your help.
posted by Bonzai at 1:47 PM on October 17, 2002

Well, even though this post is getting grilled, I suppose I can make a comment....

I lived in Laramie, WY when the Matthew Shepherd thing happened, and also through the subsequent demonstrations by Phelps and his gang of cronies. The University set up a pen where they were allowed to protest for the day on campus at the U. of Wyoming (and then later down at the courthouse). My feelings upon seeing them, strangely enough, wasn't outrage even though I, as would be expected, I vehemently disagreed with what they were saying. The reason being that no one really took Phelps serious. It was almost like a freaky/sad sideshow to the whole events. The cool part was when some students dressed up like angels, and surrounded the Phelps group, and with their large wings blocked the entire lot of them. (You may have seen this in the play or movie "The Laramie Project".)
posted by split atom at 1:47 PM on October 17, 2002

"mainstream opponents of gay rights are not happy when this guy gets press; he makes them all look like hate-filled freaks."

And the second place award for Most Ironic Juxtaposition of the Year goes to... (with apologies to "pardonyou?")

;)
posted by madmanz123 at 1:48 PM on October 17, 2002

As long as this is a bad news thread, let's add some conspiracy theory:

Maybe the Rev is a troll. He's secretly a flaming liberal, and he's doing his part to discredit the radical right. Thanks for furthering his cause with the FPP!
posted by freebird at 1:50 PM on October 17, 2002

Not defending the Rev... But is this just a "I hate this guy!" thread?

archimago, look what you've done.
you made me agree perfectly with Steve

It's also a double post
posted by matteo at 1:53 PM on October 17, 2002

What profwhat said. This Rev. brings this sort of festering insanity out in the open and causes it to wear, in the public mind, the face it deserves.

There are many much smoother and more insidious voices for hatred and intolerance out there; humanity is better and more honestly served when this idiot is percieved as representative than they are.
posted by George_Spiggott at 1:54 PM on October 17, 2002

phelps is actually an interesting little religio-deviate. i cant find the link right at the moment, but his hometown paper has done articles on him - of the expose genre. he lives with his followers, mostly extended family members, in a "compound", an assemblage of homes he has acquired over the years. and there have been defectors who have been more than willing to spill the beans about his sexual misadventures, his cruelty, abuse and ironclad rule over his 'clan'. godhatesfags.com is one of the most well-known hate sites on the web, i'd be surprised if it hadn't appeared here in the past and if there was anyone who hadn't at least heard of it, and it has inspired dozens of parody sites.
posted by quonsar at 1:55 PM on October 17, 2002

The Rev. Fred Phelps hates pancakes. Not me!

(quonsar, meet matteo)
posted by languagehat at 1:59 PM on October 17, 2002

FWIW, this guy came and picketed my high school's graduation about three years after I left the school b/c they had started a gay-straight alliance club. I went to HS in Tulsa, OK, so it wasn't too far of a drive for him. I think some people drove by and tossed eggs at him, but I wasn't there.
posted by Ufez Jones at 1:59 PM on October 17, 2002

i cant find the link right at the moment,

Here you go. Now everybody can study him all they want without giving him hits.
posted by soyjoy at 2:01 PM on October 17, 2002

I alternate between laughing at the Rev and wanting to picket his funeral. But this I like:

Sodomites...produce by their very presence in society a kind of mass intoxication from their wine...

This explains a lot of my favorite threads.
posted by hippugeek at 2:02 PM on October 17, 2002

I don't think the "free speech but" in the post is really such a contradiction. One may very well fully support Rev. Phelps right to say what he pleases--indeed, one may prefer to have it out in the open--, but still find that, upon hearing his speech, it demonstrates that the man himself is a worthless little toad whose diseased mind should not be allowed to exist any longer than is absolutely necessary.

I would not propose a legal remedy for this situation, of course. But free as he is to say them, the man's words reveal a soul worthy of little more than pity and contempt.

That said, does this really warrant a post? He's not really new or interesting. As I see matteo has demonstrated more concretely.

On preview: Sodomites...produce by their very presence in society a kind of mass intoxication from their wine...

This is why I miss evanizer.

And now the thread's been deleted, of course. Hello, lofi users.
posted by moss at 2:08 PM on October 17, 2002