Rebels with a cause

February 23, 2006 10:22 AM

“Judges are humans,” he said. “They’re not going to have any sympathy for this guy.” Some talk about free speech recently got me to thinking about what’s-his-name and some brothers who are doing something about it. (I always thought God was a biker. I mean, check out the beard.)
posted by Smedleyman (30 comments total)

Obligatory Freeper link

Can’t say as I’d be in favor of a law banning whats-his-name. But on the gut level I can’t say as I mind having a screen like this to counter that kind of general assholery.
posted by Smedleyman at 10:29 AM on February 23, 2006

People have hoped for years that the obsessively anti-gay protesters would go away. Yet the Phelps clan travels the country, and even overseas, to protest anything it deems not hostile enough to homosexuality.

Which raises the question: where do these jerks get the funding for these activities? It certainly can't be from selling the same ridiculous slogan t-shirts to each other. Who is staking these people?
posted by psmealey at 10:31 AM on February 23, 2006

I think those guys are great. They're idiots, and everyone who hates gay people will seem like idiots by association.

Put them in a music video...Erasure comes to mind...and run a caption that says, "Gay bashing is Un-American."
posted by nyxxxx at 10:36 AM on February 23, 2006

"where do these jerks get the funding for these activities?"

From evil liberal forces seeking to discredit Christianity. Duh. That or their day jobs. It doesn't cost much to get a family of 6 to Kentucky, for example.
posted by fleacircus at 10:42 AM on February 23, 2006

Jesus, what I wouldn't give to watch a few dozen bikers beat the shit out of Fred "Cocksucker" Phelps and the rest of his phony "church".

I'd fucking print and distribute the handbills for the event.

When is it?
posted by wakko at 10:53 AM on February 23, 2006

(I always thought God was a biker. I mean, check out the beard.)


posted by Smart Dalek at 10:55 AM on February 23, 2006

wakko, please broadcast it for those of us unable to make the trek.

What could possibly make someone follow Phelps' and his "logic"? The guy is as bonkers as the dude who talks to the bus stop sign. And he's gay. As if everyone but him didn't already know that.
posted by fenriq at 11:14 AM on February 23, 2006

The guy is as bonkers as the dude who talks to the bus stop sign. And he's gay.

Fred Phelps protests so he can hook up with cute guys. Numerous sources confirm this.

I say we send him to the Great Outdoor Fight and see how he places. I will attempt to get as many high quality camera angles of his crushing defeat as possible.
posted by wakko at 11:20 AM on February 23, 2006

Wow, I think you should look at the Westboro Baptist Church propaganda. I can't even imagine a place where this sort of view is supported.

You need to look at some of 'march' links on this.

godhates****.com

Wow, things like this makes me reminds of all those religion classes in my christian Highschool and catholic Jr highschool and why I rejected the religion.
posted by countzen at 11:20 AM on February 23, 2006

It will eventually come out Phelps' is a complete perv. How could he NOT be? A guaran-fucking-tee some time soon video will surface of the guy wearing an SS uniform and being humped by a hitler mustached donkey. Or something to that effect.
posted by tkchrist at 11:24 AM on February 23, 2006

The scariest thing about their website is that all of the content appears to be in PDF format. These people are insane.
posted by brundlefly at 11:25 AM on February 23, 2006

I think phelps and his coven are about as idiotic and viscous as people without real power can get. psmealey raises an interesting point. I'd like to know where they're getting funding.

But, as objectionable as I find Phelps et.al., and despite what my vigilante response might be were it happening to me, I wouldn't dream of suggesting that he has no right to be that stupid and that ugly and that hateful in public.

I don't like "free speech zones". I don't like them when they pertain to our elected officials, and I don't like them when they pertain to common citizens. We cannot only defend the speech in which we believe, we must defend the speech in which we do not believe.

That being said, I have to admit that I would probably donate to a legal defense fund of some family member who snapped and popped one of those phelping bastards in the kisser.
posted by dejah420 at 11:27 AM on February 23, 2006

This isn't the first time a group has come up with a creative means of countering Phelps.

I would so enjoy the two groups teaming up with an Angel on the back of every bike.
posted by LinnTate at 11:28 AM on February 23, 2006

I am so glad I left fag-infested West Virginia years ago. All three of them were driving me crazy.

In all seriousness, I think they should be allowed to protest anywhere, anytime, especially funerals, for two simple reasons:

1) It increases their chances of ceasing to exist.
2) It would allow me to openly mock their funerals.
posted by tallthinone at 11:32 AM on February 23, 2006

The funny thing is that these Patriot Guard biker groups who go out and protest Phelpsy are now essentially on the same team as gay protesters. Perhaps it's the leather chaps that unite us all.

Why that assclown hasn't been murdered yet is a mystery to me.
posted by scratch at 11:33 AM on February 23, 2006

I think gay people should donate money to the Phelps--I can't think of of any more useful idiots to help discredit anti-gay beliefs.
posted by kevinsp8 at 11:36 AM on February 23, 2006

I mean, check out the beard.

You mean Mrs. Phelps?
posted by brain_drain at 11:52 AM on February 23, 2006

I agree that Phelps has a right to do what he's doing but I retain my right to point at his group and call them the haters they are. I like, no, I love the idea of biker vets drowning out their hate with their loud pipes.

This is the only time I've cheered for louder motorcycles.

Maybe they could accomplish the same thing with leaf blowers?
posted by fenriq at 11:55 AM on February 23, 2006

On Tachmonites by mefite brownpau.
posted by sonofsamiam at 11:56 AM on February 23, 2006

There's a film festival in NYC in a couple months that the Phelpsians show up to protest. I have a sign all ready for them.

I'm going to come up behind them, like I'm one of them, and then hold up a sign that reads "God Hates Fred Phelps".

Just to see if they notice.
posted by mephron at 12:13 PM on February 23, 2006

The Patriot Guard helped squash Phelps at the funeral of a cousin to my best friend.
Thanks for the post Smedleyman.
posted by forforf at 12:40 PM on February 23, 2006

Rather than limit free speech they need to pass a law that makes beating the shit out of a funeral protester a misdemeanor punishable by a $25 fine.
posted by Carbolic at 12:44 PM on February 23, 2006

Why are they protesting military funerals? Is it don't ask, don't tell?
posted by 445supermag at 1:01 PM on February 23, 2006

Erm, let me get this straight. From reading the Freepers, at the thread Smedleyman linked, it sounded like some of them were conflating the certifiable members of the WBC with anti-war protesters, and implying that Phelps supports Gore. How can that make sense to anyone with two brain cells to rub together?
posted by jokeefe at 1:36 PM on February 23, 2006

“Why are they protesting military funerals? Is it don't ask, don't tell?”

Their premise is that God is killing American troops because they fought for a country that embraces homosexuals.
Not that the service member in question was or wasn’t gay (in some cases they are) but that *snicker* according to scripture when God sets out to punish, it’s with a sword and so *chortle* IEDs are broken up swords and since that’s the weapon of choice these assheads must then protest a dead soldiers funeral.

I know the word ‘spurious’ doesn’t cover it, but it is what they actually said they believe.
Some of them showed up at a memorial in West Virginia for the folks who died in the Sago Mine disaster with signs saying: “Thank God for Dead Miners” and “Miners in Hell.”

Some bills are being proposed to limit this. I’d be against them, but in terms of practicality I’d have to agree that judges would probably ok it. Not that I like that.

(Sometimes I stand in awe of my own commitment to free speech. To be fair I also often question my own sanity, so...)

But stuff like this is such a cathartic pleasure.
posted by Smedleyman at 1:53 PM on February 23, 2006

where do these jerks get the funding for these activities?

The entire family, and most cult members, are lawyers, some at the family firm, Phelps Chartered - 11 of the 13 Phelps children have law degrees. Fuck knows who hires them.

What I can't understand is how, when protesting at a soldier's funeral, the Phelps crowd haven't been beaten half to death already? I mean, I assume you get a lot of soldiers at these funerals, so they're essentially spending all their time shouting in the faces of grief-stricken trained killers who've probably had a few drinks, and yet no one has kicked their heads in yet. Weird. I'm surprised the police haven't been removing them from the funerals for their own safety.

Also, note the copyright notice on godhatesfags.com:

You may use any of our material free of charge for any reason.

That's pretty much an invitation to, I dunno, remix one of their podcasts (yup, they have podcasts!), re-purpose some of their texts or get busy with Photoshop on the protest images.
posted by jack_mo at 2:15 PM on February 23, 2006

Sometimes I stand in awe of my own commitment to free speech. To be fair I also often question my own sanity, so...

I agree, except for the funerals. I really think that is where the spirit of the idea "I might disagree with everything you say, but I'll fight to the death for your right to say it" (misquote I'm sure, but you get the idea) stops applying.

What really amazes me about the whole thing though is that there aren't "free speech" cages for these monkeys similar to what was/is so quickly erected at any conservative-minded event. I'd stretch to say that while not condoning Phelps' demostrations in any concrete way, the powers that be in each respective location definitely don't seem to be as concerned with containing them as they are the radicull lib'ruls.
posted by rollbiz at 4:13 PM on February 23, 2006

I support Phelps' right to protest at these funerals provided they're public events--of course any privately owned cemetary should be able to kick them out, and if it's a military cemetary and it's not a large funeral with a public invitation, then the Phelpsians should be driven away for harassment.

Also, people should harass Phelps as much as possible within the law. I remember reading about bikers who go to these funerals and drown out their protests with cheers and engine noises. Sometimes patriotic zealots are good guys.
posted by Citizen Premier at 4:25 PM on February 23, 2006

I remember reading about bikers who go to these funerals and drown out their protests with cheers and engine noises. Sometimes patriotic zealots are good guys.
posted by Citizen Premier at 4:25 PM PST on February 23

Like, maybe....at the top of this page perhaps? ;)
posted by kayjay at 9:24 PM on February 23, 2006

Whoops. I think I have quantum dyslexia or something.
posted by Citizen Premier at 10:06 AM on February 24, 2006