An intolerable extremist
Now that I've taken some shots at a band of leftist extremists, it's time to fling a dose of outrage in the other direction.
NPR offered an infuriating report this evening about Fred Phelps and his Westboro Baptist Church of Topeka, Kansas.
These lunatics are about as Christian as the "Christian" Knights of the Ku Klux Klan.
Lately, they've been picketing funerals of servicemen killed in Iraq, berating the survivors and declaring their fallen loved ones have gone to hell.
They say they're going to show up and do the same at Coretta Scott King's funeral tomorrow.
Warning: The link directly above takes you to their Web site. Their rhetoric is highly offensive.
Phelps' tactics are so noxious that several states, like Indiana are considering legislation to bar demonstrations at funerals.
That's an extreme response. Is it necessary to block the actions of these repulsive people?
What unintended consequences might result? One worried observer told NPR the laws could apply to Cindy Sheehan or other war protesters who also might show up at military funerals. Yes, laws apply equally to everyone.
I think there's room to impose reasonable restrictions without infringing unreasonably on First Amendment rights.
A funeral might take place in a public setting, such as a military cemetery.
That doesn't mean a funeral is a public event.
There should be a space -- in time and distance -- reserved for family members and invited guests.
Everyone else could be required to stay a decent distance away for a decent amount of time.
This is a great country because it allows everyone to have his or her say.
It would be better if everyone could exercise those rights respectfully.
Fred Phelps and his flock of hateful bleating sheep refuse. It may be necessary to impose a little civility on them.
It's beyond tolerance to expect the family of a soldier who dies for his country to endure insults from the likes of Fred Phelps when they're laying their hero to rest.
Comments (6)
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Phelps' "church" is actually just him and some relatives, by and large. What a waste of a tax exemption.
Posted on February 7, 2006 6:00 AM
Fred Phelps and crew are the equivilent to the Islamicnutzoids that we read about daily.
"Sheik Khalid Yasin, a regular guest lecturer in Australia, declared that "there's no such thing as a Muslim having a non-Muslim friend" and denounced modern clothes as the work of "faggots, homosexuals and lesbians"; Yasin wouldn't merely draw cartoons of homosexuals – he'd have them put to death in accordance with Koranic law."
Just change the name from Sheik Yasin to "Rev".Phleps and you can see that they preach the same message. Both nutzoids. Both need to be banned from earth, not just public appearences or funerals.
Posted on February 7, 2006 9:00 AM
Dear Lord forgive me the rage and hate I feel in my heart for these creatures. Hell's fires are too mild a punishment for them. I can forgive the raving Muslims because they know no better, but these depraved monsters, NEVER.
Posted on February 7, 2006 2:00 PM
Did I miss something? What do muslims have to do with this? Your nature just wouldn't allow you to stay on task and talk about the redneck nuts. Instead, you pass up on dogging them and choose to dog muslims. And you claim to have no knowledge of why other races dislike you. Whoa...
Posted on February 7, 2006 4:50 PM
UH, Mitchell, read my post and look at the language that the Islamicnutzoid used and see if it doesn't sound like Phelps, Wildman and that crew.
Oh this same Islamicnutzoid also said that women who wear jeans, and dresses as they do in the West deserve to be raped and killed. I believe Phelps takes a simular stand on dress in regard to the rape part.
Maybe, just maybe, then you will understand!
Posted on February 7, 2006 6:45 PM
At what point did the discussion turn to mrproduce and away from Phelps?
Posted on February 8, 2006 2:01 PM