Westboro Baptist Church Protests

[KiminChicago]

There are all kinds of limits on free speech that we don't think about. As a pp has said, yelling fire in a crowded theater and causing a panic is not protected. I can't walk into an airport and make a joke about a bomb either. Child pornography isn't protected -- and there are still certain words that cannot be said on the public airways (TV or radio). We don't think about them because they are just common sense. It should also be common sense that protesting at a funeral is wrong.

 

[agnes!]

There's a case about this cult's past picketing/disruption of a military funeral that has just been presented to the Supreme Court. I'm sure the Westboro whackjobs are thrilled that their cultmember-lawyers now get to argue in front of the highest Court in the country - that's why Phelps and his family got law degrees, so they can bludgeon their way through society with their knowledge. http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=2570780

agnes!

 

[sbell111]

The Supreme Court may (should?) find for WBC. That doesn't mean that WBC is right in what they are doing, only that it's Constitutional for them to do so.

 

[BunsenH]

My favorite is the Comic Con counterprotest.

http://www.comicsalliance.com/2010/07/22/super-heroes-vs-the-westboro-baptist-church/

Funny stuff!

(A woman in one of those pictures looks like Christine O'Donnell.)

 

[FlightlessDuck]

They "protest" at any emotionally charged events so that they can get attention for what they claim is God's punishment of this country for our tolerance of homosexuality.

Actually, I believe that they protest to draw attention to themselves and try to fish for a First Amendment lawsuit. It is highly suspect that the "pastor" is a former attorney and worked on Al Gore's senate campaigns.

 

[eliza61]

I was wondering if anyone has witnessed this church protesting a Military Funeral. Our small town lost a soldier last week and his funeral is Tomorrow at our High School. It appears that members from Westboro will be protesting , I feel so bad for this family and just was wondering how bad the protesters will be. I am also afraid of there being trouble, they are coming to a small Alabama town. How do people feel about them protesting? I think it is disrespectful but on the other hand this soldier died for their right to protest.

Do you have a local VFW? Westboro attempted to protest a funeral in a township a couple of counties from me.

Remember people have just as much right to counter protest. anyway the local VFW sent a motorcycle escort to act as an honor guard and 2 local baptist churches sent their full choirs to honor the soldier with beautiful religious music.

Remember Westboro is a teeny tiny group, mainly made up of whats his face's relatives. Basically the could care less about the soldier they want the media so they can spew their own brand of nutiness.

 

[Shmily1]

The WBC came to a soldier's funeral near where I live a few years back. Several off duty police officers assisted the Patriot Guard for around mile from the funeral site the WBC got fed up and left.

The WBC are now pretty much protesting anything they think is wrong and several posters here gave examples. A couple of months back I looked at their picket schedules and there were picketing St. Louis Cardinals games. I had a college instructor who was from Lynchburg, Virgnia. When Virginia Tech shootings happend and the WBC was threating to protest the victims' funerals my instructor said back in the 90's and early 00's the WBC went to Lynchburg several times to picket at Jerry Falwell's church the first time a lot of the locals who hated Falwell egged the WBC on and a few members of the Phelps family even told locals that they wanted to gain as much popularity as Jerry Falwell. The WBC also has protested Joyce Meyer events and Joel Osteen events. They will find anything that is popular or some GLBT related to protest.

One of the VT students was from GA. His cousin contacted my DH who was the state captain for the PGR at that time. They were there in that town, but traded air time with the Atlanta public radio host for their time to protest. DH was also on the air with the host (I hate to say I forgot his name though) the day before the funeral. The PGR was there at the funeral anyway.

They've also protested at the funeral for the children in the Alabama bus wreck.

 

[poeticeclipse]

I have been interested in the workings of this family for a few years now ever since I saw the movie Fall From Grace. The documentary follows Fred Phelps and his family/church. Fact is fact with this film. Interviews were conducted with many members, young and old, from Fred's family. The hardest part to watch is the children speak words of hatred. Not just teenagers or pre-teens... but seven year old kids. No one should have that sort of hate in their hearts... especially not children.

What I found most interesting was that the church is primarily made up of Fred's family. Fred has gotten quite up there in age and he isn't going to be around forever to control the church and "guide" them. He has numerous children and even more grand children. Three or four of his children have admitted that they were abused and treated wrongly in their home life growing up. They left as soon as they could... knowing that what was going on was wrong. Obviously the rest of them are truly brainwashed and believe that hatred is the only way into God's kingdom. I have to wonder what Bible they are reading to believe this stuff!

I'm also from small town and 3 or 4 of Westboro Baptist's members came to protest a soldiers funeral. Word got around fast and everyone in town knew to avoid the street that they were picketing on. Many people decorated their cars that weekend with kind words toward the family and soliders. While I am one of those "Support the troops but not the war" people, I found this gesture very nice. Like others have said, the best way is to ignore the Westboro Baptist Church during their protests. Raise your families with more respect toward other human beings.

 

[kc10family]

Thank you to those of you who are PGR

I agree the so called "church" is a hate group and should be treated as such.

 

[dodukes]

One of the VT students was from GA. His cousin contacted my DH who was the state captain for the PGR at that time. They were there in that town, but traded air time with the Atlanta public radio host for their time to protest. DH was also on the air with the host (I hate to say I forgot his name though) the day before the funeral. The PGR was there at the funeral anyway.

They've also protested at the funeral for the children in the Alabama bus wreck.

r u kidding me ...

 

[Kim&Chris]

Thank you to those of you who are PGR

I agree the so called "church" is a hate group and should be treated as such.

I totally agree. They are a disgusting group.

 

[FireDancer]

The Supreme Court may (should?) find for WBC. That doesn't mean that WBC is right in what they are doing, only that it's Constitutional for them to do so.

This is what I think. They are scum bags but in the US people should be able to protest anything they want on public property. That doesn't mean they should do it but they should have the right to do it. Those are two very different things.

Anyone wanting to counter protest should have the same right but in reality the best thing to do is ignore them and not engage them. They are looking for publicity more then anything so ignoring them instead of engaging them, and that means the news shouldn't cover their protests, there should be no counter protest, no yelling threats, nothing, just ignore them. It may be hard to do but if they don't get the publicity they will move on looking for it.

 

[BellvilleDad]

I fully understand the importance of free, but IMHO this falls under the same category as yelling fire in a crowded theater. I can see where this terrible behavior could incite someone to violence. I'm not sure how well I would handle it personally, and I'm pretty calm at heart.

I could guarantee that if it were my family being buried.

 

[Abbie]

Are they just trying to provoke people so they can sue them and get the $$ or do they really believe the crap they are spewing? Seems to me like they just want the money they can make when their "right to free speech" is infringed upon.

I agree- they are a hate group.

That's exactly why they do it in my opinion.

We're ride captains for the Patriot Guard Riders that go to the funeral services of soldiers so we've run across them several times.

The soldier whose case is now in the Supreme Court was in my town. I remember all the news coverage and the horror that the Phelps' showed up. But what I remember even more is that the Patriot Riders showed up and totally blocked the signs and the group from the public. It was extremely moving and I remember being so thankful there was a group like this dedicated to this kind of thing! I had never even heard of them before but they forever have my respect and gratitude.

 

[kc10family]

To those who agree with it is WBC Freedom Of Speech right to protest at a funeral... I ask you to wonder how you would feel if this group or anyone for that matter came to your family members funeral (mom, dad, new born baby) or your friends funeral. Or how about anyone coming to your family members funeral and protesting for any reason.
Would you still say.... well, it is freedom of speech?

 

[dodukes]

To those who agree with it is WBC Freedom Of Speech right to protest at a funeral... I ask you to wonder how you would feel if this group or anyone for that matter came to your family members funeral (mom, dad, new born baby) or your friends funeral. Or how about anyone coming to your family members funeral and protesting for any reason.
Would you still say.... well, it is freedom of speech?

While I would still think that it sucked and would prob be upset that they chose my family to do it, yes I do uphold the freedom of speech, because like I said before once they take that away, its all downhill from there!


ps: doesnt mean I may not throw an egg at them

 

[Acklander]

To those who agree with it is WBC Freedom Of Speech right to protest at a funeral... I ask you to wonder how you would feel if this group or anyone for that matter came to your family members funeral (mom, dad, new born baby) or your friends funeral. Or how about anyone coming to your family members funeral and protesting for any reason.
Would you still say.... well, it is freedom of speech?

I would feel it was a horrible thing for them to do, but I would still agree with their right to do it. I take our rights very seriously for everyone, not just when it benefits me.

 

[eliza61]

To those who agree with it is WBC Freedom Of Speech right to protest at a funeral... I ask you to wonder how you would feel if this group or anyone for that matter came to your family members funeral (mom, dad, new born baby) or your friends funeral. Or how about anyone coming to your family members funeral and protesting for any reason.
Would you still say.... well, it is freedom of speech?

YES

Listen, as many of you know I have a strong civil rights background. I hate, loathe and despise the KKK but I will defend and uphold their right to legally and peacefully spout their particular brand of crazy.

I will of course raise my voice and protest right back but the true freedom of this country should not and can not depend on my opinions.

No doubt about it I would be P.O'ed if they showed up at anyone I knew funeral but the way to fight back is not to take away their rights. The real freedom and strength comes from uphold some one's rights even though you find them personally repugnant.

 

[FireDancer]

To those who agree with it is WBC Freedom Of Speech right to protest at a funeral... I ask you to wonder how you would feel if this group or anyone for that matter came to your family members funeral (mom, dad, new born baby) or your friends funeral. Or how about anyone coming to your family members funeral and protesting for any reason.
Would you still say.... well, it is freedom of speech?

Yes, I would. I wouldn't like it but I would just ignore that they were there. They can yell my deceased family member is whatever they want to call them but that doesn't make it so. You can't control what other people do but you are always in control of your reaction.

They would of course still be scum.

 

[Myothername]

I keep hearing about this group and one part of me is so much in favor of free speech that I don’t want even the smallest infringement. Then I think about the poor family who have already lost a loved one and what they must be going through. Being a Christian I think what it all comes down to is what would Jesus do? I just do not believe he would be protesting the funeral of a soldier because the military accepts gays into their ranks. Jesus would love the gays as much as anyone else. And he would be hugging the poor families who are in mourning. This church does so much damage to the Christian faith.