Should I counter-protest Fred "Whackadoodle" Phelps?

[TimCallahan]

While Phelps' opinion and right to demonstrate are clearly protected by the first amendment, I suspect he and his hateul followers could legally be banned from any private cemetary where, for example, parents might be burying a son or daughter who died of AIDS. Freedom of speech does not give anyone the right to disrupt someone elses religious (or other) ceremony. Such a disruption surely violates the first amendment rights of Phelps' victims.

Beyond that, it might be worth looking into to see if his belief that only he and certain of his extended family and followers are among the elect has translated into incest. Such things are not all that uncommon in cults.

 

[wardenclyffe]

When I counter-protested them at my friend's play, the cops were there and made sure that we were on one side of the street and they were on the other. I'm guessing it will be a similar situation wherever they protest. Very little direct confrontation is allowed.

Ward

 

[Darth Rotor]

I protested him once. A friend of mine was directing a production of the play, "The Laramie Project" in Milwaukee. They came to protest the play. Counter protesters outnumbered them about 10 to 1 and it was GREAT publicity for the play which ended up selling out. So, is it worth protesting him just to protest? No. Is it worth it if it brings good publicity to whatever he's protesting against? Yes, if that's something you want to support, then go for it.

Ward

Bingo: see Tales From the Alibi Tavern. http://www.internationalskeptics.com/forums/showthread.php?t=105384

 

[westprog]

Is Shirley Phelps in command of every right-wing Christian homophobe, or every member of the WBB for that matter?

And how long until the Phelps, or others, decide that their God makes them above your precious laws. or change them to suit their designs?

True. Better change the laws now to stop them doing it.

 

[Gawdzilla Sama]

There was a tragic incident at a Westboro protest here. Somebody accidentally dropped several bottles of ammonia with the caps off as they were walking past the protestors. Very sad event.

 

[AkuManiMani]

Is Shirley Phelps in command of every right-wing Christian homophobe, or every member of the WBB for that matter?

And how long until the Phelps, or others, decide that their God makes them above your precious laws. or change them to suit their designs?

Thats what law enforcement is for.

 

[Kopji]

If I might take a somewhat contrary opinion...

I think protests against Phelps are fine, and the bigger the better. He is probably deaf to any message except the sound of checks being cashed to finance his travels. A protest message is not for him, but to the many anonymous Christians who are obviously financing his church: it would be just fine for the light to shine on them.

 

[Skeptic Ginger]

I vote for 'ignore the guy'. His whole goal seems to be trying to cash in on other people's 15 minutes of fame.

 

[ejk]

I understand the intent of ignoring him so he doesn't get more attention, and that's generally a good idea. But the press will be there, and you know how much they love to show one side and the other side, so if there are counter-protestors they'll get equal time. You may find that your presence eats into his media time.

But the real reason to do it is if it helps the target. If your presence there is supportive of them and lets them know that the hateful, evil, slimy bastards are not really the voices of the community. For that, I think a counter-protest is worth it.

 

[Achán hiNidráne]

Thats what law enforcement is for.

That's going to be cold comfort for the next of kin.

"Sorry sir, we could have saved your life partner, but an archaic legal fiction written on a piece of 18th century paper prevented us from arresting them while they were just spewing homophobic hate online."

 

[AkuManiMani]

That's going to be cold comfort for the next of kin.

"Sorry sir, we could have saved your life partner, but an archaic legal fiction written on a piece of 18th century paper prevented us from arresting them while they were just spewing homophobic hate online."

If thats the case I guess we should all grab our torches & pitchforks and fly on over to Huston -- maybe organize a lynch mob while we're at it

 

[Achán hiNidráne]

If thats the case I guess we should all grab our torches & pitchforks and fly on over to Huston -- maybe organize a lynch mob while we're at it

Personally, I'd prefer another Waco or Ruby Ridge.

 

[AkuManiMani]

Personally, I'd prefer another Waco or Ruby Ridge.

Why stop there? Lets open death camps for thought criminals too!

 

[truethat]

There's only one way to properly protest this group but no one I've mentioned to would do it.

See if you show up angry then they get what they want.

What people ought to really do is show up in clow costumes and start a pie fight midway through the protest.

You don't really need real pies, just paper plates with whipped cream on em.

That way on the evening news, I mean really what would they be able to say??

So please gather some friends and go all pie on their ass.

 

[Achán hiNidráne]

Why stop there? Lets open death camps for thought criminals too!

Oh spare me! What this all boils down to is whether or not you're going to get the sort of society you want with your soft, democratic, values.

You're not.

Give a Christian the vote and they will vote for theocracy and when last I looked there were far more them than their are of GLBTs or atheists... and some of them are even Democrats, the so-callled party of American liberalism!

If you want to get the things you want in politics you need power and the will to use it. The Christian Right realized this long ago and American secularists, clinging to their pretty notions of democracy and "free speech", are losing because they want to play "nice." You have to learn to play their game and play it better, tougher, rougher, and dirtier than they do.

But no... we rally around a bunch of mythological "rights" in hopes that will stem the coming tide of Christian rule: "Freedom" of speech/press. (i.e. The ability to spread lies.), "Freedom" of Religion (i.e. The ability to believe in lies.), the "right" to petition the government (i.e. The ability to get state to force lies down our throats with a majoritarian stamp of approval.). I've given up on this crap.

It doesn't work and it never did.

 

[Doubt]

Ignoring them is probably the best bet in most circumstances.

But, making fun of them would be second best. Show up in clown outfits with signs saying things like "God makes fags" and lampoon them.

 

[truethat]

Pies I'm telling ya. Makes for great TV. Or you could have a lot of drag queens showing up with massive dildos protruding from their costumes ala anchorman dressed as they do in drag with those signs. Funny!

 

[Whiplash]

edit: nevermind. I was probably breaking the rules. I retract what I said (except the use of the ignore feature).

If it's too late to take it back, sanction me as necessary. I can't put up with this kind of crap anymore. It makes me physically ill.

 

[AkuManiMani]

Oh spare me! What this all boils down to is whether or not you're going to get the sort of society you want with your soft, democratic, values.

You're not.

Give a Christian the vote and they will vote for theocracy and when last I looked there were far more them than their are of GLBTs or atheists... and some of them are even Democrats, the so-callled party of American liberalism!

If you want to get the things you want in politics you need power and the will to use it. The Christian Right realized this long ago and American secularists, clinging to their pretty notions of democracy and "free speech", are losing because they want to play "nice." You have to learn to play their game and play it better, tougher, rougher, and dirtier than they do.

But no... we rally around a bunch of mythological "rights" in hopes that will stem the coming tide of Christian rule: "Freedom" of speech/press. (i.e. The ability to spread lies.), "Freedom" of Religion (i.e. The ability to believe in lies.), the "right" to petition the government (i.e. The ability to get state to force lies down our throats with a majoritarian stamp of approval.). I've given up on this crap.

It doesn't work and it never did.

Perhaps a Final solution is in order? Let us mobilize to deal with the Jewish Christian conspiracy that threatens us all! To war my fellow National Socialists atheists to war! For your children and your children's children's children!!!

 

[Kopji]

I'm not sure I understand why they care about Houston. Can it even be saved?