We would like to nominate Fred Phelps, the founder of the Westboro Baptist Church of Topeka, Kansas, as Worst Person in the World. . .EVER. (OK, maybe Hitler was worse, but at least he made the trains run on time. . . .Or was that Mussolini?)
Compared to Phelps and his brood, Bill O'Reilly is Santa Claus. Glenn Beck is Gandhi. Sarah Palin is an amalgam of Martin Luther King and Einstein. What we're saying here is, this guy is just BAD.
WBC believes that America has become the literal enemy of God because of the country's tolerant attitude toward deviance: abortion, homosexuality, Judaism--you get the idea. A couple of choice morsels from their website, "godhatesfags.com" (yes, we're serious):
"Since 1955, WBC has taken forth the precious from the vile, and so is as the mouth of God (Jer. 15:19). In 1991, WBC began conducting peaceful demonstrations opposing the fag lifestyle of soul-damning, nation-destroying filth."
"'GOD HATES FAGS' -- though elliptical [?!?] -- is a profound theological statement, which the world needs to hear more than it needs oxygen, water and bread"
There's a part of us that wonders if this is meant to be satire. Can they possibly be serious?
Dead serious, apparently. The "church" has a particularly colorful way of protesting America's moral failings: They picket funerals. And not just any funerals--funerals of dead soldiers and other agents of moral failure. The other day, WBC announced plans to protest at the funerals of Judge John Roll and the other victims of Jared Loughner, including (that's right!) nine-year-old Christina Green. Today, however, WBC agreed to avoid Christina's funeral--not for the reason you might think (simple human decency)--but because a Phoenix radio host offered them airtime if they would stay away.In this hyperpartisan age of rancor between left and right, Democrat and Republican, it's refreshing to note that there are people out there like James Phelps, who can truly bring the American people together. You know, if we could just get him to speak out in favor of tax cuts for the rich and other elements of the right-wing agenda, we might actually see some progressive legislation pass. Just a thought.
Solipsistography:
CNN.com: "Obama to Headline Memorial for Victims of Saturday's Shooting"
Countdown with Keith Olbermann
And if you really want to poison your browser, Westboro Baptist Church
Ah, yes. There's nothing like a common enemy to bring us together and stop mass shootings! I always enjoy how religious sects pick and choose verses of the Bible, Koran, Bhagavad Gita (just kidding there) to justify their actions.
ReplyDeleteNow that I think about it, the same could be said of the Constitution. Just because you can read doesn't mean you understand what you're reading.
Yes, Phelps is reprehensible. BUT... he is a nut with no power or money, so the media treats him like a nut with no power and, he has no effect on our lives, OR, may I add, the lives of gay men & women, OR anybody else. And, while he SHOULD BE STOPPED by all legal means possible, he IS a supreme test of OUR adherence to th Bill of Rights. ON THE OTHER HAND... when John McCain STANDS ON THE SENATE FLOOR and does his best John Boehner cry about the number of potential good Americans who may be killed or maimed because we are abolishing DADT, he HAS power; he has money; he gets full coverage and RESPECT in the media. And who knows how many sick minds he encourages to outrage. I'm just asking the question.
ReplyDelete