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I was referring to the Westboro Baptist Church (of idiots). Their spokes person and essentially the driving force of the church is Shirley Lynn Phelps-Roper. She is one of Fred Phelps’s children. I have watched her speak several times and she is a certified loon.</p>
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<p>Promoting teenage sexual activity, even with protection, isn’t good for anyone.</p>
<p>1of42 said:</p>
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<p>To which beef said:</p>
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<p>Good example why bullet and mafool are right, you have to let everyone have freedom of speach.</p>
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<p>That is entirely not relevant to this thread. I merely provided a couple of examples of organizations diametrically opposed in their goals to the WBC.</p>
<p>If you’d like to discuss Planned Parenthood and why you’re wrong about their mission, effects and overall impact on society, that’s fine, but this isn’t the thread for it. PM me to have that discussion, if you wish.</p>
<p>As for free speech, the WBC is a great example of why America’s free speech laws are so great. The fact that people like this can say such disgusting things shows the value America places on being allowed to express opinion, political, religious and otherwise, and I think it’s very admirable.</p>
<p>I saw billboards for the group’s website when I was in SC. I never visited the site. I DID click on it when I read this thread, and I was absolutely sickened. I don’t happen to believe that God hates ANYONE, but I can’t help but think the folks spewing this hateful c*** test His patience. My heart goes out to the families and loved ones of these young women and everyone else whose funerals have been besieged by idiots who claim to be repenting for the sins of others.</p>
<p>Phelps’ church has been fined $11 million by a court for picketing a marine’s funeral…not sure of the details, but I doubt they can be made to pay. Or to shut up.</p>
<p>I think the fact that they haven’t been beaten to death is testimony to the patient and peaceful nature of the American people.</p>
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<p>[Westboro</a> Baptist Church ordered to pay $5 million - Midstate PA Local News, Weather, Sports & Entertainment - PennLive.com](<a href=“http://www.pennlive.com/midstate/index.ssf/2008/02/westboro_baptist_church_must_p.html]Westboro”>Westboro Baptist Church ordered to pay $5 million - pennlive.com)</p>
<p>I can only hope every attempt is made to collect the judgment amount.</p>
<p>It’s not that the SC won’t review this case because it concerns the 1st amendment. I doubt that a conservative court would review this case simply because the circumstances are so repugnant yet still legal. Precedent holds that hate groups have the same rights to speech and religion as everyone else (Cuffley vs. Mickes, 1999–the KKK “Adopt-a-Highway” case). The Phelps have done no legal wrong, and the court knows that. There is no libel or slander–it’s all opinion based upon their religion. If I were to say that I believe all soldiers were fluffy and huggable due to God’s grace, then that’s my opinion. The same goes true for the Phelps believing that all soldiers are sinners damned to hell due to God’s wrath. And moral right has nothing to do with the judicial system.</p>
<p>enderkin–I know what you are trying to say with your last sentence…“moral right” as opposed to “legal right”–but I would hope the two have many points of intersection. For instance, when the Civil Rights movement was fighting the Jim Crow laws, many people rationalized the situation with the statement, “You can’t legislate morality.” Well, morality is exactly what our laws legislate, though sometimes due to human lawmakers’ failings, the law lags somewhat.</p>
<p>We can all agree with laws against murder and theft. Other laws may be harder to justify and in fact only arose due to specific circumstances (various odd local ordinances, for instance.) </p>
<p>Thus the Nazi party is outlawed in Germany due to the events of WWII. If the Phelps clan is enough of a problem, laws can be passed making it illegal for anyone to do certain actions within so many yards of a funeral. Certainly laws have been passed disallowing guns in schools or court houses, or limiting where convicted sex offenders may live. </p>
<p>I freely admit I would personally like to do something extremely illegal and painful to the Phelps gang.</p>
<p>While this group isn’t yelling fire in a theatre, they pray they will provoke someone into either a physical confrontation, or yelling match. One of these days, someone will be injured or killed in some sort of retaliation. They want this because then the news will cover them and their message. </p>
<p>I’m a pretty peaceful person, and non-violent, but I don’t know if I could have the self-restraint to keep my mouth shut if they attended the funeral or protested anything I felt strongly for, using their hatred. </p>
<p>If you really want to read the whole story about the Phelps cult, here’s a good start. Their story is full of hatred, abuse, breaking laws, adultery, etc.
[Addicted</a> To Hate - The Fred Phelps Story](<a href=“Loading...”>Loading...)</p>
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<p>And sometimes, the law gets somewhat ahead of itself, too. Between a rock and a hard place, as it were.</p>
<p>Here is how the funeral was handled today- The Patriot riders formed a barrier of flags to shield the attendees and family from the Phelps “ugs” (uninvited guests). [Rabbi:</a> Let Justice System Work In Burk Case - News Story - WGCL Atlanta](<a href=“http://www.cbs46.com/news/15548638/detail.html]Rabbi:”>http://www.cbs46.com/news/15548638/detail.html) </p>
<p>(click on the "friends, family, unwanted guests video on the right). I am glad I did not go to the funeral- I would probably have wanted to throw something at those idiots.</p>
<p>I posted this on another thread about Lauren’s funeral:</p>
<p>I did not go to the funeral, as I did not know the family. However, I was very mindful of the time and my route as I ran errands this afternoon, remembering what a traffic nightmare we caused during the procession to the cemetary after the funeral of that young HS senior last fall. I was at my last stop, a drugstore by my house, picking up 12-packs of soda. I kept looking out the window as the young kid was ringing up the soda. He asked me what I was looking at, and I mentioned that I was aware that the funeral was probably ending and I was not sure which way the procession would be going, and hoped to be out before I got caught in it. He asked whose funeral I was talking about. When I mentioned whose it was, he looked very sad. He said he had gone to the memorial service at the nearby Babtist church last night, but didn’t realize the funeral was going on as we spoke. Apparently Lauren was his best friend’s sister! It was just sooo sad. I cannot fathom anyone being so insensitive as to protest this tragic event. Just unbelievable.</p>
<p>Bullet-
Heres the description of “Skokie”, the film starring Danny Kaye (aka Danny Kaminsky). I believe it was his final flim. “Skokie” [Skokie</a> - a Danny Kaye movie made for TV](<a href=“http://www.clown-ministry.com/index_1.php/site/articles/skokie_a_danny_kaye_movie_made_for_tv/]Skokie”>http://www.clown-ministry.com/index_1.php/site/articles/skokie_a_danny_kaye_movie_made_for_tv/)</p>
<p>i saw a youtube video…called “some americans can be amazingly dumb”…this is so stupid and ignorant and disgusting…i just want to punch them in the face</p>
<p>oh and i sent them an email woot</p>
<p>peach-
Did you get any email junk back from these cretins? I wouldnt want them to have my email address!!!</p>
<p>haha…not yet 0.0 oops should’ve thought of that</p>
<p>jym, thanks for the link (and the memories it brings). We saw this movie in my HS Civics class (aaaaaaages ago). Brought up some very interesting discussions, as I grew up in an area with a large jewish population (Central NJ). I recall I was one of the few who said the Nazis had the right to march in Skokie (for the same reasons I feel that these idiots in the Phelps Church should be able to shout their garbage to thier hearts content).</p>
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<p>Mafool, OUTSTANDING quote. Please forgive me up front if I use it for another appropriate time and forget to properly reference you.</p>
<p>But don’t get me wrong. Grabbing thier stupid signs and stomping on them while I “fart in their general direction” would feel OOOOH SO NICE! (And moderators, please forgive my reference to flatulence.</p>
<p>Bullet, I’m with you and with everyone else on this thread who expressed their desire to get at these <a href=“mailto:b@stards”>b@stards</a>. My blood boils when I think about these sick individuals. However, I’d discourage checking their website or sending them e-mails or touching them by any means. Just like school bullies, they crave the attention their hideous acts draw. Let’s deprive them of it.</p>