Recently, the state of Montana has given way to a law that gives homosexual partners the right to share health benefits. That's gotten the attention of one Fred Phelps and he and his group are on their way to the University of Montana for a protest.
While I, and many of us here, take Phelps (of the ever-classy GodHatesFags.com) as what he is, nothing more than a hate-mongerer and an idiot that shouldn't be taken seriously, I bring this up for a reason. A friend of mine (a lesbian student at UofM) had never heard of Phelps or his group before this. When she found out, she researched the group's website and called crying. Among their boasts:
-God hates fags. Of course, we all knew this is what they stood for. -"God loves everyone" is a myth and he actually HATES the whole lot of society. -The tsunami and 9/11 were GOOD things and God should be THANKED for these incidents.
The question here is, how do I convince my friend that Phelps and his band of idiots aren't taken as seriously as she believes?
The man was going to protest Mr.Rogers' funeral in Pittsburg, because Fred Rogers did not decry homosexuality on his show. The guy is exhibit "A" for the case of why Christianity should never be taught in schools. The story behind him, is that his kids and some other family members are a team of lawyers and very sue happy. So, if someone does critize his him on TV or radio, they are usually met with lawsuits. His family is exhibit "A" in the case of court reform in regards for idoitic lawsuits. I am not advocating violence or anything, but if something were to happen to him and his tribe of fanatic family members, I wouldn't lose any sleep. Actually, I'd be at the grave with wooden stakes.
Phelps shouldn't be taken to seriously, but he gets press which never helps. I believe in any publicity for these people is good publicity for them, because eventually they will convert one or two stupid ass people. I don't know how you would fight this type of idoicity, because they would use their faith as their justifications like you know certain people on Sept.11th 2001. They are the worse representation of religion you could get in the states and sadly, no one does anything to really stop them, because any law would be overturned with the right of free assembaly. I forget where I saw it, but someone had a marachie band play across the street when they or a KKK rally was being held. It was funny to see the band out noise the demonstrators. Something like this would be good publicity, because it shows the ridiculous nature of such demonstrations that a marachi band gets more air time than them.
"All faith reguires is giving into the possibility of hope."
Originally posted by It's FalseThe question here is, how do I convince my friend that Phelps and his band of idiots aren't taken as seriously as she believes?
I think the answer to your question is found earlier in your post...
Your friend shouldn't worry about the legitimacy of a group that feels "The tsunami and 9/11 were GOOD things and God should be THANKED for these incidents"!!
Phelps and his crew get shouted down, ridiculed, mocked and laughed out of town every time they go on one of their little "gospel-spreading" road trips. He's a national joke, albeit one that isn't very funny.
Tell your friend to imagine a drunken bum jacking off into a Slurpee cup in back of your local 7-11. Now explain to your friend that if asked to choose, the average person would consider the BUM to have more credibility than Phelps after listening to each's rantings for five minutes.
"...I'm sorry, I was wrong -- we cannot go back and make it that the Hawaiians killed Christ." -- Jennifer Giroux, professional wingnut
Originally posted by A Fan The guy is exhibit "A" for the case of why Christianity should never be taught in schools
Now I'm not saying that Christianity should be taught in (public) schools, let me make that clear. But what does that have to do with this guy? Is your point that this guy represents Christianity as a whole? Because he most surely does not. Or is it that you think "God hates Fags" is contained anywhere in any sort of formal Christian teachings? Because it isn't.
Christianity isn't taught in schools and shouldn't be taught in schools. What is your point?
My point is this,teaching for example creationism, the same as evolution, because we take creationism on a matter of faith. The matter of faith is pretty much the only real back-up creationism has, evolution has some evidence to back it up. Someone once said, "If you take something on a matter of faith, then you know it can't be proven." This guy's belief system is based on his faith ie its good God killed the mud people with tsunami and the evil godless Northeasterners on Sept. 11th. I know his belief system is really, really skewed, but its the same principal. Teaching Christian values in school is the same as him going out and teaching his values to other. I just have large misgivings about teaching religious values to kids, because all religions have a nice flaw that leads to the fantacism that Phelps and his family want to usher into the world.
"All faith reguires is giving into the possibility of hope."
Fred Phelps is a terrorist without any balls. He's got a series of psychological issues and he just uses religion as a cover. He's no different then any terrorist leaders except that he's too much of a pussy to act on his outrageous beliefs.
Would you be surprised if Phelps or any of his followers blew up an abortion clinic or attacked homosexuals?
"When did they pass a law that says the people who make my sandwich have to be wearing gloves? I'm not comfortable with this. I don't want glove residue all over my food; it's not sanitary. Who knows where these gloves have been?" - George Carlin
To put this guy's rationality completely on display, remember he didn't just call the tsunami a good thing... it was a good thing because God used it to kill SWEDES!
...you know, because a massive avalanche in say, maybe SWEDEN wouldn't have made His point better.
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Originally posted by A FanThe guy is exhibit "A" for the case of why Christianity should never be taught in schools.
Originally posted by A FanI know his belief system is really, really skewed, but its the same principal. Teaching Christian values in school is the same as him going out and teaching his values to other.
To use your language, this is exhibit "A" in BullSHIT. And even exhibit "B!" Talking about Fred Phelps as if he represents all of Christianity, which you have now managed to allude in TWO separate posts in this thread, not only demonstrates ignorance beyond belief but borders on bigotry.
On another note: please, let's not find a way to start up the creationism/evolution "debate" yet *again*. I can't close those threads fast enough. I expect that everyone who's been involved in those threads in the past knows better. Don't prove me wrong.
When it seems like the whole world is full of idiots, maybe your standards are a bit high. - Guru Zim
Originally posted by A FanThe guy is exhibit "A" for the case of why Christianity should never be taught in schools.
Originally posted by A FanI know his belief system is really, really skewed, but its the same principal. Teaching Christian values in school is the same as him going out and teaching his values to other.
To use your language, this is exhibit "A" in BullSHIT. And even exhibit "B!" Talking about Fred Phelps as if he represents all of Christianity, which you have now managed to allude in TWO separate posts in this thread, not only demonstrates ignorance beyond belief but borders on bigotry.
On another note: please, let's not find a way to start up the creationism/evolution "debate" yet *again*. I can't close those threads fast enough. I expect that everyone who's been involved in those threads in the past knows better. Don't prove me wrong.
Zed, Thank you. Please never confuse this man and his followers with Christians. Don't even confuse him with people who have deeply held beliefs against homosexuality because of their religious beliefs but aren't "fag haters." We have put up with him here for many years and believe me, few Kansans want anything to do with him
the family of Matthew Shepard showed more poise then anyone should ever have to in their handling of Phelps. He was there, protesting Matthews funeral, and was shouting with a bullhorn at Matthews mother about how her son was a fag, and going to burn in hell. I'm not sure a jury would convict her had she killed him on the spot. I just cannot imagine. I seethe thinking about it.
As much as some people hate Michael Moore, he did a really nice job skewering Phelps on one of his TV shows. He drove a bus full of the most flamingly homosexual people he could find to all of Phelps' rallies, and had them singing songs and cheerfully joking around with the goons, who had no idea how to react.
Harmonica: So you found out you're not a businessman after all? Frank: Just a Man. Harmonica: An ancient race....
Originally posted by BigSteveIs your point that this guy represents Christianity as a whole? Because he most surely does not. Or is it that you think "God hates Fags" is contained anywhere in any sort of formal Christian teachings? Because it isn't.
I don't think any rational person would equate Fred Phelps' idiocy with any mainstream Christian faith, but the unfortunate truth of the matter is that he does represent a very vocal minority which casts a very ugly pall over Christianity and religion in general.
What he and his thugs do in public should be considered a hate crime, and it's a shame he gets to hide behind his self-righteous sheild of religious virtue and indignation.
I second what PTJ says about the Matthew Shepard incident. That poor boy's poor mother. It just makes the blood boil.
The Goal: SLACK The Method: The Casting Out of False Prophets The Weapon: Time Control The Motto: "Fuck Them All of they Can't Take a Joke"
Originally posted by StiltonI don't think any rational person would equate Fred Phelps' idiocy with any mainstream Christian faith, but the unfortunate truth of the matter is that he does represent a very vocal minority which casts a very ugly pall over Christianity and religion in general.
No more than, say, a white supremacist casts an "ugly pall" over all white people. Do you think hispanic gangs like the Latin Kings cast an ugly pall over all people of Latin descent?
Originally posted by StiltonWhat he and his thugs do in public should be considered a hate crime, and it's a shame he gets to hide behind his self-righteous sheild of religious virtue and indignation.
Who's he hiding from? I think 99% of us see him for what he is. He's just running his own version of the Klan, and the Klan gets to protest, too, as odious as we might find them.
I'd hate to think you were cherry-picking your righteous indignation because you wanted to make a backhanded point about religion.
Originally posted by It's FalseThe question here is, how do I convince my friend that Phelps and his band of idiots aren't taken as seriously as she believes?
I am far more the comedian than polical scientist, so I offer this;
First off, ask her what exactly the 'gay agenda' that guys like Phelps are always talking about is. It's actually hilarious that people think that homosexuals are out to dominate the globe, seeing as how it's usually a hate monger extremist that tries to do it (Hitler and Napoleon were both anti-semites, oddly enough).
Secondly, remind her that Phelps is a facet of Americana intregal to our current society and our history; a moron. Most all of us loathe prohibition, slavery, McCarthyism, and segregation, but in order to see the light on those topics, we had to see them in action. In time, maybe soon, maybe not, America will see and understand the stupidity in hatred of homosexuals on the whole. Granted, there will probably be a small sect devoted to an archaic cause, but society on the whole will eventually get smarter.
Lastly, remind her that everybody out there is hated by someone, regardless of race, creed, color, or sexual orientation. I'm a freakishly large (as in bigger than 99% of the population) white male, my friend Orlando is a freakishly large black male, another friend Crystal is a small white female who is bisexual, another friend Bill is a small white male who is homosexual, another friend Anthony is an average sized black male, and another friend Joe is an average sized white male, and all of us can list approximately the same number of people who hate us.
Hold nothing sacred and you'll never be dissapointed. Especially not this statement.
Personally, I don't discount the guy's theory out of hand, but I am not going to put any stock in it until it is peer reviewed and stands up to scrutiny from people who ARE qualified to judge the data. Until then, I am not going to go gaga over it.