Westboro Church Group.

[Jadedcarguy]

Problem is, he's probably already grooming his successor

His successor is that harpy of a daughter he has. Shirley.

She may be worse than he is.

[AFPheonix]

Possibly, but I don't know that she'll necessarily have his cult of personality, or his power of physical and mental abuse that he has woven over the rest of her siblings. I suspect there may be a schism once he finally goes.

[Cat]

I heard rumors the Phleps clan is supposed to protest Obama's grandmother's funeral (I saw this mentioned on another board, if I find a link I'll post it)

A few of 'em are supposed to come to CT, a couple of my friends were talking about going to whatever the protest is about, probably with humorous, anti-phelps signs.

[Jadedcarguy]

I suspect there may be a schism once he finally goes.

We can hope.

[PepperElf]

All I can think of is ... Thank God for bikers!

Is the Westborough church even actively attacking funerals anymore? Last I heard the sight of hundreds of patriotic bikers (who were invited) at many funerals have stopped a lot of hate-filled protest.

[Gerrinson]

I don't suppose there's any way we can convince Mr. Phelps to drink the Kool-Aid, is there?

People like this represent the absolute extreme of Christianity (much like the Crusades) and, honestly, while I don't believe in God, I do believe that Jesus was a pretty stand up guy. And a lot nicer than I am, at least in his public speaking.

Of course, if these guys claim to be following Jesus, I'd like to ask them what they think of his 'turn the other cheek' philosophy and let's not forget 'let he who is without sin cast the first stone' and perhaps 'Judge not lest ye be judged.' Or maybe we can get their opinion on the Old Testament which is all about Jews and Judaism and has absolutely ZERO to do with Jesus Christ.

Or maybe we could have a funeral and come to find out their protest was 'accidentally' taking place on top of several of the IEDs for which they are so thankful?

[AdminAssistant]

Well, yippideeskip, I just saw a protest! For whatever reason, WBC has decided to picket a local high school just as the kids are getting out of class. Which I happened to drive by. Heh...it was interesting. The protesters (none of whom I recognized...even a few young kids) were holding the usual signs - except they've added 'Obama is the Anti-Christ'. The high school kids had made signs of their own...gay pride flags, equality signs, that kind of thing. I saw several holding hands, kissing...basically 'you and your stupid signs won't tell me what to do!'

According to their website (I was trying to figure out why on Earth Phelps & co. decided to pick on this high school, besides convenient location) and apparently my town is on their 'watch list' of places they're going to start coming to more often. Yay.

[AFPheonix]

It's not just WBC who thinks Obama is the anti-christ. I've run into a surprising number of Christians that I know who think that he is.
Heaven forbid we elect someone who's actually popular, I guess. I guess no one I know is pre-trib, which is odd because they all loved the Left Behind series, which is pre-trib doctrine.

[AdminAssistant]

OK, now I know why they're protesting, this high school is doing The Laramie Project, the play based on the events surrounding Matthew Shepard's murder and when Fred Phelps came to national attention. Phelps is actually a character in the play, and WBC protests as many productions as possible.

[I8DaCookie]

Phelps is actually a character in the play, and WBC protests as many productions as possible.

When my college did it (sadly we didn't get protested, I would have loved to seen them try it with my uber liberal school) our Phelps was played by one of my favorite people who is a black lesbian. And she was fantastic at it too.

They protested the funerals of two teenagers from my old high school because Maryland had the audacity to rule against them in a civil suit where the plantiff was awarded several million dollars. I actually substituted at the school that day for a teacher who was at the funeral and the few students who were in my class got into a very ranty diatrabe about it.

[Dreamstalker]

They were in Boston about a month ago. I can't remember if the play in question was The Laramie Project (I'm willing to bet that it was), but they were there with their signs etc. On the opposite side of the street was the opposition, some also with signs although a lot less serious about it all. And Boston's Finest, some of whom looked quite bemused about the whole thing.

A fairly hefty guy wearing nothing but a sailor hat, trenchcoat, tiny Speedo and shoes (that had to have been planned, it was freezing that night) decides to flash them, then goes into an exaggerated bump-and-grind.

Cue the cops and all assembled laughing their asses off. I can only assume that the flock packed up and left quite pissed off (mom and her friend went into a theater at this point so she didn't see the aftermath).

I was mildly disappointed that she didn't manage to get pictures.

[crazylegs]

It would appear that Phelps (and Daughter) have been prevented from entering the UK, shame really I'd love to see them arrested.

[Rapscallion]

Heh - I've seen the occasional decrying of the UK's not quite free speech legislation on here, but I wonder how this is now viewed?

Rapscallion

[protege]

I wonder how long it will be until a "God Hates the UK" website appears

[Rapscallion]

I was considering buying that URL for shits and giggles a while back.

Rapscallion