Comments on: You Knew This Was Going to Happen http://friendlyatheist.com/2007/08/07/you-knew-this-was-going-to-happen/ Atheism with Positivity Sun, 22 Nov 2009 16:50:31 -0600 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.6 hourly 1 By: Maria http://friendlyatheist.com/2007/08/07/you-knew-this-was-going-to-happen/comment-page-1/#comment-60184 Maria Wed, 08 Aug 2007 19:45:56 +0000 http://friendlyatheist.com/2007/08/07/you-knew-this-was-going-to-happen/#comment-60184 okay the addicted to hate website is down (I had heard phelps was behind that). but the story is up here: http://blank.org/addict/ okay the addicted to hate website is down (I had heard phelps was behind that). but the story is up here: http://blank.org/addict/

]]> By: GuyIncognito http://friendlyatheist.com/2007/08/07/you-knew-this-was-going-to-happen/comment-page-1/#comment-60151 GuyIncognito Wed, 08 Aug 2007 16:00:27 +0000 http://friendlyatheist.com/2007/08/07/you-knew-this-was-going-to-happen/#comment-60151 If you want insight into the Phelps clan, check out the BBC documentary: <a href="http://www.goodasyou.org/good_as_you/2007/04/video_the_surre.html" rel="nofollow">The Most Hated Family in America</a> If you want insight into the Phelps clan, check out the BBC documentary: The Most Hated Family in America

]]> By: GuyIncognito http://friendlyatheist.com/2007/08/07/you-knew-this-was-going-to-happen/comment-page-1/#comment-60149 GuyIncognito Wed, 08 Aug 2007 15:42:43 +0000 http://friendlyatheist.com/2007/08/07/you-knew-this-was-going-to-happen/#comment-60149 I read about this Monday night. I drove out to the Grace Evangelical Church on Tuesday with the intent of stealing their signs if they showed up. I figured you couldn't hold a protest without signs. Because it was a funeral and I didn't want to cause a disruption, I decided against paint (to cover the signs), mirrors to shine the sun into their eyes, and sprinklers to douse them with water. Thankfully, they didn't even bother to show up. It was a very quiet and uneventful funeral. There were two very nice police officers directing traffic (there wasn't much) who had no idea of the planned Phelps Clan protest. As the funeral wound down and guests left, I talked with one of the church volunteers. He too, wasn't aware of the planned protest, but had heard of the Phelps clan and shook his head in disgust upon learning of their plans. They're supposed to be at another nearby funeral today. I'm thinking of driving by in a bit. The police and the church are aware of the planned protest this time. Hopefully, the Phelps don't even show. They are known for advertising a protest and never showing up. I read about this Monday night. I drove out to the Grace Evangelical Church on Tuesday with the intent of stealing their signs if they showed up. I figured you couldn’t hold a protest without signs. Because it was a funeral and I didn’t want to cause a disruption, I decided against paint (to cover the signs), mirrors to shine the sun into their eyes, and sprinklers to douse them with water. Thankfully, they didn’t even bother to show up. It was a very quiet and uneventful funeral. There were two very nice police officers directing traffic (there wasn’t much) who had no idea of the planned Phelps Clan protest. As the funeral wound down and guests left, I talked with one of the church volunteers. He too, wasn’t aware of the planned protest, but had heard of the Phelps clan and shook his head in disgust upon learning of their plans.

They’re supposed to be at another nearby funeral today. I’m thinking of driving by in a bit. The police and the church are aware of the planned protest this time. Hopefully, the Phelps don’t even show. They are known for advertising a protest and never showing up.

]]> By: Chris League http://friendlyatheist.com/2007/08/07/you-knew-this-was-going-to-happen/comment-page-1/#comment-60130 Chris League Wed, 08 Aug 2007 13:07:44 +0000 http://friendlyatheist.com/2007/08/07/you-knew-this-was-going-to-happen/#comment-60130 Regarding a counter-protest, gay folks have developed <a href="http://queertoday.blogspot.com/2006/11/fred-phelps-pledge-thon-counteract.html" rel="nofollow">very clever fund-raising schemes</a> whereby people pledge money to causes antithetical to WBC's aims. Pledges are based on the number of WBC protesters and the length of time they stay. The longer they protest, the more money is raised for AIDS or whatever. I encourage Minnesotans to try something like this. Also, regarding free speech, protests at funerals, etc. — as distasteful as I find these guys, my uncompromising attitude about civil liberties trumps that. If they're raising a ruckus that's one thing (disturbing the peace), but I can't justify restrictions on 'free speech zones' just for holding some hateful signs near a funeral. At Matthew Shepard's funeral, counter-protesters simply stood in between the family/friends and the WBC pricks to block the view. In fact, WBC is so extreme that I suspect <strong>more</strong> exposure for them only helps our cause. Regarding a counter-protest, gay folks have developed very clever fund-raising schemes whereby people pledge money to causes antithetical to WBC’s aims. Pledges are based on the number of WBC protesters and the length of time they stay. The longer they protest, the more money is raised for AIDS or whatever. I encourage Minnesotans to try something like this.

Also, regarding free speech, protests at funerals, etc. — as distasteful as I find these guys, my uncompromising attitude about civil liberties trumps that. If they’re raising a ruckus that’s one thing (disturbing the peace), but I can’t justify restrictions on ‘free speech zones’ just for holding some hateful signs near a funeral. At Matthew Shepard’s funeral, counter-protesters simply stood in between the family/friends and the WBC pricks to block the view.

In fact, WBC is so extreme that I suspect more exposure for them only helps our cause.

]]> By: Maria http://friendlyatheist.com/2007/08/07/you-knew-this-was-going-to-happen/comment-page-1/#comment-60100 Maria Wed, 08 Aug 2007 10:48:42 +0000 http://friendlyatheist.com/2007/08/07/you-knew-this-was-going-to-happen/#comment-60100 <blockquote>I wonder if maybe in 5 or 10 years one of the young ones will escape and write a book denouncing the whole thing?</blockquote> Four of his kids did, and changed their names. they want nothing to do with him. check out www.addictedtohate.com for the whole story

I wonder if maybe in 5 or 10 years one of the young ones will escape and write a book denouncing the whole thing?

Four of his kids did, and changed their names. they want nothing to do with him. check out http://www.addictedtohate.com for the whole story

]]> By: Alex Leckie http://friendlyatheist.com/2007/08/07/you-knew-this-was-going-to-happen/comment-page-1/#comment-60066 Alex Leckie Wed, 08 Aug 2007 07:43:55 +0000 http://friendlyatheist.com/2007/08/07/you-knew-this-was-going-to-happen/#comment-60066 Phelps is truly one of the most enraging people who have ever been brought to my attention. seriously id love to volunteer to be that serial sniper people were mentioning..if only i was skilled enough to actually be effective. Phelps is truly one of the most enraging people who have ever been brought to my attention.

seriously id love to volunteer to be that serial sniper people were mentioning..if only i was skilled enough to actually be effective.

]]> By: Nate Phelps http://friendlyatheist.com/2007/08/07/you-knew-this-was-going-to-happen/comment-page-1/#comment-60063 Nate Phelps Wed, 08 Aug 2007 07:18:55 +0000 http://friendlyatheist.com/2007/08/07/you-knew-this-was-going-to-happen/#comment-60063 So Calvin, if god was in charge that day and let the bridge fall...hmmm...that means that every day he chooses which situations in the world he will or won't allow the physical laws of the universe to operate. Wouldn't you think that someone somewhere would have picked up proof of suspended physical laws in the past 100 years if that's how god works? How about this: the freakin' bridge support system eroded to the point that it could no longer support the weight of the traffic that used it? Doesn't that make sense? Isn't that explanation easier then torturing logic and inventing myths? I mean come on! Every time someone out there shoves some tragedy through their faith filter they tacitly support the hateful ignorance of my family. Let's be honest here...the only possible connection you could logically make between that bridge and the nonsense spewed by "christians" like my father is that both systems have failed and collapsed. To dear Shirley and her merry band of Kool-Aid drinkers I say... Here's Yer Sign! So Calvin, if god was in charge that day and let the bridge fall…hmmm…that means that every day he chooses which situations in the world he will or won’t allow the physical laws of the universe to operate. Wouldn’t you think that someone somewhere would have picked up proof of suspended physical laws in the past 100 years if that’s how god works? How about this: the freakin’ bridge support system eroded to the point that it could no longer support the weight of the traffic that used it? Doesn’t that make sense? Isn’t that explanation easier then torturing logic and inventing myths? I mean come on!

Every time someone out there shoves some tragedy through their faith filter they tacitly support the hateful ignorance of my family. Let’s be honest here…the only possible connection you could logically make between that bridge and the nonsense spewed by “christians” like my father is that both systems have failed and collapsed.

To dear Shirley and her merry band of Kool-Aid drinkers I say…

Here’s Yer Sign!

]]> By: Tim D. http://friendlyatheist.com/2007/08/07/you-knew-this-was-going-to-happen/comment-page-1/#comment-60032 Tim D. Wed, 08 Aug 2007 05:04:24 +0000 http://friendlyatheist.com/2007/08/07/you-knew-this-was-going-to-happen/#comment-60032 People who want to know why people like Hemant blog about things like this....my answer to the question Bjorn posed is, yes, keeping silent about these things <em>does</em> give the impression that people accept them. When people do bad things, other people call them on it and try to stop them; this should be no different. They need to be called out and dealt with accordingly. People who want to know why people like Hemant blog about things like this….my answer to the question Bjorn posed is, yes, keeping silent about these things does give the impression that people accept them. When people do bad things, other people call them on it and try to stop them; this should be no different. They need to be called out and dealt with accordingly.

]]> By: globalizati http://friendlyatheist.com/2007/08/07/you-knew-this-was-going-to-happen/comment-page-1/#comment-60006 globalizati Wed, 08 Aug 2007 01:35:23 +0000 http://friendlyatheist.com/2007/08/07/you-knew-this-was-going-to-happen/#comment-60006 <blockquote>Fred Phelps is living proof that either there is no God or that God hates humanity. </blockquote> That basically describes his theology, I believe. <blockquote>Where are the sniper serial killers when you need them?</blockquote> Amen.

Fred Phelps is living proof that either there is no God or that God hates humanity.

That basically describes his theology, I believe.

Where are the sniper serial killers when you need them?

Amen.

]]> By: Mikel http://friendlyatheist.com/2007/08/07/you-knew-this-was-going-to-happen/comment-page-1/#comment-60003 Mikel Wed, 08 Aug 2007 01:24:19 +0000 http://friendlyatheist.com/2007/08/07/you-knew-this-was-going-to-happen/#comment-60003 I think that whole family has some sort of genetic mental disorder that just hasn't been diagnosed yet... I wonder if maybe in 5 or 10 years one of the young ones will escape and write a book denouncing the whole thing? I think that whole family has some sort of genetic mental disorder that just hasn’t been diagnosed yet…

I wonder if maybe in 5 or 10 years one of the young ones will escape and write a book denouncing the whole thing?

]]>