# Fred Phelps is dying. **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [March 16, 2014, 5:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fred-phelps-is-dying/683820 "2014-03-16T05:20:50Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 13
**Author:** ![Battle\_Pope](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/4bbf92/32.png) [@Battle\_Pope](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Battle_Pope)\ **Post date:** [March 20, 2014, 7:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fred-phelps-is-dying/683820/241 "2014-03-20T19:22:20Z")
“I’ve never wished a man dead, but I have read some obituaries with great pleasure.” - Clarence Darrow ---
**Author:** ![Amateur\_Barbarian](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/59ef9b/32.png) [@Amateur\_Barbarian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Amateur_Barbarian)\ **Post date:** [March 20, 2014, 7:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fred-phelps-is-dying/683820/242 "2014-03-20T19:29:22Z")
I thought the sun seemed brighter and air a little fresher as I drove home this afternoon. Now I know why. ---
**Author:** ![Askthepizzaguy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/askthepizzaguy/32/9405_2.png) [@Askthepizzaguy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Askthepizzaguy)\ **Post date:** [March 20, 2014, 7:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fred-phelps-is-dying/683820/243 "2014-03-20T19:31:16Z")
The bigger enemies of gay rights are those mainstream corporations owned outright or controlled by anti-gay ideologues and use their vast resources and family-friendly image to push for further marginalization of GLBT individuals, and do so without a peep of protest, with the full support of the average person who is either unaware or apathetic. Chic-fil-A’s mistake was to go public with it. That gave gay rights supporters the information they needed to withdraw support from Chic-fil-A. But they’re hardly alone in their supremacist activism. Fortunately, the cold, dead center of this nonsensical hatred has been showing itself to the general public for quite some time now, with folks like Phelps exemplifying the inhumanity of it all, showing that the entire concept is little more than bullying and oppression backed by out of touch religious fundamentalists who like to pick and choose which parts of Leviticus still apply, and pretty much ignore the entire rest of the Bible. Particularly the parts where this Jesus guy said not to cast stones, because all are sinful and no better than anyone else. I continue to find it ironic that those who take their religion so seriously fail to understand the basic teachings contained within their own holy book. I often wonder what they’re actually doing when they’re pretending to read the Bible, because the words on the pages aren’t actually getting absorbed. Perhaps they start at Genesis and read as far as they can until their eyes glaze over, and that’s as much of the Bible they’re aware of. Would explain a whole hell of a lot. ---
**Author:** ![Northern\_Piper](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/northern_piper/32/5304_2.png) [@Northern\_Piper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Northern_Piper)\ **Post date:** [March 20, 2014, 8:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fred-phelps-is-dying/683820/244 "2014-03-20T20:47:20Z")
> [@elbows](#): > > Has Nathan or any other offspring ever, before this moment, publicly spoken out against the fathers hateful ways? Yes. Nathan has been speaking out for many years, as outlined in this CBC article: [Fred Phelps’s son wrestles with notorious father’s imminent death](http://www.cbc.ca/news/world/fred-phelps-s-son-wrestles-with-notorious-father-s-imminent-death-1.2577740) > [@](#): > > The younger Phelps left the Westboro Baptist Church, now infamous for picketing funerals for soldiers, children and victims of anti-gay violence, on his 18th birthday. He said he made the decision two years earlier at age 16 and has not spoken to his father personally since. > > “In the environment I grew up in, there was a lot of violence, control — a lot of religious dogma imposed on us … I didn’t think I belonged there anymore. So I made the decision when I was 16 that I was going to leave," Phelps said. > > Since departing 37 years ago, Phelps had become an activist and organizer heavily involved in gay rights campaigns. He has spent considerable time with counsellors — sessions that began 10 years after leaving the controversial church — to come to terms with his childhood and family, he said. **elbows** , there’s also a clip there from a segment on As It Happens, with two of Phred’s granddaughters speaking on why they left the WCB. ---
**Author:** ![Northern\_Piper](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/northern_piper/32/5304_2.png) [@Northern\_Piper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Northern_Piper)\ **Post date:** [March 20, 2014, 8:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fred-phelps-is-dying/683820/245 "2014-03-20T20:49:17Z")
> [@Battle\_Pope](#): > > “I’ve never wished a man dead, but I have read some obituaries with great pleasure.” - Clarence Darrow Only lawyers, priests and philosophy majors can split hairs that finely. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Chimera](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/8e8cbc/32.png) [@Chimera](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chimera)\ **Post date:** [March 20, 2014, 10:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fred-phelps-is-dying/683820/246 "2014-03-20T22:15:21Z")
> [@Battle\_Pope](#): > > “I’ve never wished a man dead, but I have read some obituaries with great pleasure.” - Clarence Darrow The one I like, which has been posted on Fark a few times; “I did not attend his funeral, but I wrote a nice letter saying I approved of it.” ---
**Author:** ![Squink](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/b5e925/32.png) [@Squink](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Squink)\ **Post date:** [March 20, 2014, 11:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fred-phelps-is-dying/683820/247 "2014-03-20T23:19:51Z")
> [@Steve\_MB](#): > > Give my regards to Saint Peter. Or whoever has his job, but in hell. I wish mister Phelps\* all the happiness the void’s embrace can deliver. Though I expect that would make him unhappy, were he any longer aware of anything at all. – \*[This tape has _already_ self-destructed.](http://www.hark.com/clips/ytqshsltzw-your-mission-jim-should-you-choose-to-accept-it) ---
**Author:** ![Captain\_Amazing](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/6de8d8/32.png) [@Captain\_Amazing](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Captain_Amazing)\ **Post date:** [March 20, 2014, 11:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fred-phelps-is-dying/683820/248 "2014-03-20T23:33:21Z")
I honestly get no pleasure at this. Maybe I’m a sadist, but I think I would rather he have lived longer, to see how everything he fought against was crumbling; how gays were becoming more and more accepted, how gay marriage was legal in more and more states, how even groups that were traditionally antigay were starting to become more cautious and nuanced in their condemnation. It seems to me that these trends are going to continue as time goes on. Homosexuality will become more and more tolerated and accepted, gay marriage will become legal in more and more states, and the sons and daughters of virulent homophobes will grow indifferent, more and more. I think this is happening, and I wish Fred stayed alive to see it. ---
**Author:** ![Deeg](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/deeg/32/2955_2.png) [@Deeg](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Deeg)\ **Post date:** [March 20, 2014, 11:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fred-phelps-is-dying/683820/249 "2014-03-20T23:46:54Z")
I’m usually saddened when a life poorly lived ends. Phelps could have done many good things but lived in hatred; what a waste. ---
**Author:** ![Baker](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/bb73d2/32.png) [@Baker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Baker)\ **Post date:** [March 21, 2014, 12:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fred-phelps-is-dying/683820/250 "2014-03-21T00:01:13Z")
> **[Rubes by Leigh Rubin for June 15, 2009 | GoComics.com](https://www.gocomics.com/rubes/2009/06/15#.UyuA86hdXxs)** > > June 15, 2009 I wonder if the above cartoon is still there. I asked the artist if he had you know who in mind, and he was kind of cagy about it. ---
**Author:** ![Morgenstern](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f9ae1b/32.png) [@Morgenstern](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Morgenstern)\ **Post date:** [March 21, 2014, 12:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fred-phelps-is-dying/683820/251 "2014-03-21T00:04:41Z")
No tears here. He was a hateful bigot who used that hate to harm people. ---
**Author:** ![Disgruntled\_Penguin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/a8b319/32.png) [@Disgruntled\_Penguin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Disgruntled_Penguin)\ **Post date:** [March 21, 2014, 12:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fred-phelps-is-dying/683820/252 "2014-03-21T00:23:02Z")
> [@Enderw24](#): > > I could. Not going to though. It’s not even a “you’re just sinking to their level…” Thinking. Fuck that. You want to protest, go for it. > I’m just saying that they’re trolls and I think on some level, even in mourning, they’d enjoy having all this attention lavished on them. I’m not feeding that . No, you couldn’t. [Fred-Phelps-no-funeral-for-the-preacher-who-picketed-so-many](http://www.csmonitor.com/USA/Society/2014/0320/Fred-Phelps-no-funeral-for-the-preacher-who-picketed-so-many) ---
**Author:** ![Askthepizzaguy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/askthepizzaguy/32/9405_2.png) [@Askthepizzaguy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Askthepizzaguy)\ **Post date:** [March 21, 2014, 12:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fred-phelps-is-dying/683820/253 "2014-03-21T00:30:59Z")
The fact that Phelps lived all the way to the natural end of his life instead of chewing a bullet demonstrates remarkable restraint on the part of the people he spent all his time deliberately provoking, insulting, threatening, and condemning. I’m a pacifist and I’d still have taken the jail time for loading up a super soaker with rotten egg yolks, rotten milk, and all manner of smelly, sticky, and disgusting fluids, and trying to get some into that constantly flapping, vile mouth of his. ---
**Author:** ![Marley23](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Marley23](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marley23)\ **Post date:** [March 21, 2014, 12:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fred-phelps-is-dying/683820/254 "2014-03-21T00:47:16Z")
> [@Captain\_Amazing](#): > > I honestly get no pleasure at this. I don’t get any pleasure from his death either. _The jokes_, on the other hand… > [@](#): > > Maybe I’m a sadist, but I think I would rather he have lived longer, to see how everything he fought against was crumbling; how gays were becoming more and more accepted, how gay marriage was legal in more and more states, how even groups that were traditionally antigay were starting to become more cautious and nuanced in their condemnation. It seems to me that these trends are going to continue as time goes on. Homosexuality will become more and more tolerated and accepted, gay marriage will become legal in more and more states, and the sons and daughters of virulent homophobes will grow indifferent, more and more. > > I think this is happening, and I wish Fred stayed alive to see it. He was aware of this trend: his teachings were a reaction to it. He never would have accepted he had failed, but at least he saw that he wasn’t winning anybody over. ---
**Author:** ![John\_DiFool](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/john_difool/32/19543_2.png) [@John\_DiFool](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_DiFool)\ **Post date:** [March 21, 2014, 1:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fred-phelps-is-dying/683820/255 "2014-03-21T01:24:56Z")
> [@ElvisL1ves](#): > > [Freddie’s Dead](http://www.oldielyrics.com/lyrics/curtis_mayfield/freddies_dead.html) > > _Freddies dead > That’s what I said > Let the rap a plan > Said he’d see him home > But his hope was a rope > And he should’ve known > It’s hard to understand > That there’s love in this man > I’m sure all would agree > That his misery was his._ Don’t give him any ideas! “Freddy’s back!” \ 1,2.Freddy’s Coming for You! 3,4,Better Lock Your Door! 5,6.Grab Your Crucifix! 7,8.Better Stay Up Late! Nine,Ten.Never.Sleep ---
**Author:** ![Antinor01](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ecae2f/32.png) [@Antinor01](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Antinor01)\ **Post date:** [March 21, 2014, 1:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fred-phelps-is-dying/683820/256 "2014-03-21T01:36:01Z")
> [@John\_DiFool](#): > > Don’t give him any ideas! “Freddy’s back!” \ > > 1,2.Freddy’s Coming for You! > 3,4,Better Lock Your Door! > 5,6.Grab Your Crucifix! > 7,8.Better Stay Up Late! > Nine,Ten.Never.Sleep Never sleep again. 😉 ---
**Author:** ![Balance](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/ccd318/32.png) [@Balance](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Balance)\ **Post date:** [March 21, 2014, 2:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fred-phelps-is-dying/683820/257 "2014-03-21T02:24:33Z")
> [@Antinor01](#): > > Never sleep again. 😉 “Never sleep with men”? 😉 ---
**Author:** ![Antinor01](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ecae2f/32.png) [@Antinor01](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Antinor01)\ **Post date:** [March 21, 2014, 2:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fred-phelps-is-dying/683820/258 "2014-03-21T02:28:37Z")
> [@Balance](#): > > “Never sleep with men”? > 😉 I’d rather stay one of those fags that God hates then spend my life not doing that. ---
**Author:** ![Balance](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/ccd318/32.png) [@Balance](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Balance)\ **Post date:** [March 21, 2014, 2:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fred-phelps-is-dying/683820/259 "2014-03-21T02:32:10Z")
> [@Antinor01](#): > > I’d rather stay one of those fags that God hates then spend my life not doing that. Well, I’m not following the rest of the list, either. (Except for staying up late, I suppose…but I do that, anyway.) I certainly wouldn’t expect anyone else to do so. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Senegoid](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/senegoid/32/6606_2.png) [@Senegoid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Senegoid)\ **Post date:** [March 21, 2014, 5:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fred-phelps-is-dying/683820/260 "2014-03-21T05:16:26Z")
We still got [Pastor Terry Jones](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Terry_Jones_%28pastor%29) to kick around! (The guy who’s into Quran burning.) [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fred-phelps-is-dying/683820.md?page=12) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fred-phelps-is-dying/683820.md?page=14)