# Fred Phelps/Westboro Baptist to picket funerals of Arizona shooting victims **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [January 10, 2011, 1:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fred-phelps-westboro-baptist-to-picket-funerals-of-arizona-shooting-victims/567051 "2011-01-10T01:21:56Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Baker](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/bb73d2/32.png) [@Baker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Baker)\ **Post date:** [January 10, 2011, 4:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fred-phelps-westboro-baptist-to-picket-funerals-of-arizona-shooting-victims/567051/21 "2011-01-10T04:48:55Z")
> [@Eyebrows\_0f\_Doom](#): > > They are only doing this to get attention. If people would just \*\*ignore \*\*them, they’d go away. _Sigh_. People keep saying this, but it’s not true. The WBC is that “one in a million” type of group that doesn’t go away. Once folks get innured to a certain level of their rhetoric, why, they just ratchet it up. I know about these people. Back in the 90’s, when they were getting started, I used to do a lot of counter-picketing against them. But that died out when it became apparent it made no difference to them. As for ignoring them, you can’t. They can be dangerous. Back in 1997, when they picketed at the church I was then a member of, they physically attacked our minister. Claimed he threw a hammer at them(he was pounding in a yard sign) and surged off the sidewalk to “take him down” as they put it. Four of their guys sat on him, then when the cops showed up the WBC charged him with assault. As a side note, I wonder if they celebrate holidays? They picketed the church I am now a member of on Christmas Eve just this year. ---
**Author:** ![flatlined](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/eb9ed0/32.png) [@flatlined](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/flatlined)\ **Post date:** [January 10, 2011, 4:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fred-phelps-westboro-baptist-to-picket-funerals-of-arizona-shooting-victims/567051/22 "2011-01-10T04:52:12Z")
> [@Bryan\_Ekers](#): > > Phelps’ mission is already accomplished - getting his name in the news by _announcing_ plans to protest. Actually going ahead and _doing_ it is a waste of time and energy. I actually think its kind of a good thing. It gets people to come out and support the families. I ride with the Patriot Guard…a biker group that was formed to deal with scum like Phelps. Before that idiocy coming from a single inbred batshit crazy clan, nobody came out in force to support the families. and as to Der what’s his name. he’s always been polite and helpful to me. Yes, my world does have rainbows and flying unicorns. I’ve learned that my world is what I make it. ---
**Author:** ![Boyo\_Jim](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/87869e/32.png) [@Boyo\_Jim](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Boyo_Jim)\ **Post date:** [January 10, 2011, 5:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fred-phelps-westboro-baptist-to-picket-funerals-of-arizona-shooting-victims/567051/23 "2011-01-10T05:49:06Z")
Where are your heavily armed atheist lunatics when you really need them? ---
**Author:** ![tnetennba](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/7993a0/32.png) [@tnetennba](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tnetennba)\ **Post date:** [January 10, 2011, 6:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fred-phelps-westboro-baptist-to-picket-funerals-of-arizona-shooting-victims/567051/24 "2011-01-10T06:00:26Z")
> [@mhendo](#): > > The world would be a better place if we, and the media, just ignored these assholes. Seriously, how many of them are there? A couple of dozen? I can’t just bring myself to give a flying fuck, and getting outraged about every new incident seems completely pointless. This. ---
**Author:** ![tnetennba](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/7993a0/32.png) [@tnetennba](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tnetennba)\ **Post date:** [January 10, 2011, 6:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fred-phelps-westboro-baptist-to-picket-funerals-of-arizona-shooting-victims/567051/25 "2011-01-10T06:02:39Z")
> [@Oakminster](#): > > I am getting to where it is difficult o tell the difference between Phelps and the more prominent board liberals here. So much hate, so little intellect. Der Trihs, Fred Phelps, Senor Beef…birds of a feather. All blinded by hatred, incapable of seeing anything objectively. Ha ha ha ha. Good one. ---
**Author:** ![tim314](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tim314/32/3468_2.png) [@tim314](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tim314)\ **Post date:** [January 10, 2011, 6:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fred-phelps-westboro-baptist-to-picket-funerals-of-arizona-shooting-victims/567051/26 "2011-01-10T06:39:38Z")
> [@Oakminster](#): > > I am getting to where it is difficult o tell the difference between Phelps and the more prominent board liberals here. So much hate, so little intellect. Der Trihs, Fred Phelps, Senor Beef…birds of a feather. All blinded by hatred, incapable of seeing anything objectively. Just because you don’t like liberals and you don’t like Fred Phelps doesn’t mean it’s difficult to tell the difference between the two. Unless you aren’t paying attention. ---
**Author:** ![BigT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bigt/32/12044_2.png) [@BigT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BigT)\ **Post date:** [January 10, 2011, 6:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fred-phelps-westboro-baptist-to-picket-funerals-of-arizona-shooting-victims/567051/27 "2011-01-10T06:57:09Z")
> [@Baker](#): > > _Sigh_. People keep saying this, but it’s not true. The WBC is that “one in a million” type of group that doesn’t go away. Once folks get innured to a certain level of their rhetoric, why, they just ratchet it up. That’s actually what I want. Not too far as to actually hurt anyone, but I want them to ratchet up until they do something illegal, so the law can do something about them. And the reason I care is simple: I don’t think trolls should be rewarded for being trolls. I want to live in a society where trolls are punished. That’s why I practically live at this message board. And, if I want said society, I have to do something to create it. I’m not one of these people who just sits around and complains about how bad everything is. As for why I want to get rid of trolls: they do the crap that Baker mentioned. These guys are not the non-violent protesters the media has rewarded them by claiming they are. ---
**Author:** ![Der\_Trihs](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/der_trihs/32/233_2.png) [@Der\_Trihs](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Der_Trihs)\ **Post date:** [January 10, 2011, 7:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fred-phelps-westboro-baptist-to-picket-funerals-of-arizona-shooting-victims/567051/28 "2011-01-10T07:40:06Z")
> [@tim314](#): > > Just because you don’t like liberals and you don’t like Fred Phelps doesn’t mean it’s difficult to tell the difference between the two. Don’t you know? Arguing with people on a message board is _exactly_ as bad as picketing the funerals of children. If you are a left winger, at least. ---
**Author:** ![cochrane](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cochrane/32/10441_2.png) [@cochrane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cochrane)\ **Post date:** [January 10, 2011, 11:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fred-phelps-westboro-baptist-to-picket-funerals-of-arizona-shooting-victims/567051/29 "2011-01-10T11:47:44Z")
I fart in their general direction. They’re not worth any more of my attention than that. ---
**Author:** ![LouisB](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/dfb087/32.png) [@LouisB](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LouisB)\ **Post date:** [January 10, 2011, 3:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fred-phelps-westboro-baptist-to-picket-funerals-of-arizona-shooting-victims/567051/30 "2011-01-10T15:20:36Z")
If I ever get the chance, I intend to picket a Phelps Phuneral. I doubt I’ll be alone. ---
**Author:** ![42fish](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/4/b487fb/32.png) [@42fish](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/42fish)\ **Post date:** [January 10, 2011, 3:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fred-phelps-westboro-baptist-to-picket-funerals-of-arizona-shooting-victims/567051/31 "2011-01-10T15:33:18Z")
[QUOTE=Oakminster] …it is difficult o tell the difference … [/QUOTE] > [@Guinastasia](#): > > …next time you have a though like this… Evil liberals are making our T’s disappear! Someone ge Glen Beck o invesigate! ---
**Author:** ![Bridget\_Burke](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/7cd45c/32.png) [@Bridget\_Burke](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bridget_Burke)\ **Post date:** [January 10, 2011, 3:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fred-phelps-westboro-baptist-to-picket-funerals-of-arizona-shooting-victims/567051/32 "2011-01-10T15:34:47Z")
> [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](#): > > God, you can be a fucking idiot sometimes. Only sometimes? ---
**Author:** ![Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e8c25b/32.png) [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Really_Not_All_That_Bright)\ **Post date:** [January 10, 2011, 3:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fred-phelps-westboro-baptist-to-picket-funerals-of-arizona-shooting-victims/567051/33 "2011-01-10T15:40:30Z")
Yes, only sometimes. He’s a bright guy and _usually_ quite reasonable. ---
**Author:** ![Shodan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9f8e36/32.png) [@Shodan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shodan)\ **Post date:** [January 10, 2011, 4:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fred-phelps-westboro-baptist-to-picket-funerals-of-arizona-shooting-victims/567051/34 "2011-01-10T16:29:33Z")
Gee, who could have seen that one coming? Regards, Shodan ---
**Author:** ![jayjay](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jayjay/32/6765_2.png) [@jayjay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jayjay)\ **Post date:** [January 10, 2011, 4:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fred-phelps-westboro-baptist-to-picket-funerals-of-arizona-shooting-victims/567051/35 "2011-01-10T16:37:42Z")
Frankly, I’ve gotten to the point where I don’t associate Westboro with either side of the political spectrum anymore. I definitely don’t blame them on the Republicans, or the right-wing, or even right-wing, fundamentalist Christianity. Their (so-called) Christianity is kind of incidental to the throbbing mass of black, pustulent hatred that they nurture so lovingly in their compound. It helps if you start to view them for what they are: a combination of batshit insanity and grifting opportunism. Remember that their primary source of income is lawsuits against everyone and everything. ---
**Author:** ![Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e99b99/32.png) [@Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Diogenes_the_Cynic)\ **Post date:** [January 10, 2011, 4:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fred-phelps-westboro-baptist-to-picket-funerals-of-arizona-shooting-victims/567051/36 "2011-01-10T16:49:12Z")
> [@jayjay](#): > > Frankly, I’ve gotten to the point where I don’t associate Westboro with either side of the political spectrum anymore. I definitely don’t blame them on the Republicans, or the right-wing, or even right-wing, fundamentalist Christianity. Their (so-called) Christianity is kind of incidental to the throbbing mass of black, pustulent hatred that they nurture so lovingly in their compound. Foix News likes to characterize them as “war protesters” to try to give the superficila impression that they’re hippies or something. The fact that they aren’t protesting any wars doesn’t nmatter to them, I guess. ---
**Author:** ![Harmonious\_Discord](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/74df32/32.png) [@Harmonious\_Discord](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Harmonious_Discord)\ **Post date:** [January 10, 2011, 4:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fred-phelps-westboro-baptist-to-picket-funerals-of-arizona-shooting-victims/567051/37 "2011-01-10T16:58:15Z")
I knew they would try to be there. One of these days a crazy person will kill that crowd and who will picket their funeral? ---
**Author:** ![Lemur866](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lemur866/32/434_2.png) [@Lemur866](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lemur866)\ **Post date:** [January 10, 2011, 5:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fred-phelps-westboro-baptist-to-picket-funerals-of-arizona-shooting-victims/567051/38 "2011-01-10T17:28:53Z")
This video shows exactly why they do these whacky protests: [![](https://img.youtube.com/vi/VaGWtYjojO4/hqdefault.jpg "Most hated family in america Kid targeted") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VaGWtYjojO4) The church is Fred Phelps and his children and grandchildren. They’re picketing some soldier’s funeral, and some guy throws a bottle at the protesters and hits one of the kids on the head. And this is exactly the purpose of the pickets. They aren’t intended for the rest of us, the audience is the group itself. It’s to demonstrate to the kids in the cult that the rest of the world hates them, to cut them off from every other potential human contact. This is why they switched from picketing gay funerals to picketing soldier’s funerals. Because picketing the gays wasn’t hateful enough. So it’s not like ignoring them will make them go away. They aren’t doing this to get attention. They’re doing this to isolate the cult members even from other fundamentalist churches. If little Timmy can make friends with people from the Bible-waving fag-hating fundamentalist church across town, then Timmy might be able to leave the group. But if the only thing Timmy knows about the world is that everyone in the world hates him, and the only people in the world who show any kindness to him are members of the church, then Timmy is never going to be able to leave. ---
**Author:** ![Boyo\_Jim](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/87869e/32.png) [@Boyo\_Jim](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Boyo_Jim)\ **Post date:** [January 10, 2011, 5:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fred-phelps-westboro-baptist-to-picket-funerals-of-arizona-shooting-victims/567051/39 "2011-01-10T17:35:12Z")
Little Timmy needs a Lassie to go find a not quite so hateful little fundmentalist Mary. ---
**Author:** ![Wile\_E](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/c37758/32.png) [@Wile\_E](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wile_E)\ **Post date:** [January 10, 2011, 5:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fred-phelps-westboro-baptist-to-picket-funerals-of-arizona-shooting-victims/567051/40 "2011-01-10T17:57:35Z")
You have to give them some credit though, just when you think they can’t go any lower they do! They’re going to picket the funeral of a nine year old child tragically shot by some whackjob. It’s going to be hard for them to top that one. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fred-phelps-westboro-baptist-to-picket-funerals-of-arizona-shooting-victims/567051.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fred-phelps-westboro-baptist-to-picket-funerals-of-arizona-shooting-victims/567051.md?page=3)