# I hate those Westburo people so much **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [June 22, 2010, 4:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-hate-those-westburo-people-so-much/544090 "2010-06-22T04:28:50Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**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:** [June 22, 2010, 2:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-hate-those-westburo-people-so-much/544090/21 "2010-06-22T14:40:35Z")
> [@Oakminster](#): > > The Patriot Guard came into existence because of the funeral protests. The funeral protests were going on for years before these assholes ever gave a fuck. Why weren’t they at Matthew Shepard’s funeral? ---
**Author:** ![Oakminster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/77aa72/32.png) [@Oakminster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Oakminster)\ **Post date:** [June 22, 2010, 2:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-hate-those-westburo-people-so-much/544090/22 "2010-06-22T14:50:13Z")
> [@Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](#): > > The funeral protests were going on for years before these assholes ever gave a fuck. Why weren’t they at Matthew Shepard’s funeral? In part, because Sheppard was murdered in 1998, and the Patriot Guard did not exist until 2005. ---
**Author:** ![twickster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/ec9cab/32.png) [@twickster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/twickster)\ **Post date:** [June 22, 2010, 2:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-hate-those-westburo-people-so-much/544090/23 "2010-06-22T14:55:54Z")
**Dio** , despite your back-pedalling, this is dickish in the extreme: > [@Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](#): > > Where were those biker assholes when it was just AIDS victims getting picketed? It’s easy to do it for the military. They refuse to show up for any of the Phelps clan’s targets who aren’t military. They’re phonies and hypocrites. They don’t impress me. They’re getting cheap applause. They didn’t give a shit about Matthew Shepard. The people who did the exact same thing when Pheps was only targeting fags, and who did so without trying to draw as much attention as possible to their own noble selves get the props from me. It’s extremely easy to show up and wave a flag at a military funeral. Nothing courageous about it. Cheap, easy glory. I’m issuing a warning for being a jerk. **twickster** , MPSIMS moderator ETA: If you want to argue about the Patriot Guard, start your own thread. This one is about **Rand** ’s friend and the people killed with him. ---
**Author:** ![Gyrate](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gyrate/32/3588_2.png) [@Gyrate](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gyrate)\ **Post date:** [June 22, 2010, 3:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-hate-those-westburo-people-so-much/544090/24 "2010-06-22T15:08:54Z")
> [@yams](#): > > I was going to suggest that there needs to be an anti-Westboro organization, that follows them from picket to picket, shouting louder and holding more clever signs (the organization could be called PHAGS, an acronym for PHelps is the Anti-God, or the Eastboro Awesomists or something). Except that this is exactly the sort of thing that they want - attention. They’re real-life trolls. If you really want to piss them off, ignore them. Don’t give them any attention at all. No press, no counterprotests, nothing. Admittedly you’ll still want to have people like the PGR helping to keep a physical separation during funerals but otherwise it’s best not to enable their trollery. **RandMcnally** - my condolences to you and your friend’s loved ones. ---
**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:** [June 22, 2010, 3:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-hate-those-westburo-people-so-much/544090/25 "2010-06-22T15:27:56Z")
> [@Oakminster](#): > > In part, because Sheppard was murdered in 1998, and the Patriot Guard did not exist until 2005. Exactly. ---
**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:** [June 22, 2010, 3:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-hate-those-westburo-people-so-much/544090/26 "2010-06-22T15:29:03Z")
> [@twickster](#): > > **Dio** , despite your back-pedalling, this is dickish in the extreme: > > I’m issuing a warning for being a jerk. > > **twickster** , MPSIMS moderator > > ETA: If you want to argue about the Patriot Guard, start your own thread. This one is about **Rand** ’s friend and the people killed with him. Actually, it’s ostensibly about Fred Phelps, is it not? ---
**Author:** ![Oakminster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/77aa72/32.png) [@Oakminster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Oakminster)\ **Post date:** [June 22, 2010, 4:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-hate-those-westburo-people-so-much/544090/27 "2010-06-22T16:03:41Z")
> [@Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](#): > > Exactly. I’ll respond to that in your ongoing Pit thread. ---
**Author:** ![Ogre](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/ecb155/32.png) [@Ogre](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ogre)\ **Post date:** [June 22, 2010, 4:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-hate-those-westburo-people-so-much/544090/28 "2010-06-22T16:46:14Z")
> [@Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](#): > > Exactly. What the hell is wrong with you? ---
**Author:** ![Acsenray](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/acsenray/32/4519_2.png) [@Acsenray](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Acsenray)\ **Post date:** [June 22, 2010, 5:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-hate-those-westburo-people-so-much/544090/29 "2010-06-22T17:23:07Z")
> [@RandMcnally](#): > > But one of the four killed is having his funeral tomorrow and that “church” has decided to protest. I really hope they don’t. I doubt that any family and friends will let those people protest without a fight. > > Really, protesting a fallen soldier’s funeral? Even if you disagree with the war these people were genuinely saving other people’s lives. Allied, American, Afghani, it didn’t matter. My friend had over a hundred saves while over there. > > These men were genuinely fucking heroes. I really hope one day someone takes a bat to the heads of all those members of that crazy ass church and then gets off scott free. Does anything that Phelps says change the facts of this person’s life? Does anything that Phelps says change how you feel about him? Does anything that Phelps says change how this person’s friends and family will remember him? It doesn’t matter what Phelps does. In fact, your hating Phelps is exactly what he wants. It’s what makes him stronger. He wants your anger, your hate, your outrage, your tears. If you guys get together and scream at him or take his signs or beat him up, Phelps wins. Ignore him. Let him say what he wants. It means nothing. ---
**Author:** ![Zeriel](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/58956e/32.png) [@Zeriel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zeriel)\ **Post date:** [June 22, 2010, 5:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-hate-those-westburo-people-so-much/544090/30 "2010-06-22T17:34:53Z")
Sorry for your loss, **Rand**. Personally I hope someone has a tragic mechanical failure that causes one of those bikes to go off unpiloted and flatten some Phelps. As for the rest of the thread: I honestly don’t see the issue here. Yes, it’s important that people pay attention to the funerals of gays and gay supporters to counter Phelp’s hateful crap. However, I don’t see any particular reason to force an outright pro-military group into that duty. There was nothing stopping any of us from forming such a group. Of the Patriot Riders I know (a few from my hometown and environs, the redneckiest conservative part of PA), I called up one (buddy of my dad’s) and asked a few questions, and while he made all the noises about supported DADT etc. as a preamble he said they’d definitely show up to the funeral of any openly gay servicemen killed in the line of duty because “serviceman” overrides “gay” in his opinion. This is a surprisingly common opinion among the rank-and-file once one filters out the evangelicals (fortunately thin on the ground up here). ---
**Author:** ![Zebra](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/c0e974/32.png) [@Zebra](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zebra)\ **Post date:** [June 22, 2010, 6:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-hate-those-westburo-people-so-much/544090/31 "2010-06-22T18:00:50Z")
I’m sorry for the loss of your friend\*\* Rand\*\*. **Dio** , this thread isn’t about the Patriot Guard. Yes someone mentioned them but not the OP. You should start a different thread to debate the merits of the Patriot Guard. ---
**Author:** ![Gary\_Robson](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gary_robson/32/3448_2.png) [@Gary\_Robson](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gary_Robson)\ **Post date:** [June 22, 2010, 6:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-hate-those-westburo-people-so-much/544090/32 "2010-06-22T18:11:54Z")
My condolences on the loss of your friend, **Rand**. It takes a really special kind of ass to protest at a funeral – any funeral – and I’m sorry it’s your friend’s funeral that they chose. ---
**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:** [June 22, 2010, 6:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-hate-those-westburo-people-so-much/544090/33 "2010-06-22T18:26:19Z")
**Rand** , I’m sorry about your friend. I can’t even imagine what you’re going through. > [@Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](#): > > They also _refuse_ to help the families of any Phelps targets that aren’t vets (i.e they don’t want anything to do with queers). They don’t give a fuck about those other grieving families. The notion that Phelps’ victims only deserve dignity and protection if they’re veterans is an offensive one. They’re attention whoring hypocrites and nothing more. Unless they also refuse to guard the funerals of gay servicemen and women, I don’t see how that signifies. ---
**Author:** ![ZipperJJ](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/zipperjj/32/211_2.png) [@ZipperJJ](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ZipperJJ)\ **Post date:** [June 22, 2010, 6:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-hate-those-westburo-people-so-much/544090/34 "2010-06-22T18:35:14Z")
I’m so sorry to hear about the loss of your friend, **Rand**. It’s sad to lose a friend but it seems like in your case the "awww, man…"s keep piling up ☹ **Dio** , come on man. The Patriot Guard is a military anti-Phelps-protest group. Not just an anti-Phelps-Protest group. They are not CONTROL to Phelps’ KAOS. You should be more angry that there’s not a Rainbow Guard doing the same thing for gay funerals. ---
**Author:** ![hajario](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hajario/32/171_2.png) [@hajario](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/hajario)\ **Post date:** [June 22, 2010, 6:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-hate-those-westburo-people-so-much/544090/35 "2010-06-22T18:36:52Z")
I am so sorry about your friend, **Rand** , and especially sorry that a bunch of hateful trolls made the whole thing more stressful for you. ---
**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:** [June 22, 2010, 7:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-hate-those-westburo-people-so-much/544090/36 "2010-06-22T19:15:12Z")
> [@ZipperJJ](#): > > You should be more angry that there’s not a Rainbow Guard doing the same thing for gay funerals. My sympathies on the whole “They didn’t care about Phelps when he was just picketing gay people’s funerals” are on **Dio** ’s side, because it’s true. But what I wanted to say was 1) my condolences about your friend, **McNally** , and b) the above would be an excellent exercise for Dykes on Bikes to take up. ---
**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:** [June 22, 2010, 7:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-hate-those-westburo-people-so-much/544090/37 "2010-06-22T19:24:24Z")
> [@jayjay](#): > > the above would be an excellent exercise for Dykes on Bikes to take up. I actually just sent their president an e-mail suggesting a program like that. ---
**Author:** ![twickster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/ec9cab/32.png) [@twickster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/twickster)\ **Post date:** [June 22, 2010, 7:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-hate-those-westburo-people-so-much/544090/38 "2010-06-22T19:27:59Z")
> [@Airman\_Doors\_USAF](#): > > You are an unspeakable dick, **Dio**. And I’ve issued a warning to **Airman Doors** for personal insults. We’re not in the Pit. **twickster** , MPSIMS moderator ---
**Author:** ![RandMcnally](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/b782af/32.png) [@RandMcnally](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RandMcnally)\ **Post date:** [June 22, 2010, 7:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-hate-those-westburo-people-so-much/544090/39 "2010-06-22T19:36:30Z")
They didn’t protest my friend’s funeral. My sources (ie: his fiancée) said there wasn’t any incident and you wouldve thought he was a leader of a country by the reception that he got. Westburo was planning on protest another airman’s funeral who was killed on the same flight as my buddy. ---
**Author:** ![Bookkeeper](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bookkeeper/32/281_2.png) [@Bookkeeper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bookkeeper)\ **Post date:** [June 22, 2010, 7:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-hate-those-westburo-people-so-much/544090/40 "2010-06-22T19:50:22Z")
One of our local churches was founded in 1928 and recently ended up amalgamating with another Baptist church under the other church’s name because of the difficulties in dealing with the spillover from having the same name as this oozing chancre of hatred. (What was originally a significant Website was eventually reduced to a single page stating that they were in no way associated with the Phelps “church”.) [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-hate-those-westburo-people-so-much/544090.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-hate-those-westburo-people-so-much/544090.md?page=3)