# Look out Australia! Fred Phelps is headed Down Under! **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [February 6, 2004, 1:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/look-out-australia-fred-phelps-is-headed-down-under/227758 "2004-02-06T01:01:46Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 17\ **Page:** 4
**Author:** ![coffeecam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/bc8723/32.png) [@coffeecam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/coffeecam)\ **Post date:** [February 16, 2004, 2:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/look-out-australia-fred-phelps-is-headed-down-under/227758/61 "2004-02-16T02:58:57Z")
> [@dutchboy208](#): > > Perhaps if someone were to show him the story about the gay penguins he’d run off to the Arctic circle and get eaten by a killer whale or sodomised by a polar bear or something… Sorry to do this, but if Gary Larson had to appologise for it (Prehistory of the Far Side p. 124) > [@](#): > > After this “polar bear” cartoon was published, I received letters from several biologists reminding me that polar bears are strictly an Arctic species, and penguins strictly Antarctic. Damn. I feel it’s worth pointing out. Further, _orcinus orca_ is also Arctic. Basically you’ve got Baleen whales there for krill, seals (and not so much the big mean ones either) and Penguins. Of course [90 Million](http://www.wwf.org.uk/core/wildlife/fs_0000000036.asp) penguins are unlikely to enjoy having their lifestyle challenged, and the image of Phelps getting swarmed by that many birds in tuxedos is kinda neat. C ---
**Author:** ![spectrum](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9fc29f/32.png) [@spectrum](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/spectrum)\ **Post date:** [February 16, 2004, 6:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/look-out-australia-fred-phelps-is-headed-down-under/227758/62 "2004-02-16T06:19:20Z")
What offends me the most about the man is the violence he does to the fine art of typography in his flyers. And he can’t even make a decent PDF. What, did he just scan this thing in? As a professional graphics person who uses PDF constantly, I find this shoddy work insulting. ---
**Author:** ![kambuckta](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/53a042/32.png) [@kambuckta](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kambuckta)\ **Post date:** [February 16, 2004, 7:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/look-out-australia-fred-phelps-is-headed-down-under/227758/63 "2004-02-16T07:34:10Z")
From what I’ve read on these boards, Fred Phelps gets a great deal of his jollies from knowing that he is reviled and despised by the general community. Maybe you Merkins should just ignore him (like we mostly did with our Fred), and then he might shrivel up and waft off into obscurity. Giving him coverage and publicity is just feeding his sick little psyche. He can have all the demo’s and webpages he likes, but it is only when folks start REACTING to them that they have any power. Let’s face it…Phelps is just a pathetic little weiner who hears voices telling him that he is the new Messiah of Morality. The more you fight him, the more he feels that he IS the freaking Messiah. He is like a mozzie-bite…just ignore it and it will eventually go away. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Baker](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/bb73d2/32.png) [@Baker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Baker)\ **Post date:** [February 16, 2004, 11:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/look-out-australia-fred-phelps-is-headed-down-under/227758/64 "2004-02-16T11:46:23Z")
**kambuckta** , ignoring him has been tried, believe me I know. Folks have always wanted to stick their heads in the sand over this guy. With your average garden variety fanatic it would work, but Phelps is the one in a thousand that it doesn’t work with. You ignore him, he “kicks it up” a notch so that he can’t be ignored. They have used physical violence as well, such as against a Lutheran minister at the church I was a member of when the incident happened. ---
**Author:** ![Cervaise](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cervaise/32/16693_2.png) [@Cervaise](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cervaise)\ **Post date:** [February 16, 2004, 6:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/look-out-australia-fred-phelps-is-headed-down-under/227758/65 "2004-02-16T18:20:06Z")
> [@Baker](#): > > They have used physical violence as well Which of course makes them terrorists. I’m sure Ashcroft will get right on that. :rolleyes::rolleyes::rolleyes: Ow, I think I snapped my optic nerve. ---
**Author:** ![Baker](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/bb73d2/32.png) [@Baker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Baker)\ **Post date:** [February 27, 2004, 12:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/look-out-australia-fred-phelps-is-headed-down-under/227758/66 "2004-02-27T00:25:58Z")
Just resurrecting this to remind Sydney Dopers of who will be paying them a visit soon. Keep us here in Topeka informed. Heck, keep the Phredites too, you’re welcome to them. They were across the street from my church on Sunday, again, being their usual simpleton selves. ---
**Author:** ![htns](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/ba8739/32.png) [@htns](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/htns)\ **Post date:** [February 27, 2004, 5:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/look-out-australia-fred-phelps-is-headed-down-under/227758/67 "2004-02-27T17:02:29Z")
> [@The Man With The Golden Gun](#): > > On the PDF, what the fuck are those dancing things in the bottom center? My guess is that it’s a gross parody of lesbian sexuality, based on the emblems they’re holding. Just a WAG on my part, tho. ---
**Author:** ![Count\_Blucher](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/c5a1d2/32.png) [@Count\_Blucher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Count_Blucher)\ **Post date:** [February 27, 2004, 6:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/look-out-australia-fred-phelps-is-headed-down-under/227758/68 "2004-02-27T18:27:09Z")
"Good Evening, Mr. Phelps. Australia, which has previously resisted all our attemts at political tampering, seems to be turning into a safe haven for gay an lesbian people to live their lives in peace and harmony. As this is contrary to the stated objectives of this administartion, and by extension America, your mission is to make as many gay and lesbian people as uncomfortable as possible through protest and subversion. As always, if any of your Intolerance Force is either captured or killed, the Secretary will disavow any knowledge of your actions. Good Luck Fred. " \ ---
**Author:** ![Baker](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/bb73d2/32.png) [@Baker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Baker)\ **Post date:** [February 28, 2004, 7:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/look-out-australia-fred-phelps-is-headed-down-under/227758/69 "2004-02-28T19:03:01Z")
So, can any Australian Dopers tell me if Fred and Co. actually showed up in Sydney? ---
**Author:** ![Thylacine](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thylacine/32/1143_2.png) [@Thylacine](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Thylacine)\ **Post date:** [February 28, 2004, 11:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/look-out-australia-fred-phelps-is-headed-down-under/227758/70 "2004-02-28T23:11:22Z")
I have seen absolutely nothing in mainstream or gay press to indicate he was coming or in fact here. ---
**Author:** ![Baker](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/bb73d2/32.png) [@Baker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Baker)\ **Post date:** [February 29, 2004, 1:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/look-out-australia-fred-phelps-is-headed-down-under/227758/71 "2004-02-29T01:06:14Z")
**Thylacine** , not sure if you read the whole thread, but the OP has a link to Fred’s website and their stated intention to picket “The Laramie Project” at the Cellar Theatre on the University of Sydney, Feb. 28. And I was asking if he showed because, also as discussed earlier in the thread, sometimes the WBC proclaims an intention to picket, the cops out. I just wanted to find out if Phred and Co. really went all the way to Australia(which I doubt) for a few minutes of hatemongering. ---
**Author:** ![Thylacine](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thylacine/32/1143_2.png) [@Thylacine](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Thylacine)\ **Post date:** [February 29, 2004, 1:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/look-out-australia-fred-phelps-is-headed-down-under/227758/72 "2004-02-29T01:25:02Z")
I have been following the thread and watching out for any mention. I was planning on protesting loudly and widely if he/they got a visa but all I saw was this thread and the linked statement. No other mentions. It doesn’t mean he didn’t come of course, few Australians would know who he is I’d expect so he may not be considered newsworthy. ---
**Author:** ![Kansas\_Beekeeper](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/c37758/32.png) [@Kansas\_Beekeeper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kansas_Beekeeper)\ **Post date:** [February 29, 2004, 1:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/look-out-australia-fred-phelps-is-headed-down-under/227758/73 "2004-02-29T01:57:31Z")
> [@FilmGeek](#): > > Those dancing things are dead sodomites. Duh. 🙂 > > I know all about Freddy. He pickets every artistic event or vaguely liberal speaker/comedian/anyone at KU. > > He picketed the HARLEM BOYS CHOIR! . He also picketed Johnny Cash when he played at KU. I still can’t figure that out. ---
**Author:** ![Baker](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/bb73d2/32.png) [@Baker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Baker)\ **Post date:** [February 29, 2004, 2:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/look-out-australia-fred-phelps-is-headed-down-under/227758/74 "2004-02-29T02:19:53Z")
Thanks **Thylacine**. I guess that means the WBC was just blowing a lot of hot air again. Wish there was some way I could let them know _we_ know they were just scamming. If they show up outside my church again tomorrow maybe I should ask them, “so how was Sydney, huh?” ---
**Author:** ![gex\_gex](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/94ad74/32.png) [@gex\_gex](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gex_gex)\ **Post date:** [February 29, 2004, 1:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/look-out-australia-fred-phelps-is-headed-down-under/227758/75 "2004-02-29T13:22:21Z")
> [@](#): > > _originally posted by Kansas Beekeeper_ > He also picketed Johnny Cash when he played at KU. I still can’t figure that out. Ol’ Fred doesn’t like boys named Sue? ---
**Author:** ![Monkey\_Chews](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/65b543/32.png) [@Monkey\_Chews](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Monkey_Chews)\ **Post date:** [March 4, 2004, 2:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/look-out-australia-fred-phelps-is-headed-down-under/227758/76 "2004-03-04T14:46:50Z")
There was a small article about it in this week’s SX, one of the local gay rags. Apparently no-one could work out whether it was a serious threat or not. Tanya Plibersek, the Federal Member for Sydney, asked the Federal Police and the Minister for Immigration, Amada Vanstone, to investigate the threat, and suggested that Phelps should be denied an entry visa if he applied for one during the Mardi Gras period. The article doesn’t make it entirely clear, but it appears as though no action was necessary, so he probably didn’t even try. And certainly there appears to have been no trouble on the night. So it all apepars to have been just so much hot air. I went and saw the play too. It was bloody great! Very in-your-face, very powerful. Ironically, I found out about it while reading this very thread, so I guess I have Mr Phelps to thank for promoting it so well. Cheers! Happy Mardi Gras Fred! ---
**Author:** ![Baker](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/bb73d2/32.png) [@Baker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Baker)\ **Post date:** [March 4, 2004, 5:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/look-out-australia-fred-phelps-is-headed-down-under/227758/77 "2004-03-04T17:28:36Z")
Thanks for the infor **Monkey Chew**. I’ve got to figure out some way to let them know _we_ know they were scamming. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/look-out-australia-fred-phelps-is-headed-down-under/227758.md?page=3)