I’ve heard about the Phelps family on these boards so many times (mainly Fred) and have always been curious about them. Louis’ documentary calls them (and is titled) “The most hated family in America” (But I thought I’d borrow Louis’ previous documentary naming convention “Lous Theroux meets…”)
Louis Theroux is my favourite BBC journalist (not that I have a very long list) His usual choice of subject matter is close to my heart… Either people who are right-wing and uptight, or people who hold crackpot beliefs. (often both)
I want to keep this short as I haven’t much time. Did anyone see the documentary?
I want to try to convey my experience of the programme and the Phelps family…
I struggled. I struggled because I couldn’t feel satisfaction about retribution towards this family. I was frustrated by the fact that their warped view of the world seemed to be impossible to cut through. I didn’t like how happy they all seemed to be. I felt like there should be something deep down in their hearts or minds that punishes them for their actions but there didn’t seem to be. There didn’t seem to be anything external that would punish the core of their belief either.
One of their kids gets hit by a drink thrown by a passer by in a car… they see that person as the evil one and themselves as the victims… I see it the other way round. (except for the kid. He is doing something his parents have convinced him is right but the world knows is wrong)
The phelps’ seem obsessed with the vices of human nature (particularly fornication). I am sad that they do not realize that there is more to the life of most human beings than shagging. (not that it is a bad thing anyway) Most humans consider it secondary. They seek grander things. The phelpses lives revolve around basic bible-rule-breaking and their duty to 'inform people that their destination is a place called ‘Hell’ because of it. How sad.
Newsflash. that place is their fiction not ours. We don’t know where we’re going (or what happens to our self-awareness) only they think it is going to experience hell. We happen to feel complete and total confidence that it won’t.
That’s what Fred is for. There’s a an article kicking around the internet, describing in detail the way Fred abuses his family. I can dig it up for you if you want, but I’d really rather not look for it again. It’s stomach turning. I don’t know how it is for those that have married into the family, his immediate family has already suffered the torments of hell, and then some.
The documentary left me with the feeling that when Fred dies, the sect will pretty much die with him. While the family members appeared brainwashed and able to regurgitate the often ridiculous hateful bile, it was the sermons which really provided the fuel for the fire. They seemed convinced of a very imminent day of reckoning, so when Fred’s day comes first, this should knock a fair bit of hot air out of their sails, leaving them as a bunch of pretty average bigots.
I watched it and frankly found the whole family laughable. I agree that the sect will most probably die out when Phelps Snr pops his clogs simply because they don’t have anything but his vitriol to sustain them.
I suppose they could continue to preach their rampant homophobia but I can’t see them winning many sympathisers outside the family. It was quite clear from Theroux’s brief chats with the youngest children that they had no idea what they were doing at those demonstrations and were just parroting back what they’d been told.
I did feel sorry for the kid who got hit by the drinks container, it wasn’t his fault he was there, it’s the fault of him family who such unbelievable crazies. For one thing, it’s wrong to drag children into that kind of ‘religion’ and for another, it’s wrong to expose them to danger for a cause they most likely don’t understand.
I’m almost surprised that there wasn’t more than just verbal abuse, especially at the funerals they picketed.
I must admit that I was impressed with the self-control exhibited by the mourners at these funerals. I’m sure they must be horrified to find these people outside and given the fact it’s a very traumatic and emotional time, the way that these people are able to ignore and bypass the demonstrators without so much as a cross word is utterly admirable.
I don’t think it will die completely away when Phred does - he’s managed to poison and distort the minds of enough of his family members to pretty much ensure that they will continue to be assholes for the remainder of their spans too.
However, I think one thing that might happen is that when Phred goes, it might all splinter into factions and without him leading it and keeping things in check(if it can be called that), some of his family members might step over the line and end up in real trouble with the law.
It’s a good thing there wasn’t, since that’s Phelps’ bread and butter. When people are the first ones to land a blow in confrontations like this, he sues them.
I will be keeping an eye out to watch this…maybe they will show it on BBC America sometime?
Regarding Phelps - there is actually a redeeming factor in his madness - and for me, as a screaming liberal Gay man - that is saying a lot.
Phelps actually has gone so over the top that even rabid homophobes distance themselves from him. He has made hard-core. right-wing pundits re-define their homophobia.
The upswing is that he has made fools out of anyone who thinks like he does - and whenever someone gets on their anti-fag soapbox, you only need to say Phelps and they usually step off the soapbox and add a disclaimer.
So sometimes, it is actually a good thing to have a wild, nutcase running around stirring up the pot - it puts things in perspective.
I saw it. Great documentary. DMark and others who haven’t seen it, you can download an MP4 podcast here.
I felt very sorry for the kids and even the brainwashed young ladies, who seemed essentially good at heart but were having their lives ruined.
Louis did an interview about the program, which is here. Particularly interesting is his belief that:
The one who struck me as the most twisted, since Phred is clearly nuts and can’t help himself, is the mother. A nasty piece of work because she’s articulate and obviously so intelligent.
I was actually quite upset by the picketing of the mourners. I didn’t realise they got that close, the bunch of fuckers. What makes me even sadder and more irritated with it is that it’s so irrelevant. It’s the weirdest, tenuous link from gay rights to the families of the bereaved. Those soldiers could be as homophobic as the Phelpses, who knows.
Us Brits have now received an open letter from the family. You can read it on this pdf document . I am afraid (surprise , surprise) that it doesn’t make very pleasant reading.
Ack! Stupid me: just an April fool thing. And I had been doing so well at not being caught out this year. Oh well, Celyn is slow - situation normal then.
Oh well, Celyn is slow - situation normal then. 
