# Patriotic Bikers to Fred Phelps: Up Yours **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [February 22, 2006, 5:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/patriotic-bikers-to-fred-phelps-up-yours/345652 "2006-02-22T17:30:19Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Duke\_of\_Rat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/ad7895/32.png) [@Duke\_of\_Rat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Duke_of_Rat)\ **Post date:** [February 22, 2006, 8:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/patriotic-bikers-to-fred-phelps-up-yours/345652/21 "2006-02-22T20:55:28Z")
> [@Miller](#): > > Did Jimmy call the late Mrs. King a fag at the funeral? I’m not familiar with the details of the speech, but I kinda suspect we’re talking about two very different things, here. Coretta King, like her husband, was a political activist. It would strike me as highly unusual to not have some mention of politics at her funeral. **LonsomePolecat** just said “political demonstrations”, didn’t really differentiate between fer ya or agin ya. I think political statements praising the work Mrs. King and her late husband made would have been great, but some people used the occasion as an opportunity to get some blatant digs in on Bush. I guess what I’m trying to say is political statements honoring the deceased seem in good taste, those used as grandstanding attacks on somebody else, not so much. An artical [here](http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/nation/la-na-coretta8feb08,0,7796896.story?coll=la-home-nation) (I hope it’s not too radically right for the board, it was one of the top Google hits, I’m not familiar with the politics of the LA Times) has most of the political blurbs. [Here](http://www.frontpagemag.com/Articles/ReadArticle.asp?ID=21230) is one from the right, giving an excerpt from what Bush had to say (sorry, it was hard to find any sources that repeated any of Bush’s speech). P.S. Westboro Baptist was there as well. ---
**Author:** ![Duke\_of\_Rat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/ad7895/32.png) [@Duke\_of\_Rat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Duke_of_Rat)\ **Post date:** [February 22, 2006, 9:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/patriotic-bikers-to-fred-phelps-up-yours/345652/22 "2006-02-22T21:06:31Z")
> [@light strand](#): > > To compare Carter to Phelps is so full of shit. > > To say (truthfully) that the King’s were wire tapped, and Katrina did show that race relations still aren’t great is hardly the same as saying that US soldiers deserve to die, or God hate fags. I’m so sick of this disingenuous shit you Right Wingers fling for no apparent reason. Now grow the fuck up, and get off that pony named “Right-Wing Persecution Complex”. > > Now back to the regularly scheduled Phelps bashing. I was just talking about flinging out disrespect to anybody at a funeral, doesn’t seem the place for it. Plenty of other Democrats spoke at her funeral without using to occasion as a political soapbox to bash Bush, and I’m not saying Bush doesn’t deserve a good bashing, just that her funeral seemed like a pretty tacky place to do it. ---
**Author:** ![rjung](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/45deac/32.png) [@rjung](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/rjung)\ **Post date:** [February 22, 2006, 9:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/patriotic-bikers-to-fred-phelps-up-yours/345652/23 "2006-02-22T21:12:09Z")
> [@Duke of Rat](#): > > I was just talking about flinging out disrespect to anybody at a funeral, doesn’t seem the place for it. Plenty of other Democrats spoke at her funeral without using to occasion as a political soapbox to bash Bush, and I’m not saying Bush doesn’t deserve a good bashing, just that her funeral seemed like a pretty tacky place to do it. Considering her life’s work was on social and political issues, it seems appropriate to me. But then, I’d never be crass enough to tell a family what’s the “appropriate” way for them to mourn the passing of one of their own. And let’s remember that Mr. Bush was not invited to the funeral, but wrangled himself a place there for Primus-knows-why reasons. So it’s not as if he has anyone to blame but himself… ---
**Author:** ![Mr.Moto](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/9de0a6/32.png) [@Mr.Moto](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr.Moto)\ **Post date:** [February 22, 2006, 9:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/patriotic-bikers-to-fred-phelps-up-yours/345652/24 "2006-02-22T21:28:21Z")
Again, I usually don’t cry “hijack” at a whim, but whatever happened at Mrs. King’s funeral doesn’t warrant discussion in a thread about Fred Phelps. It is a wholly different matter, and Fred Phelps is so repugnant that other things shouldn’t be discussed in close proximity to him. Whatever Carter or Joseph Lowery did, it in no way comes close to what Phelps does and continues to do. Perhaps the King funeral ought to be discussed in a different thread. I hardly see how it has any bearing on this ongoing problem posed by Phelp’s roving band of crazies. ---
**Author:** ![Merijeek](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f05b48/32.png) [@Merijeek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Merijeek)\ **Post date:** [February 23, 2006, 4:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/patriotic-bikers-to-fred-phelps-up-yours/345652/25 "2006-02-23T04:00:08Z")
> [@Revenant Threshold](#): > > I’m going to have to disagree. Well, technically, I do agree - this seems pretty sensible and it’d definetly be helpful to the family of the deceased. The problem is, if you set up the law so that picketing disrupts peace and public order, then that same judgement could be used to stop other, less moronic picketers, or keep them in a buffer zone, too. I don’t think however well you could write the law to make it stick to “only funerals” that it wouldn’t be taken advantage of in courts. Something along the lines of Free Speech Zones? Hell, you want to protest a funeral? Here’s a fenced in area under an overpass… -Joe ---
**Author:** ![matt\_mcl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/7ab992/32.png) [@matt\_mcl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/matt_mcl)\ **Post date:** [February 23, 2006, 7:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/patriotic-bikers-to-fred-phelps-up-yours/345652/26 "2006-02-23T07:11:28Z")
> [@Gringo\_Miami](#): > > How about YOU? What are you ready to do to make a statement about Phelps and other homophobes? You mean other than running the gay and lesbian group at my cegep, participating in the queer political task force at my university, volunteering for demystification and ally-building programs at high schools, testifying before the House of Commons travelling commission on same-sex marriage, being co-president of my political party’s provincial gay and lesbian section, and running for federal office three times as an openly gay candidate? 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Zabali\_Clawbane](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/ecd19e/32.png) [@Zabali\_Clawbane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zabali_Clawbane)\ **Post date:** [February 23, 2006, 8:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/patriotic-bikers-to-fred-phelps-up-yours/345652/27 "2006-02-23T08:30:42Z")
Lest you think **matt\_mcl** is only joking **Gringo\_Miami** , [here](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=355553&highlight=matt_mcl+election) is a link to a pertinent thread. ---
**Author:** ![Tim\_T-Bonham.net](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/46a35a/32.png) [@Tim\_T-Bonham.net](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tim_T-Bonham.net)\ **Post date:** [February 23, 2006, 11:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/patriotic-bikers-to-fred-phelps-up-yours/345652/28 "2006-02-23T11:02:12Z")
> [@if6was9](#): > > How does Phelps and the WBC get away with this? I mean the website and church “literature” more than these protests. If you set up a website godhatesjewsdotcom or godhatesblacksdotcom (with the appropriate racial slur…) you’d be shut down so fast your head would spin. No, you wouldn’t. At lesat one is out there: [www.godhatesjews.com](http://www.godhatesjews.com) And it was created over a year ago, and is still up and running. ---
**Author:** ![E-Sabbath](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/e19adc/32.png) [@E-Sabbath](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/E-Sabbath)\ **Post date:** [February 23, 2006, 11:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/patriotic-bikers-to-fred-phelps-up-yours/345652/29 "2006-02-23T11:51:03Z")
But, other than that, what have the Romans done for us? The Free Speech zones are an issue, and this bears considering. Still, I think there is a difference between something essentially _personal_ and _private_ in nature, like a funeral, and something essentially _public_ and _governmental_ in nature, like stump speeches. I’m not thrilled by the concept of these laws, but I do think there’s enough difference there to not infringe on freedoms. ---
**Author:** ![pool](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pool/32/4152_2.png) [@pool](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pool)\ **Post date:** [February 23, 2006, 12:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/patriotic-bikers-to-fred-phelps-up-yours/345652/30 "2006-02-23T12:39:28Z")
I’m waiting for the day Phelps finally dies and we can protest at his funeral. ---
**Author:** ![Revenant\_Threshold](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/f1d935/32.png) [@Revenant\_Threshold](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Revenant_Threshold)\ **Post date:** [February 23, 2006, 12:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/patriotic-bikers-to-fred-phelps-up-yours/345652/31 "2006-02-23T12:42:49Z")
> [@pool](#): > > I’m waiting for the day Phelps finally dies and we can protest at his funeral. I can honestly assure you that when he dies, I will not be protesting. ---
**Author:** ![pool](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pool/32/4152_2.png) [@pool](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pool)\ **Post date:** [February 23, 2006, 12:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/patriotic-bikers-to-fred-phelps-up-yours/345652/32 "2006-02-23T12:44:34Z")
We can protest his not dying sooner, but seriously it would be fun to make a bunch of Phelps is rotting in hell posters. ---
**Author:** ![Kalhoun](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/3bc359/32.png) [@Kalhoun](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kalhoun)\ **Post date:** [February 23, 2006, 1:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/patriotic-bikers-to-fred-phelps-up-yours/345652/33 "2006-02-23T13:03:10Z")
> [@matt\_mcl](#): > > You mean other than running the gay and lesbian group at my cegep, participating in the queer political task force at my university, volunteering for demystification and ally-building programs at high schools, testifying before the House of Commons travelling commission on same-sex marriage, being co-president of my political party’s provincial gay and lesbian section, and running for federal office three times as an openly gay candidate? 🙂 You are _such_ a _slacker!_ Get a life! ---
**Author:** ![Gringo\_Miami](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/f17d59/32.png) [@Gringo\_Miami](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gringo_Miami)\ **Post date:** [February 23, 2006, 1:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/patriotic-bikers-to-fred-phelps-up-yours/345652/34 "2006-02-23T13:08:53Z")
> [@Zabali\_Clawbane](#): > > Lest you think **matt\_mcl** is only joking **Gringo\_Miami** , [here](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=355553&highlight=matt_mcl+election) is a link to a pertinent thread. I did not think he was joking. He answered my question very completely. Given the fact that I knew nothing about his background, my question was legitimate. I am glad he is doing the work that he is. It is needed, and for the common good. ---
**Author:** ![LonesomePolecat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/a88e57/32.png) [@LonesomePolecat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LonesomePolecat)\ **Post date:** [February 23, 2006, 1:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/patriotic-bikers-to-fred-phelps-up-yours/345652/35 "2006-02-23T13:18:08Z")
> [@matt\_mcl](#): > > You mean other than running the gay and lesbian group at my cegep, participating in the queer political task force at my university, volunteering for demystification and ally-building programs at high schools, testifying before the House of Commons travelling commission on same-sex marriage, being co-president of my political party’s provincial gay and lesbian section, and running for federal office three times as an openly gay candidate? 🙂 But what have you done _lately_? ---
**Author:** ![Merijeek](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f05b48/32.png) [@Merijeek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Merijeek)\ **Post date:** [February 23, 2006, 1:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/patriotic-bikers-to-fred-phelps-up-yours/345652/36 "2006-02-23T13:21:50Z")
> [@t-bonham@scc.net](#): > > No, you wouldn’t. > > At lesat one is out there: [www.godhatesjews.com](http://www.godhatesjews.com) > > And it was created over a year ago, and is still up and running. Eh, a parody or a placeholder site is a parody or placeholder site. The first thing listed on there that I saw was “Meet Jewish Singles”. I suppose if you’re having trouble finding Jews to hate or something that might be a help… -Joe ---
**Author:** ![Kalhoun](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/3bc359/32.png) [@Kalhoun](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kalhoun)\ **Post date:** [February 23, 2006, 1:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/patriotic-bikers-to-fred-phelps-up-yours/345652/37 "2006-02-23T13:24:33Z")
There are hundreds — probably THOUSANDS of hate sites out there. Anyone who doesn’t believe that needs to take about 30 seconds to Google. I was just looking at a white supremist site the other day. They’re there…they’re powerful…and they’re 100% legal. ---
**Author:** ![fushj00mang](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/d26b3c/32.png) [@fushj00mang](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/fushj00mang)\ **Post date:** [February 23, 2006, 6:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/patriotic-bikers-to-fred-phelps-up-yours/345652/38 "2006-02-23T18:39:05Z")
> [@Mr. Moto](#): > > At the very least, a buffer zone seems fair. With the Phelpses, and all members of the Westboro Baptist Church, a well prepared field of fire and pretyped kill zones would be better. Buffer zones don’t get the point across as easily. ~The Mang ---
**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:** [February 23, 2006, 7:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/patriotic-bikers-to-fred-phelps-up-yours/345652/39 "2006-02-23T19:10:53Z")
I’d never heard of this Phelps fellow, but this sentence from the article linked in the OP tells me what a class act he and his followers are: > [@](#): > > They danced and sang impromptu songs peppered with vulgarities that condemned homosexuals and soldiers. :rolleyes:Sounds like a really Christian church to me. ---
**Author:** ![Argent\_Towers](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/e8c25b/32.png) [@Argent\_Towers](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Argent_Towers)\ **Post date:** [February 23, 2006, 7:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/patriotic-bikers-to-fred-phelps-up-yours/345652/40 "2006-02-23T19:31:51Z")
> [@Kalhoun](#): > > There are hundreds — probably THOUSANDS of hate sites out there. Anyone who doesn’t believe that needs to take about 30 seconds to Google. I was just looking at a white supremist site the other day. They’re there…they’re powerful…and they’re 100% legal. They may be there, and they may be legal, but powerful they are not. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/patriotic-bikers-to-fred-phelps-up-yours/345652.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/patriotic-bikers-to-fred-phelps-up-yours/345652.md?page=3)