# Phelps on Memorial Day **URL:** \ **Category:** Great Debates\ **Created:** [May 27, 2008, 4:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/phelps-on-memorial-day/450724 "2008-05-27T04:33:53Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 11\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![kitemaker\_chuck](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/a88e4f/32.png) [@kitemaker\_chuck](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kitemaker_chuck)\ **Post date:** [May 27, 2008, 4:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/phelps-on-memorial-day/450724/1 "2008-05-27T04:33:53Z")
This Memorial Day, has anyone heard anything out of that Phelps character and his insane church posse? It seems he and his intolerant congregation would have all sorts of opportunities to demonstrate against military funerals on Memorial Day. ---
**Author:** ![Mosier](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/7ea924/32.png) [@Mosier](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mosier)\ **Post date:** [May 27, 2008, 6:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/phelps-on-memorial-day/450724/2 "2008-05-27T06:26:51Z")
I’m sure his plans were on his website, but I’m not particularly bothered to look. I think it’s [godhatesfags.com](http://godhatesfags.com), IIRC ---
**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:** [May 27, 2008, 10:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/phelps-on-memorial-day/450724/3 "2008-05-27T10:40:21Z")
[http://www.cjonline.com/stories/052108/loc\_281239740.shtml](http://www.cjonline.com/stories/052108/loc_281239740.shtml) Well, I heard that he better move his stuff out of his compound right quick, before it goes away, as the court ruled that it can be collected afore the appeal takes place. Which suggests the appeal doesn’t have all that much of a chance of success. ---
**Author:** ![Annie-Xmas](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ecc23a/32.png) [@Annie-Xmas](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Annie-Xmas)\ **Post date:** [May 27, 2008, 1:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/phelps-on-memorial-day/450724/4 "2008-05-27T13:34:16Z")
“Insane Church Posse” is the best description ever of what that group is. ---
**Author:** ![Steve\_MB](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/steve_mb/32/5339_2.png) [@Steve\_MB](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Steve_MB)\ **Post date:** [May 27, 2008, 2:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/phelps-on-memorial-day/450724/5 "2008-05-27T14:51:18Z")
[QUOTE=E-Sabbath] [http://www.cjonline.com/stories/052108/loc\_281239740.shtml](http://www.cjonline.com/stories/052108/loc_281239740.shtml) Well, I heard that he better move his stuff out of his compound right quick, before it goes away, as the court ruled that it can be collected afore the appeal takes place. [/QUOTE] I hope he tries; I’m pretty sure he could be thrown in jail for trying to hide assets in anticipation of civil judgment… ---
**Author:** ![Katriona](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/katriona/32/113_2.png) [@Katriona](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Katriona)\ **Post date:** [May 29, 2008, 12:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/phelps-on-memorial-day/450724/6 "2008-05-29T00:26:08Z")
[QUOTE=kitemaker\_chuck] This Memorial Day, has anyone heard anything out of that Phelps character and his insane church posse? It seems he and his intolerant congregation would have all sorts of opportunities to demonstrate against military funerals on Memorial Day. [/QUOTE] It’s seemed that lately they’ve been saying that they’ll turn up at thus-and-such place, like threatening to turn up at Heath Leger’s memorial service, get a ton of publicity, and then not show. I kind of remember that Phred is ailing, and due to the lawsuits against them, they don’t have a lot of money for trips. ---
**Author:** ![Thin\_Ice](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/aeb1de/32.png) [@Thin\_Ice](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Thin_Ice)\ **Post date:** [May 29, 2008, 10:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/phelps-on-memorial-day/450724/7 "2008-05-29T22:04:33Z")
Here is a list with links to a few stories regarding their recent activities in Stuart, Florida: > **[Search - tcpalm.com](https://www.tcpalm.com/search/?q=phelps&sortby=date&sources=site&image.x=18&image.y=10)** ---
**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:** [May 29, 2008, 10:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/phelps-on-memorial-day/450724/8 "2008-05-29T22:31:19Z")
Fred Phelps is a non-entity. His church consists of himself and his children and grandchildren. Why in the world do people continue to pay attention to him? You don’t start threads when the homeless guy on the streetcorner says something particularly offensive, do you? And you completely misunderstand the purpose of these protests. It has nothing to do with you and me. It’s all about maintaining control over his own little cult. He wants his cult members to be completely isolated from everyone else, to have no where to turn to outside the cult. And what better way than to make them hated by everyone? Outrageous fag hatred isn’t enough for complete isolation, that’s the purpose of the soldier funeral protests. He doesn’t want his offspring to be welcome anywhere on earth except at his compound, not even at other right-wing fundementalist whacko churches. ---
**Author:** ![Linty\_Fresh](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/c5a1d2/32.png) [@Linty\_Fresh](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Linty_Fresh)\ **Post date:** [May 30, 2008, 1:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/phelps-on-memorial-day/450724/9 "2008-05-30T01:00:48Z")
[QUOTE=Lemur866] Fred Phelps is a non-entity. His church consists of himself and his children and grandchildren. Why in the world do people continue to pay attention to him? You don’t start threads when the homeless guy on the streetcorner says something particularly offensive, do you? And you completely misunderstand the purpose of these protests. It has nothing to do with you and me. It’s all about maintaining control over his own little cult. He wants his cult members to be completely isolated from everyone else, to have no where to turn to outside the cult. And what better way than to make them hated by everyone? Outrageous fag hatred isn’t enough for complete isolation, that’s the purpose of the soldier funeral protests. He doesn’t want his offspring to be welcome anywhere on earth except at his compound, not even at other right-wing fundementalist whacko churches. [/QUOTE] I would argue that now would be the _perfect_ time to pay attention to Phred and his Phamily. As much attention as legally possible, in fact. Ratchet up the heat and give him a taste of what he’s been dishing out. The WBC is now in financial trouble, precise because Snyder paid enough attention to sue them for what I now agree was a valid cause. In the past, I’ve argued for the Phelps’s right to protest on first amendment grounds, at least in regards to passing a law specifically geared toward them. Over the past couple of years, I’ve been convinced by other posters that what they say and do amounts to harrassment and fighting words and is open to lawsuits. And I think that Snyder did the right thing. _This_ is how we do it. Not by creating unconstitutional laws, but by enforcing the reasonable laws already on the books. Passing that funeral protest law was a _bad_ idea. Suing the ever living hell out of them is a good one. And then turn up the heat. Keep doing it. Fred and company went into this seeking attention and hatred? Well, they’ve gotten it. Once again, we can’t do anything illegal or unconstitutional, but keep up the pressure. Sooner or later, they’re going to cave. I’ve said it before, and I’ll say it here: When they started protesting military funerals, they bit off more than they could chew. The entire family is starting to feel the strain. Shirley Phelps-Roper, the brains and spokeswoman of the group, is starting to lose it in interviews. Ten years ago, nothing could get between Fred and a TV camera to spread his message. Now he often refuses to answer questions and all but kicks reporters out of his compound. Take away their money and keep at them. CPS, IRS, Sell-for-Less, just give 'em hell. With any luck, they’ll wind up turning on each other like wolves in a burning henhouse. Abuse and dysfunction might make for strong bonds in the short term, but I doubt they’re that durable. And once again, nothing illegal and nothing unconstitutional. ---
**Author:** ![Frank](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/3d9bf3/32.png) [@Frank](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Frank)\ **Post date:** [May 30, 2008, 1:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/phelps-on-memorial-day/450724/10 "2008-05-30T01:07:41Z")
[QUOTE=E-Sabbath] [http://www.cjonline.com/stories/052108/loc\_281239740.shtml](http://www.cjonline.com/stories/052108/loc_281239740.shtml) Well, I heard that he better move his stuff out of his compound right quick, before it goes away, as the court ruled that it can be collected afore the appeal takes place. Which suggests the appeal doesn’t have all that much of a chance of success. [/QUOTE] Huh. That’s cheerful news. ---
**Author:** ![sqweels](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/f19dbf/32.png) [@sqweels](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sqweels)\ **Post date:** [May 30, 2008, 3:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/phelps-on-memorial-day/450724/11 "2008-05-30T15:11:43Z")
[QUOTE=Lemur866] Fred Phelps is a non-entity. His church consists of himself and his children and grandchildren. Why in the world do people continue to pay attention to him? [/QUOTE] Because it’s FUN! They’re more fun than a barrel full of bible-thumping monkeys.