# Phelps spreads Hate; but it ain't towards Homos **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [August 17, 2005, 8:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/phelps-spreads-hate-but-it-aint-towards-homos/317477 "2005-08-17T20:44:08Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Homebrew](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/c89c15/32.png) [@Homebrew](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Homebrew)\ **Post date:** [August 17, 2005, 8:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/phelps-spreads-hate-but-it-aint-towards-homos/317477/1 "2005-08-17T20:44:08Z")
Peter LaBarbera, the director of the notoriously anti-gay group Illinois Family Institute, has come out with a [statement denouncing Fred Phelps’ protests of U.S. Service men](http://www.illinoisfamily.org/news/contentview.asp?c=27785). Phelps has been protesting military funerals because he says the U.S. is a “fag nation” and the military helps spread homosexuality. LaBarbera, ever the wise Christian, said Phelps’ protests are misguided and it “fuels societal bigotry toward those who espouse genuine Biblical views on social issues like homosexuality and abortion.” Yep, you read that right. Phelps’ actions spread hate towards Christians. See he doesn’t enflame bigots against homos, he makes everyone else persecute the Christians. In fact, LaBabera wonders if perhaps ol’ Fred is actually a “gay plant”! Now I can agree with his statement that “Picketing at funerals takes tackiness to a new level and is well beyond the boundaries of decency.” But I wonder where LaBarbera was when Phelps was picketing Matt’s funeral or Mr. Roger’s. Sorry, Peter, Fred is one of yours. He may be more extreme, or honest, in expressing his hatred. But he’s on the same side as you. Pot. Kettle. Assholes. ---
**Author:** ![Carol\_the\_Impaler](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/6a8cbe/32.png) [@Carol\_the\_Impaler](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Carol_the_Impaler)\ **Post date:** [August 17, 2005, 8:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/phelps-spreads-hate-but-it-aint-towards-homos/317477/2 "2005-08-17T20:49:17Z")
I dunno. I think Phelps is truly, truly mad. And wants to take the Death-by-Cop deathwish and extend it to Death-by-Military-Funeral-Firing-Squad. ---
**Author:** ![tdn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/94ad74/32.png) [@tdn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tdn)\ **Post date:** [August 17, 2005, 8:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/phelps-spreads-hate-but-it-aint-towards-homos/317477/3 "2005-08-17T20:51:39Z")
> [@Homebrew](#): > > Pot. Kettle. Assholes. Remind me not to let you make me a cup of tea. The thing is, there are plenty of good-hearted tolerant Christians out there, and they too are being tainted by Phred. They’d do well to shut him up. Thing about Phred is (my theory), he’s not really anti-gay. He’s pro-chaos. ---
**Author:** ![Miller](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/miller/32/481_2.png) [@Miller](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Miller)\ **Post date:** [August 17, 2005, 8:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/phelps-spreads-hate-but-it-aint-towards-homos/317477/4 "2005-08-17T20:52:31Z")
> [@Homebrew](#): > > In fact, LaBabera wonders if perhaps ol’ Fred is actually a “gay plant”! So… he thinks Phelps is a fruit? ---
**Author:** ![tdn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/94ad74/32.png) [@tdn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tdn)\ **Post date:** [August 17, 2005, 8:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/phelps-spreads-hate-but-it-aint-towards-homos/317477/5 "2005-08-17T20:54:38Z")
> [@Miller](#): > > So… he thinks Phelps is a fruit? What’s the gayest plant? I’m thinking willow. 'Cause they swish. ---
**Author:** ![velvetjones](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/5f9b8f/32.png) [@velvetjones](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/velvetjones)\ **Post date:** [August 17, 2005, 8:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/phelps-spreads-hate-but-it-aint-towards-homos/317477/6 "2005-08-17T20:57:12Z")
> [@tdn](#): > > Remind me not to let you make me a cup of tea. Peter LaBarbera is just the kinder gentler Phelps. The only difference is that Peter has said that homosexuals can repent their sinful ways and get into heaven. The underlying message from Mr. LaBarbera, as I see it, is still god hates fags. Just because he says it nicely doesn’t make it right. He calls Phelps a caricature but a caricature is just a drawing that exagerates what’s already there. ---
**Author:** ![askeptic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/eb9ed0/32.png) [@askeptic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/askeptic)\ **Post date:** [August 17, 2005, 8:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/phelps-spreads-hate-but-it-aint-towards-homos/317477/7 "2005-08-17T20:59:02Z")
> [@tdn](#): > > What’s the gayest plant? I’m thinking willow. 'Cause they swish. Are you talkin plain old willow or Pussy willow… ---
**Author:** ![Captain\_Amazing](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/6de8d8/32.png) [@Captain\_Amazing](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Captain_Amazing)\ **Post date:** [August 17, 2005, 9:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/phelps-spreads-hate-but-it-aint-towards-homos/317477/8 "2005-08-17T21:02:22Z")
Well, even Fallwell criticized Phelps for picketing Shepard’s funeral. I don’t really think Fred is on anybody’s side but his own. ---
**Author:** ![askeptic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/eb9ed0/32.png) [@askeptic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/askeptic)\ **Post date:** [August 17, 2005, 9:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/phelps-spreads-hate-but-it-aint-towards-homos/317477/9 "2005-08-17T21:04:51Z")
> [@Captain Amazing](#): > > I don’t really think Fred is on anybody’s side but his own. Actually I don’t think he is even on his own side. If he thought he could get publicity the freak would probably protest against himself. ---
**Author:** ![UncleBeer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/977dab/32.png) [@UncleBeer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/UncleBeer)\ **Post date:** [August 17, 2005, 9:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/phelps-spreads-hate-but-it-aint-towards-homos/317477/10 "2005-08-17T21:07:53Z")
> [@](#): > > Are you talkin plain old willow or Pussy willow… Weeping willow (Salix babylonica) ---
**Author:** ![Anne\_Neville](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/b9e5f3/32.png) [@Anne\_Neville](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Anne_Neville)\ **Post date:** [August 17, 2005, 9:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/phelps-spreads-hate-but-it-aint-towards-homos/317477/11 "2005-08-17T21:11:19Z")
> [@askeptic](#): > > Are you talkin plain old willow or Pussy willow… Pussy willows are the most lesbian plant. ---
**Author:** ![DiosaBellissima](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/a8b319/32.png) [@DiosaBellissima](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DiosaBellissima)\ **Post date:** [August 17, 2005, 9:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/phelps-spreads-hate-but-it-aint-towards-homos/317477/12 "2005-08-17T21:14:28Z")
> [@tdn](#): > > What’s the gayest plant? I’m thinking willow. 'Cause they swish. I dunno, willow seems too sad to be representative of the gay folk I know. Perhaps a palm tree? Tall and handsome, well groomed…always out of reach\* 😛 Anywho, LaBarbera has a point. Most people (of the more liberal persuasion…wide brush? Me? Neva!) look at Phelps and feel he is representative of “them.” They might be the republicans, they might be the Bible Thumpers, but they are them none the less. All Christians are not Phelps, but they are lumped in with his craziness. When Phelps wanted to protest my friend’s funeral, ALL of the churches here in town made a point of QUICKLY disassociating themselves with Phelp’s brand of Christianity. \*Spoken as a straight female. I know I can get an “Amen” that all the good ones are gay…at least the hot ones. ---
**Author:** ![Loopydude](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/e56c9b/32.png) [@Loopydude](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Loopydude)\ **Post date:** [August 17, 2005, 9:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/phelps-spreads-hate-but-it-aint-towards-homos/317477/13 "2005-08-17T21:17:34Z")
It’s tempting to make Phelps a straw man if you don’t know much about him, or for disingenuous rhetorical purposes, but the fact is the guy’s a certifiable psychopath. Anyone with half a brain should be able to figure out he’s batshit crazy, throughly malevolent, and not really comparable to much of anybody except other lunatics. LaBarbera is obviously using him as a heat-deflecting foil, which is so lame. You don’t have to be crazy to be an asshole, and contrasting yourself with the nutjobs as a demonstration of your own virtue is nothing but a good indicator of what a douchebag you really are. ---
**Author:** ![Loopydude](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/e56c9b/32.png) [@Loopydude](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Loopydude)\ **Post date:** [August 17, 2005, 9:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/phelps-spreads-hate-but-it-aint-towards-homos/317477/14 "2005-08-17T21:20:05Z")
GAH, “or for **other** disingenuous rhetorical purposes…” ---
**Author:** ![Anne\_Neville](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/b9e5f3/32.png) [@Anne\_Neville](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Anne_Neville)\ **Post date:** [August 17, 2005, 9:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/phelps-spreads-hate-but-it-aint-towards-homos/317477/15 "2005-08-17T21:24:37Z")
And here we have a textbook example of someone violating the Third Commandment, as some Jews understand it. From Jewish Literacy: > [@Rabbi Joseph Telushkin](#): > > The Third Commandment… has not fared well in English. _Lo tissa et shem Ha-Shem Eloheikha la-shav_ is usually translated as “You shall not take the Lord your God’s name in vain.” Many people think that this means that you have to write God as G-D, or that it is blasphemous to say words such as “goddamn”. Even if these assumptions are correct, it’s still hard to figure out what makes this offense so heinous that it’s included in the document that forbids murdering, stealing, idolatry, and adultery. However, the Hebrew, _Lo tissa_, literally means “You shall not _carry_ [God’s name in vain]”; in other words, don’t use God as your justification in selfish causes… When a person commits an evil act, he discredits himself. But when a religious person commits an evil act in the name of God, he or she discredits God as well. And since God relies on religious people to bring knowledge of Him into the world, He pronounces this sin unpardonable. I believe that Phelps violates this commandment by doing what he does and claiming that God wants him to do it. ---
**Author:** ![Loopydude](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/e56c9b/32.png) [@Loopydude](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Loopydude)\ **Post date:** [August 17, 2005, 9:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/phelps-spreads-hate-but-it-aint-towards-homos/317477/16 "2005-08-17T21:36:12Z")
Fred violates just about any common-sense standard of human conduct, be it theistic or no. He’s a monster who happens to fixate on a particular religious tradition to give his malignancy some structure and ostensible significance. He’s not worth a critique by normal standards of decency or ethical code. Abnormal psychology is the only real yardstick to measure him by. ---
**Author:** ![askeptic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/eb9ed0/32.png) [@askeptic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/askeptic)\ **Post date:** [August 17, 2005, 11:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/phelps-spreads-hate-but-it-aint-towards-homos/317477/17 "2005-08-17T23:14:31Z")
> [@](#): > > in other words, don’t use God as your justification in selfish causes… OH shit! If that really is the correct interpretation then a shitload of folks are gonna burn. I pretty much figure if god wants it done the bastard can damn well do it himself. Therefore everything ever done in gods name (which is a truck load of really stupid shit) has been done in vain. ---
**Author:** ![OttoDaFe](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ottodafe/32/356_2.png) [@OttoDaFe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/OttoDaFe)\ **Post date:** [August 17, 2005, 11:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/phelps-spreads-hate-but-it-aint-towards-homos/317477/18 "2005-08-17T23:39:50Z")
> [@Miller](#): > > > [@Homebrew](#): > > > > In fact, LaBabera wonders if perhaps ol’ Fred is actually a “gay plant”! > > So… he thinks Phelps is a fruit? Sergeant: Look, I’m only doing me job. I have to show you how to defend yourselves against fresh Phelps. ---
**Author:** ![Padeye](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/a9a28c/32.png) [@Padeye](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Padeye)\ **Post date:** [August 17, 2005, 11:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/phelps-spreads-hate-but-it-aint-towards-homos/317477/19 "2005-08-17T23:43:05Z")
Fred will face God someday, but he may get off on an insanity plea. ---
**Author:** ![rjung](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/45deac/32.png) [@rjung](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/rjung)\ **Post date:** [August 17, 2005, 11:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/phelps-spreads-hate-but-it-aint-towards-homos/317477/20 "2005-08-17T23:51:48Z")
Fred Phelps:Christianity::Muslim fundamentalists:Islam [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/phelps-spreads-hate-but-it-aint-towards-homos/317477.md?page=2)