# Protestors disrupt military funerals-God damn them Hell!!! **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [December 8, 2005, 3:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/protestors-disrupt-military-funerals-god-damn-them-hell/334684 "2005-12-08T15:40:21Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**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:** [December 8, 2005, 5:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/protestors-disrupt-military-funerals-god-damn-them-hell/334684/21 "2005-12-08T17:38:22Z")
I think its a mistake to equate Phelps with the political right, or the anti-war movement, or conservative Christianity, or even the anti-gay movement. Phelps doesn’t actually care about any of the issues he seems to promote. He only cares about one thing: causing as much pain as he can without getting arrested. He’s a sociopath. Everything he does derives solely from the pleasure he gets from the suffering of other people. He has no philosophies, or beliefs, or ethics, or morals, just an overwhelming desire to hurt other people, and a panoply of excuses for why he should be allowed to do so. ---
**Author:** ![Podkayne](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/edb3f5/32.png) [@Podkayne](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Podkayne)\ **Post date:** [December 8, 2005, 5:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/protestors-disrupt-military-funerals-god-damn-them-hell/334684/22 "2005-12-08T17:47:17Z")
Okay, so I know that Phelps and his group protest the funerals of gay people, so I kept expecting to find out that the military funerals were the funerals of, ya know, gay people or something, but then I kept hitting the logical speedbump that you can’t be openly gay in the military, so I was thinking maybe they were secretly gay or something, and was trying to find some hint of that, but no, he’s just protesting the military, an organization that is anti-gay, because he’s anti-gay, but no, that doesn’t make any sense, but the article says he’s protesting the military because he thinks that God is punishing America for accepting gays but the military doesn’t accept gays but it’s good that God is killing soldiers because God is punishing America because God doesn’t like gays but the military doesn’t like gays but . . . Basically, my brain ends up running around in little circles in my head, flapping its hands uselessly and going “Jabba jabba gibba bibba wabba wabba wabba wabba jabba . . .” Homophobia just makes me so fucking _sad_. I cannot imagine _why_ people get upset about two consenting adults of the same sex loving each other, and the amount of _pain_ homophobes cause, physical as well as emotional, is so outlandishly disproportinately tragic . . . And, while I not in the least mean to belittle the pain of the loved ones of the gay people whose funerals Phleps and his waste-of-skin followers protest at, at least that makes a sick, sadistic, perverted kind of _sense_. I can only hope that the attendees of the military funerals that he protests are mostly too confused to be upset by his hateful bullshit. ---
**Author:** ![Excalibre](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/898d66/32.png) [@Excalibre](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Excalibre)\ **Post date:** [December 8, 2005, 5:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/protestors-disrupt-military-funerals-god-damn-them-hell/334684/23 "2005-12-08T17:48:24Z")
Hey, if they’re soldiers fighting for America, they’re defending the modern Sodom that is America. [God hates America](http://www.godhatesamerica.com/), after all. So defending America is defending the faggots that control it. Keep the faith, guys - God Hates Fags! ---
**Author:** ![Baker](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/bb73d2/32.png) [@Baker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Baker)\ **Post date:** [December 8, 2005, 5:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/protestors-disrupt-military-funerals-god-damn-them-hell/334684/24 "2005-12-08T17:51:16Z")
Phelps is from my home, Topeka Kansas, and yes, just last Friday they picketed at a funeral about two blocks from the library where I work. See, sometimes they show and sometimes they don’t. There was an article in the Kansas City Star not a month past about a veteran’s group who ride motorcycles, Harley’s especially. With the blessing of the family, they will show up and place themselves between the mourners and the Phelps. Everytime they start to yell or chant or sing, **Vroom!** goes the choppers, drowning out the message. The Topeka Capital-Journal had article about the funeral here in town, both on 12/6 and 12/7. You can search for them using Sgt. Dominic Sacco, the name of the soldier. It takes free registration to do so, but it could be enlightening. The Patriot Guard, one of the cycle groups, was there, about a hundred strong, with many other community supporters, after Sacco’s family appealed for moral support. I wrote a letter to the editor, but I imagine a lot of others did as well, so mine may not see print. I referred to the word troll as an internet term, and a “family of trolls, who came out from under their bridge” to verbally assault the family of the deceased. I never said Phelps or Westboro Baptist Church, but everyone will know who was referred to. One could go on and on about how hateful that group is. I’ve stood within a yard of Fred in a counterpicketing group, and it’s strange. When he walked by, muttering curse words under his breath, andcalling out his false Scripture verses, I honestly felt a chill, as of something evil passing by. I don’t think it was my imagination either. ---
**Author:** ![Faruiza](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/ecd19e/32.png) [@Faruiza](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Faruiza)\ **Post date:** [December 8, 2005, 6:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/protestors-disrupt-military-funerals-god-damn-them-hell/334684/25 "2005-12-08T18:09:37Z")
> [@Baker](#): > > One could go on and on about how hateful that group is. I’ve stood within a yard of Fred in a counterpicketing group, and it’s strange. When he walked by, muttering curse words under his breath, andcalling out his false Scripture verses, I honestly felt a chill, as of something evil passing by. I don’t think it was my imagination either. You know, I’m pretty agnostic, but if there is such a thing as the anti-Christ, I don’t think Phelps is him, but one of his minions, sent to scout the current atmosphere and stir some shit for fun. Phucker is too lunatic fringe and minority to actually BE the anti-Christ. If there is one, I’m quite sure he’d be out of control here before anybody knew what hit them. _shudder_ Evil, indeed. ---
**Author:** ![Revtim](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/revtim/32/1042_2.png) [@Revtim](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Revtim)\ **Post date:** [December 8, 2005, 6:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/protestors-disrupt-military-funerals-god-damn-them-hell/334684/26 "2005-12-08T18:23:07Z")
> [@tagos](#): > > If it’s Phelps it would be more informative to say Phelps. Couldn’t hurt. ---
**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:** [December 8, 2005, 6:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/protestors-disrupt-military-funerals-god-damn-them-hell/334684/27 "2005-12-08T18:25:21Z")
False scripture verses? Is he lying about scripture, lying about the citation, or just using dubious interepretation? ---
**Author:** ![tdn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/94ad74/32.png) [@tdn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tdn)\ **Post date:** [December 8, 2005, 6:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/protestors-disrupt-military-funerals-god-damn-them-hell/334684/28 "2005-12-08T18:26:18Z")
> [@Podkayne](#): > > Okay, so I know that Phelps and his group protest the funerals of gay people, so I kept expecting to find out that the military funerals were the funerals of, ya know, gay people or something, but then I kept hitting the logical speedbump that you can’t be openly gay in the military, so I was thinking maybe they were secretly gay or something, and was trying to find some hint of that, but no, he’s just protesting the military, an organization that is anti-gay, because he’s anti-gay, but no, that doesn’t make any sense, but the article says he’s protesting the military because he thinks that God is punishing America for accepting gays but the military doesn’t accept gays but it’s good that God is killing soldiers because God is punishing America because God doesn’t like gays but the military doesn’t like gays but . . . > > Basically, my brain ends up running around in little circles in my head, flapping its hands uselessly and going “Jabba jabba gibba bibba wabba wabba wabba wabba jabba . . .” _Poof!_ “Mr. Spock, I think this planet is going to be alright. Scotty, two to beam up.” 🙂 I don’t think that Phred is the Antichrist. I’d suspect that the Antichrist would be far more charismatic. This might be a good thread for Phelps jokes, however. What’s the difference between Phelps and a brainless paper bag full of dog poo? One’s a stupid sack of shit, the other is a brainless paper bag full of dog poo. ---
**Author:** ![Baker](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/bb73d2/32.png) [@Baker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Baker)\ **Post date:** [December 8, 2005, 6:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/protestors-disrupt-military-funerals-god-damn-them-hell/334684/29 "2005-12-08T18:28:51Z")
> [@E-Sabbath](#): > > False scripture verses? Is he lying about scripture, lying about the citation, or just using dubious interepretation? Dubious interpretation. Sorry, I should have been more clear. ---
**Author:** ![lieu](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/c2a13f/32.png) [@lieu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lieu)\ **Post date:** [December 8, 2005, 6:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/protestors-disrupt-military-funerals-god-damn-them-hell/334684/30 "2005-12-08T18:33:15Z")
> [@Baker](#): > > When he walked by, muttering curse words under his breath, andcalling out his false Scripture verses, I honestly felt a chill, as of something evil passing by. This assessment will, undoubtably, stay with me for awhile. ---
**Author:** ![SteveG1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/bb73d2/32.png) [@SteveG1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SteveG1)\ **Post date:** [December 8, 2005, 6:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/protestors-disrupt-military-funerals-god-damn-them-hell/334684/31 "2005-12-08T18:39:14Z")
> [@Ponder Stibbons](#): > > I wonder if this would be a good GD topic. > > “Hypothetical: Distraught Family Member Shoots and Kills Phelps – Should the DA Prosecute?” If I were a judge, I would rule innocent, under the “he needed killin’ clause”. ---
**Author:** ![MaxTheVool](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/9fc29f/32.png) [@MaxTheVool](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MaxTheVool)\ **Post date:** [December 8, 2005, 6:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/protestors-disrupt-military-funerals-god-damn-them-hell/334684/32 "2005-12-08T18:43:13Z")
One of the most glorious photos ever is two guys playing a prank on Phelps… but I can’t remember where I saw it. Anyone? ---
**Author:** ![Mollie\_Magill](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mollie_magill/32/20882_2.png) [@Mollie\_Magill](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mollie_Magill)\ **Post date:** [December 8, 2005, 6:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/protestors-disrupt-military-funerals-god-damn-them-hell/334684/33 "2005-12-08T18:45:01Z")
> [@E-Sabbath](#): > > I’m just amazed they’re still all… er, unbroken, after the repeated military protests. > Wait. Reading the article, it doesn’t say they’ve actually shown up at any funerals. Just that they’ve threatened it. Remember, there was one on this board they didn’t show at? > > Have they appeared at any funerals, actually? If Illinois passes the law alluded to in the OP, then you can be damned sure Phelps will be there, so his little band of trolls can sue the state for violation of the first amendment. Such an action would be playing into their hands. ---
**Author:** ![NurseCarmen](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/5daacb/32.png) [@NurseCarmen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/NurseCarmen)\ **Post date:** [December 8, 2005, 6:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/protestors-disrupt-military-funerals-god-damn-them-hell/334684/34 "2005-12-08T18:48:29Z")
> [@Atticus Finch](#): > > I assumed the thread was about crazy left-wingers, rather than Phelps’ crazy right-wingers. If you go far enough to the left, you eventually hit the line that is the right. And if you go far enough to the right, you hit the line that is left. So right now, at the bottom of the circle, we have assholes smashed up tightly against each other, each looking their perspective ways. Spitting invective at the other side and never noticing that when one side farts, the other belches. ---
**Author:** ![DiosaBellissima](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/a8b319/32.png) [@DiosaBellissima](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DiosaBellissima)\ **Post date:** [December 8, 2005, 6:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/protestors-disrupt-military-funerals-god-damn-them-hell/334684/35 "2005-12-08T18:48:59Z")
They called up my friend a few days after he husband had his face blown off in Iraq- telling her that he was burning in hell, is gay, etc and so forth. All this while she was 6 months pregnant. [Link to the thread.](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=328698) **And for those of you who were looking for an update:** She had the baby, he’s HUGE and healthy. Looks exactly like this dad, too 😃 . ---
**Author:** ![hajario](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hajario/32/171_2.png) [@hajario](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/hajario)\ **Post date:** [December 8, 2005, 6:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/protestors-disrupt-military-funerals-god-damn-them-hell/334684/36 "2005-12-08T18:51:59Z")
> [@tagos](#): > > If it’s Phelps it would be more informative to say Phelps. I read the title and I thought, “What a bunch of shit heads. That sounds like something Phelps would do.” I was actually pleased that it _was_ Phelps and not a misguided bunch of war protesters. ---
**Author:** ![tdn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/94ad74/32.png) [@tdn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tdn)\ **Post date:** [December 8, 2005, 6:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/protestors-disrupt-military-funerals-god-damn-them-hell/334684/37 "2005-12-08T18:55:16Z")
My first thought was “War protesters.” “…or, Phelps.” ---
**Author:** ![photopat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/e95f7d/32.png) [@photopat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/photopat)\ **Post date:** [December 8, 2005, 6:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/protestors-disrupt-military-funerals-god-damn-them-hell/334684/38 "2005-12-08T18:57:35Z")
> [@tdn](#): > > I don’t think that Phred is the Antichrist. I’d suspect that the Antichrist would be far more charismatic. I imagine the real antichrist refusing to take Phelps’ calls, even he has standards, you know? ---
**Author:** ![Talon\_Karrde](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/c5a1d2/32.png) [@Talon\_Karrde](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Talon_Karrde)\ **Post date:** [December 8, 2005, 7:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/protestors-disrupt-military-funerals-god-damn-them-hell/334684/39 "2005-12-08T19:01:20Z")
> [@Baker](#): > > One could go on and on about how hateful that group is. I’ve stood within a yard of Fred in a counterpicketing group, and it’s strange. When he walked by, muttering curse words under his breath, andcalling out his false Scripture verses, I honestly felt a chill, as of something evil passing by. I don’t think it was my imagination either. If Satan posessed people, it would be Phelps. He reminds me of the depiction of Satan in CS Lewis’s Perelandra. ---
**Author:** ![joyfool](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/df788c/32.png) [@joyfool](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/joyfool)\ **Post date:** [December 8, 2005, 7:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/protestors-disrupt-military-funerals-god-damn-them-hell/334684/40 "2005-12-08T19:29:57Z")
Ya know, I’ve always been impressed with those groups who’ve found a way to turn Phelps’ own agenda against him… like for every hour he pickets \_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_, donations are pledged to support a particular charity. So if he sticks it out and makes an ass of himself longer than usual, it’s a win-win situation for those he’s trying to hurt. With that in mind, I’ve decided that anytime I read a story about him and their antics, I’m going to send off a little something to whatever he’s opposed to this time (although I don’t think it’s ever anything _but_ gays) and a sweet little card to _him_ saying that it was done in _his_ name. Every. Single. Time. 😃 So, all I’ll need is a pack of Fuck You! greeting cards and the address I’ve already scoped from MSN (which by the way, is funny as all get out – the first three numbers in that part of Topeka’s zip code is 666) and I’m set. Maybe others will follow suit and ol’ Phred will suffocate from the weight of tons of mail. Thank you Westboro! [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/protestors-disrupt-military-funerals-god-damn-them-hell/334684.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/protestors-disrupt-military-funerals-god-damn-them-hell/334684.md?page=3)