# 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:** 3
**Author:** ![Debaser](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/3da27b/32.png) [@Debaser](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Debaser)\ **Post date:** [December 8, 2005, 8:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/protestors-disrupt-military-funerals-god-damn-them-hell/334684/41 "2005-12-08T20:08:45Z")
> [@hajario](#): > > 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. > [@](#): > > My first thought was “War protesters.” > > “…or, Phelps.” But, in this case, isn’t Phelps a war protester? I don’t understand why this is a mutually exclusive label. If Cindy Sheehan started protesting the funerals of dead soldiers would she be a “war protester” or “Cindy Sheehan”? ---
**Author:** ![Debaser](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/3da27b/32.png) [@Debaser](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Debaser)\ **Post date:** [December 8, 2005, 8:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/protestors-disrupt-military-funerals-god-damn-them-hell/334684/42 "2005-12-08T20:14:32Z")
That second quote is from **tdn**. ---
**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, 8:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/protestors-disrupt-military-funerals-god-damn-them-hell/334684/43 "2005-12-08T20:15:30Z")
> [@Debaser](#): > > But, in this case, isn’t Phelps a war protester? I don’t understand why this is a mutually exclusive label. It’s not mutually exclusive, but I don’t see any indication that Phelps is actually against the war. He seems to be at the funerals because he thinks the soldiers dying are God’s retribution for the US being tolerant of homosexuality. ---
**Author:** ![Fear\_Itself](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fear_itself/32/19637_2.png) [@Fear\_Itself](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fear_Itself)\ **Post date:** [December 8, 2005, 8:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/protestors-disrupt-military-funerals-god-damn-them-hell/334684/44 "2005-12-08T20:19:20Z")
> [@Debaser](#): > > But, in this case, isn’t Phelps a war protester? Phelps is protesting homosexuality; in his twisted little mind, war, and the suffering it brings is God’s righteous retribution for sin. ---
**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, 8:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/protestors-disrupt-military-funerals-god-damn-them-hell/334684/45 "2005-12-08T20:21:01Z")
> [@Debaser](#): > > But, in this case, isn’t Phelps a war protester? I don’t understand why this is a mutually exclusive label. Because he’s not protesting the war. He’s not out there to try to get the war to stop, or to bring our troops home, or to show his support for Iraqi insurgents. His protest isn’t even about the war, it’s about how the military is full of “fags” who deserve to die. I suspect that he actually is glad there’s a war going on, as it presents an opportunity to kill a large number of “fags,” foreign and domestic. ---
**Author:** ![Debaser](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/3da27b/32.png) [@Debaser](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Debaser)\ **Post date:** [December 8, 2005, 8:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/protestors-disrupt-military-funerals-god-damn-them-hell/334684/46 "2005-12-08T20:21:52Z")
> [@Revtim](#): > > It’s not mutually exclusive, but I don’t see any indication that Phelps is actually against the war. Oh. So he’s just out protesting at the funerals of soldiers because it will get him more press? Somehow he just got even more vile. I’m as big a fan of free speech as anyone, but this sort of thing is a disturbance that could be legislated against IMO. A law keeping protestors 300 feet from a military funeral sounds like an OK idea to me. He can still speak, just not right in the faces of the family members of the fallen servicemen. IMHO, just about any family member at one of these funerals could just walk up to Phelps and kill him dead and never spend a day in prison thanks to a good jury nullification defense. ---
**Author:** ![jjimm](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/ba8739/32.png) [@jjimm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jjimm)\ **Post date:** [December 8, 2005, 8:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/protestors-disrupt-military-funerals-god-damn-them-hell/334684/47 "2005-12-08T20:25:04Z")
I thought this was about some sick left group, too. Anywat, I think I’ve said this before, but… Phelps is clearly deranged. All you have to do is read one of his pamphlets to realise he’s in the green-text Time Cube brigade. He is not responsible for his odious actions, because he’s an abject nutter. The people I find spooky are his accolytes. Surely not all of _them_ are insane. They are the ones you should be worried about. (And I love the pledge-per-Phelps-protest-hour idea. That is pure genius.) ---
**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, 8:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/protestors-disrupt-military-funerals-god-damn-them-hell/334684/48 "2005-12-08T20:25:15Z")
> [@Debaser](#): > > Oh. So he’s just out protesting at the funerals of soldiers because it will get him more press? Yes, I think so. Quite the charming fellow, isn’t he? ---
**Author:** ![Guinastasia](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guinastasia/32/5751_2.png) [@Guinastasia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Guinastasia)\ **Post date:** [December 8, 2005, 8:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/protestors-disrupt-military-funerals-god-damn-them-hell/334684/49 "2005-12-08T20:38:50Z")
> [@Debaser](#): > > Oh. So he’s just out protesting at the funerals of soldiers because it will get him more press? Somehow he just got even more vile. > > I’m as big a fan of free speech as anyone, but this sort of thing is a disturbance that could be legislated against IMO. A law keeping protestors 300 feet from a military funeral sounds like an OK idea to me. He can still speak, just not right in the faces of the family members of the fallen servicemen. > > IMHO, just about any family member at one of these funerals could just walk up to Phelps and kill him dead and never spend a day in prison thanks to a good jury nullification defense. Make that all funeral and I’d back it. Harassing military funerals is just his latest trick-he’s been going to funerals and being an asshole for years. **Miller** pretty much nailed it-he just wants to hurt people. His big thing was gay funerals, but he also came to Pittsburgh to picket at the memorial service for Fred Rogers. Mister fucking Rogers. He’s insane and he’s a hateful bully and I think he should be certified and locked away in an institution. ---
**Author:** ![JeffB](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jeffb/32/188_2.png) [@JeffB](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JeffB)\ **Post date:** [December 8, 2005, 8:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/protestors-disrupt-military-funerals-god-damn-them-hell/334684/50 "2005-12-08T20:47:52Z")
> [@MaxTheVool](#): > > 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? Is [this](http://www.collegehumor.com/pictures/164376/) the one? ---
**Author:** ![Apos](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/838e76/32.png) [@Apos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Apos)\ **Post date:** [December 8, 2005, 8:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/protestors-disrupt-military-funerals-god-damn-them-hell/334684/51 "2005-12-08T20:51:24Z")
> [@Ponder Stibbons](#): > > That gives me an idea for a good anti-Phelps protest sign: > > God Does Not Hate I have it on good authority that God hates milk duds almost as much as I. ---
**Author:** ![Scissorjack](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/c67d28/32.png) [@Scissorjack](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Scissorjack)\ **Post date:** [December 8, 2005, 8:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/protestors-disrupt-military-funerals-god-damn-them-hell/334684/52 "2005-12-08T20:55:04Z")
> [@Baker](#): > > 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. Pissed off biker vets? Now _there’s_ a group you wouldn’t wanna fuck with. Mind you, they’d be better off bringing lead-filled pool cues. ---
**Author:** ![World\_Eater](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/f04885/32.png) [@World\_Eater](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/World_Eater)\ **Post date:** [December 8, 2005, 8:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/protestors-disrupt-military-funerals-god-damn-them-hell/334684/53 "2005-12-08T20:57:48Z")
I’ve heard of Phelps but don’t know anything about him. I figured it was some nutty protesters. Should RTFA in the future. ---
**Author:** ![Wolfian](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/7ea924/32.png) [@Wolfian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wolfian)\ **Post date:** [December 8, 2005, 9:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/protestors-disrupt-military-funerals-god-damn-them-hell/334684/54 "2005-12-08T21:07:51Z")
> [@MaxTheVool](#): > > 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? I think I know what you’re talking about. I saw it in **DiosaBellissima** ’s livejournal a few months back, but I’m feeling a bit lazy. Any chance we could get a direct link **Dio-Bel**? ---
**Author:** ![Ponder\_Stibbons](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ponder_stibbons/32/343_2.png) [@Ponder\_Stibbons](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ponder_Stibbons)\ **Post date:** [December 8, 2005, 9:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/protestors-disrupt-military-funerals-god-damn-them-hell/334684/55 "2005-12-08T21:08:03Z")
> [@Apos](#): > > I have it on good authority that God hates milk duds almost as much as I. Are you sure it isn’t “God dislikes milk duds”? Surely if he actually _hated_ them, he would have smote [Hershey’s](http://www.hersheys.com/products/details/milkduds.asp) by now! ---
**Author:** ![Wolfian](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/7ea924/32.png) [@Wolfian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wolfian)\ **Post date:** [December 8, 2005, 9:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/protestors-disrupt-military-funerals-god-damn-them-hell/334684/56 "2005-12-08T21:09:02Z")
> [@JeffB](#): > > Is [this](http://www.collegehumor.com/pictures/164376/) the one? Should have previewed. ---
**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, 9:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/protestors-disrupt-military-funerals-god-damn-them-hell/334684/57 "2005-12-08T21:47:38Z")
Damn, I felt useful for a minute; alas, that feeling has passed. ---
**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, 11:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/protestors-disrupt-military-funerals-god-damn-them-hell/334684/58 "2005-12-08T23:27:35Z")
That “donation by the minute” idea was used by the Topeka Aids Project. They have an annual banquet/fundraiser, and Fred and crew pickets it every year. So TAP mailed out pledge forms to those on it’s mailing list, myself included. I just sent in a donation beforehand. Well, for the only time ever, the picketers didn’t show up! TAP is an honest organization, so those of us that had sent money ahead of time got the offer to return it. I told them to keep it, and I imagine others did as well, although I have no way of knowing for sure. ---
**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, 11:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/protestors-disrupt-military-funerals-god-damn-them-hell/334684/59 "2005-12-08T23:35:40Z")
Thanks **Baker**! I knew I recalled reading it on here (and it should have dawned on me to ask you), but it apparently got lost in a daze as to who it was. That said, do you think Phreddy boy would be suprised if donations actually went in under _his_ name? Lots and lots, every time he spouted his idiotic bullshit? It’d be delicious to see his face after he’d gotten several and realized that if he kept it up (just like with TAP), more will be his fate. 😃 ---
**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:** [December 9, 2005, 12:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/protestors-disrupt-military-funerals-god-damn-them-hell/334684/60 "2005-12-09T00:11:59Z")
> [@faithfool](#): > > Thanks **Baker**! I knew I recalled reading it on here (and it should have dawned on me to ask you), but it apparently got lost in a daze as to who it was. That said, do you think Phreddy boy would be suprised if donations actually went in under _his_ name? Lots and lots, every time he spouted his idiotic bullshit? It’d be delicious to see his face after he’d gotten several and realized that if he kept it up (just like with TAP), more will be his fate. > > 😃 See, _this_ is the way to combat Phelps. The pledge drives and the bagpipe bands and the counter protests. It might not sway the lowlife spawn of the Phelps clan, but it makes them look ridiculous to onlookers which really is the worst thing you could do to them. Hell, someone in another thread suggested parking a bus in front of them. Another good idea. What I have a problem with are otherwise normal posters coming in to say how great it would be if they got the shit kicked out of them, or how they would perjure themselves to protect others who kicked the shit out of them or how we should pass some law that would criminalize demonstrating at funerals. I hate these fuckers, too, but I don’t think we should lose sight of the fact that they have first amendment rights, just like everyone else. As repellant as it is, hate speech is legal. I get bad feelings when people start talking about fucking with those rights. Let’s leave the dignity battalions and the thoughtcrime laws to the dictatorships, yeah? [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/protestors-disrupt-military-funerals-god-damn-them-hell/334684.md?page=2) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/protestors-disrupt-military-funerals-god-damn-them-hell/334684.md?page=4)