# Well, well well, look at what funeral Fred Phelps and Co. plan to picket next? **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [November 6, 2008, 11:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/well-well-well-look-at-what-funeral-fred-phelps-and-co-plan-to-picket-next/471556 "2008-11-06T23:50:05Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 5
**Author:** ![anya\_marie](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ebca7d/32.png) [@anya\_marie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/anya_marie)\ **Post date:** [November 12, 2008, 7:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/well-well-well-look-at-what-funeral-fred-phelps-and-co-plan-to-picket-next/471556/81 "2008-11-12T07:09:57Z")
> [@BrainGlutton](#): > > You know, somebody needs to call Phelps’ attention to the famously dissolute, immoral, unChristian lifestyles of the Hells Angels and the Biker Outlaws. **Their** funerals need some Category 5 picketing, man! 🙂 That would practically guarantee a serious ass-whooping for any Phelps protesting and if someone filmed it for DVD i’d buy 2.😃 ---
**Author:** ![outlierrn](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/outlierrn/32/3005_2.png) [@outlierrn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/outlierrn)\ **Post date:** [November 12, 2008, 7:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/well-well-well-look-at-what-funeral-fred-phelps-and-co-plan-to-picket-next/471556/82 "2008-11-12T07:32:37Z")
I got $5 that ain’t working too hard 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Acsenray](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/acsenray/32/4519_2.png) [@Acsenray](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Acsenray)\ **Post date:** [November 12, 2008, 3:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/well-well-well-look-at-what-funeral-fred-phelps-and-co-plan-to-picket-next/471556/83 "2008-11-12T15:16:44Z")
I’ve got only one thing to say about Fred Phelps: DNFTT. Seriously, this kind of attention is exactly what he wants. Just freaking ignore the lunatic. Who cares? We’re a grown up society; his regularly scheduled tantrums shouldn’t faze us for even a moment. ---
**Author:** ![Equipoise](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/equipoise/32/151_2.png) [@Equipoise](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Equipoise)\ **Post date:** [November 13, 2008, 6:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/well-well-well-look-at-what-funeral-fred-phelps-and-co-plan-to-picket-next/471556/84 "2008-11-13T06:51:56Z")
> [@gaffa](#): > > One group found the way to neutralize the Westboro scum - be amusing. The Central Arkansas Pastafarians [dressed up as Pirates and created a much more camera-friendly spectacle](http://www.arktimes.com/blogs/arkansasblog/2008/09/way_to_go_matie.aspx) than a bunch of homophobes. They held up signs like “God Hates Shrimp!” and “God Hates Polyester-Cotton Blends!” and were generally more worthy of 3 minutes on the local news. The Phelps clan packed up and left. Mockery is a powerful tool. I’m a bit behind, but thanks for this link. That’s hilarious! Also at that link was another example of mockery. (This isn’t a news report, it’s a blog) > [@](#): > > [Clowns KKKick KKK ass!](http://asheville.indymedia.org/article/107Clowns) > > Saturday May 26th the VNN Vanguard Nazi/KKK group attempted to host a hate rally to try to take advantage of the [brutal murder of a white couple](http://www.snopes.com/politics/crime/newsom.asp) for media and recruitment purposes. [http://www.volunteertv.com/special](http://www.volunteertv.com/special) > > Unfortunately for them the 100th ARA (Anti Racist Action) clown block came and handed them their asses by making them appear like the asses they were. > > Alex Linder the founder of VNN and the lead organizer of the rally kicked off events by rushing the clowns in a fit of rage, and was promptly arrested by 4 Knoxville police officers who dropped him to the ground when he resisted and dragged him off past the red shiny shoes of the clowns. [http://www.volunteertv.com/home/headlines/7704982.html](http://www.volunteertv.com/home/headlines/7704982.html) > > “White Power!” the Nazi’s shouted, “White Flour?” the clowns yelled back running in circles throwing flour in the air and raising separate letters which spelt “White Flour”. > > “White Power!” the Nazi’s angrily shouted once more, “White flowers?” the clowns cheers and threw white flowers in the air and danced about merrily. > > “White Power!” the Nazi’s tried once again in a doomed and somewhat funny attempt to clarify their message, “ohhhhhh!” the clowns yelled “Tight Shower!” and held a solar shower in the air and all tried to crowd under to get clean as per the Klan’s directions. > > At this point several of the Nazi’s and Klan members began clutching their hearts as if they were about to have a heart attack. Their beady eyes bulged, and the veins in their tiny narrow foreheads beat in rage. One last time they screamed “White Power!” > > The clown women thought they finally understood what the Klan was trying to say. “Ohhhhh…” the women clowns said. “Now we understand…”, “WIFE POWER!” they lifted the letters up in the air, grabbed the nearest male clowns and lifted them in their arms and ran about merrily chanting “WIFE POWER! WIFE POWER! WIFE POWER!” > > It was at this point that several observers reported seeing several Klan members heads exploding in rage and they stopped trying to explain to the clowns what they wanted. > > Apparently the clowns fundamentally misunderstood the nature of the rally, they believed it was a clown rally and came in force to support their pointy hated brethren. To their dismay, despite their best jokes and stunts and pratfalls the Nazis and Klan refused to laugh, and indeed became enraged at the clowns misunderstanding and constant attempts to interpret the clowns instruction. > > The clowns on the other hand had a great time and thought the Nazis were the funniest thing they had ever seen and the loud laughter of over 100 counter protesters greeted every attempt of the Nazis and Klan to get their message out, whatever that was. > > … There are some pictures [here](http://www.resistingwomen.net/spip.php?article137). Someone mentions a video but I haven’t found a link yet. ---
**Author:** ![Marley23](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Marley23](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marley23)\ **Post date:** [November 13, 2008, 11:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/well-well-well-look-at-what-funeral-fred-phelps-and-co-plan-to-picket-next/471556/85 "2008-11-13T11:44:33Z")
> [@Equipoise](#): > > There are some pictures [here](http://www.resistingwomen.net/spip.php?article137). Someone mentions a video but I haven’t found a link yet. That’s wonderful. When I go on a tangent about the power of comedy sometimes, that’s what I’m talking about. ---
**Author:** ![jayjay](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jayjay/32/6765_2.png) [@jayjay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jayjay)\ **Post date:** [November 13, 2008, 12:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/well-well-well-look-at-what-funeral-fred-phelps-and-co-plan-to-picket-next/471556/86 "2008-11-13T12:58:19Z")
Laughter is like kryptonite to these groups. They can’t stand being mocked. ---
**Author:** ![Sampiro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/2acd7d/32.png) [@Sampiro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sampiro)\ **Post date:** [November 13, 2008, 6:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/well-well-well-look-at-what-funeral-fred-phelps-and-co-plan-to-picket-next/471556/87 "2008-11-13T18:17:34Z")
The funeral service is tomorrow and Obama will not be present. He plans to attend a private memorial service to her in a few weeks. It will be interesting to see if WBC makes good on their trolling threats at either one. They really jumped the shark when they [picketed Bernie Mac](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=480265&highlight=westboro+phred) and with all their no-shows like Heath Ledger. They used to be decent performance artists, but now they’re just phoning it in. We need a new “ **America’s Most Hated Family** ” since the Phelps are just in the Andy Kaufman wrestling women stage of their career. Maybe we could choose them with a reality show… John Waters could host, and there could be a celebrity panel of perhaps Chastity Bono (she needs a job doing something), Ben Stein, Louis Farrakhan, Michelle Bachman and Charlene Tilton- you have to offend at least four of them to qualify. Then we move on to the Challenge Rounds. Hmmm. And of course there has to be an all star benefit with proceeds go to Idol Gives Back and the Paris Hilton Fund to Stop Bad Things Like in Africa and Starving and Runaways and Stuff. ---
**Author:** ![rockle](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/73ab20/32.png) [@rockle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/rockle)\ **Post date:** [November 13, 2008, 7:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/well-well-well-look-at-what-funeral-fred-phelps-and-co-plan-to-picket-next/471556/88 "2008-11-13T19:23:12Z")
[QUOTE=Sampiro] … We need a new “ **America’s Most Hated Family** ” since the Phelps are just in the Andy Kaufman wrestling women stage of their career. Maybe we could choose them with a reality show… John Waters could host, and there could be a celebrity panel of perhaps Chastity Bono (she needs a job doing something), Ben Stein, Louis Farrakhan, Michelle Bachman and Charlene Tilton- you have to offend at least four of them to qualify. Then we move on to the Challenge Rounds. [/QUOTE] Throw in a reasonably attractive male host – or at least a funny one – and I would totally watch this. I’d even phone in a few votes, most likely. ---
**Author:** ![Sampiro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/2acd7d/32.png) [@Sampiro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sampiro)\ **Post date:** [November 13, 2008, 9:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/well-well-well-look-at-what-funeral-fred-phelps-and-co-plan-to-picket-next/471556/89 "2008-11-13T21:50:27Z")
> [@rockle](#): > > Throw in a reasonably attractive male host – or at least a funny one – and I would totally watch this. I’d even phone in a few votes, most likely. Waters isn’t attractive, but he did produce/write/direct _Pink Flamingos_ so he has some experience. Still, I’m sure he’d be more than receptive to the idea of a scantily clad male co-host, his own personal Seacrest like person. Keeping in mind that all offensiveness must be within legal limits of course (no violence or what not) I’d offer points for: Most Offensive Comments Most Original Displays of Offensiveness Most Logically Illogical Viewpoints Most Obscene Displays You Can (Just Barely) Display on TV Maybe a nice Neo-Nazi Boy Married to a Nation of Islam Girl Who He Loves Because She Shares His Hatred of Jews And Love of Vivisection ---
**Author:** ![wonky](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wonky/32/393_2.png) [@wonky](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wonky)\ **Post date:** [November 13, 2008, 9:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/well-well-well-look-at-what-funeral-fred-phelps-and-co-plan-to-picket-next/471556/90 "2008-11-13T21:59:00Z")
> [@acsenray](#): > > I’ve got only one thing to say about Fred Phelps: DNFTT. > > Seriously, this kind of attention is exactly what he wants. Just freaking ignore the lunatic. Who cares? We’re a grown up society; his regularly scheduled tantrums shouldn’t faze us for even a moment. Yeah. The family is disgusting and nuts, but let’s beat the bozos with ideas, not with laws. ---
**Author:** ![Mangetout](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mangetout/32/19_2.png) [@Mangetout](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mangetout)\ **Post date:** [November 14, 2008, 12:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/well-well-well-look-at-what-funeral-fred-phelps-and-co-plan-to-picket-next/471556/91 "2008-11-14T00:07:18Z")
> [@geniios](#): > > Its not like you could conclude, that then they might gain martyrdom status for their cause because no one gives a fuck if they have a cause, considering their fucked up methods! I say let the snipers have em. > I’m just saying… Dunno - they have freedom of speech, I have freedom to wish they would shut the fuck up - that’s really all I meant. Falling down a mineshaft just happens to be one way that could be realised. ---
**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:** [November 14, 2008, 2:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/well-well-well-look-at-what-funeral-fred-phelps-and-co-plan-to-picket-next/471556/92 "2008-11-14T02:04:59Z")
I read somewhere that the reason they didn’t do Ledger’s funeral was-money restraints and that Australia’s laws regarding “free speech” were a wee stricter than our’s. I mean, I totally agree they have freedom of speech. The ONLY thing that I that bothers me is the fine line between free speech and harassment-where is it? (Legally, that is?) If you can hear them over the ceremony, would that count? Last time I checked, many funerals are held on private property-I know that my father would probably call the cops if they came to his funeral home-and be totally within his right to do so. ---
**Author:** ![wonky](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wonky/32/393_2.png) [@wonky](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wonky)\ **Post date:** [November 14, 2008, 2:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/well-well-well-look-at-what-funeral-fred-phelps-and-co-plan-to-picket-next/471556/93 "2008-11-14T02:17:01Z")
> [@Guinastasia](#): > > I mean, I totally agree they have freedom of speech. The ONLY thing that I that bothers me is the fine line between free speech and harassment-where is it? (Legally, that is?) I don’t know where it is legally. My personal belief is that if they aren’t making threats, coming to your home, following you around, calling your house, or impeding your day-to-day life, it probably isn’t harassment. Being a pain in the ass, picketing, saying mean things, making someone cry, these don’t rise to the level of “harassment” to me. It has to be sustained, intrusive, disruptive, and have a level of menace to it for me. Again, I’m not talking about the law but about what I think the law should probably be. I should be allowed to call you an idiot to your face, yes even if you’re mourning, yes even if you’re crying, yes even if I’m an utter dickhead. I shouldn’t be allowed to touch you. I shouldn’t be allowed to impede you physically. I shouldn’t be allowed to make physical threats or otherwise make you fear for your life or safety (saying God gonna getcha isn’t enough). I shouldn’t be allowed to go on the private property of someone who doesn’t want me. I shouldn’t be able to call or mail you offensive things. I shouldn’t be able to stalk you, but I should be able to be where you are when our purposes coincide. I should be able to make faces and chant chants and call you names. I shouldn’t be able to destroy property. If the locale requires permits for protests, I should have to get one. If the locale just requires permits for me and not anyone else, the law should be changed. Simply, the law shouldn’t protect your delicate ears from my horrible words, and the law shouldn’t force you to listen. ---
**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:** [November 14, 2008, 2:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/well-well-well-look-at-what-funeral-fred-phelps-and-co-plan-to-picket-next/471556/94 "2008-11-14T02:30:32Z")
Well, that’s what I’M asking-what IS the legal stand on this? (And I believe there IS something called “disturbing the peace”) ---
**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:** [November 14, 2008, 3:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/well-well-well-look-at-what-funeral-fred-phelps-and-co-plan-to-picket-next/471556/95 "2008-11-14T03:31:41Z")
> [@Guinastasia](#): > > Well, that’s what I’M asking-what IS the legal stand on this? (And I believe there IS something called “disturbing the peace”) [From here:](http://www.pfda.org/index.php?pID=31) > [@](#): > > Pennsylvania Funeral Protest Law requires protesters to remain at least 500 feet away from a funeral, memorial service or procession within an hour of the service, during the service, or an hour afterward. Violators could face up to a year in prison and $2,500 in fines. It allows for violators to be sued by the deceased’s family. And it allows courts to file an injunction to prevent a demonstration at a funeral from occurring. I mentioned already the federal law and Virginia’s law on this - there are other state laws as well. I’m not going to go over them one by one. Suffice to say this has been addressed by legislation - and for the reasons I mentioned before, this legislation is likely constitutional. ---
**Author:** ![Sampiro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/2acd7d/32.png) [@Sampiro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sampiro)\ **Post date:** [November 14, 2008, 3:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/well-well-well-look-at-what-funeral-fred-phelps-and-co-plan-to-picket-next/471556/96 "2008-11-14T03:49:02Z")
> [@jsgoddess](#): > > My personal belief is that if they aren’t making threats, coming to your home, following you around, calling your house, or impeding your day-to-day life, it probably isn’t harassment. > > Being a pain in the ass, picketing, saying mean things, making someone cry, these don’t rise to the level of “harassment” to me. It has to be sustained, intrusive, disruptive, and have a level of menace to it for me. Suppose the person is suicidal, and you know it. After “the viciousness of the French taunting” you give them, they kill themselves. Should you be culpable legally? Should I be allowed to punch your lights out if you make a threatening gesture and say to me “I’m gonna kick your ass!”? Now you haven’t got a weapon and haven’t actually made a move towards me, but you are threatening to do it, and you are agitated- should I be able to hit you? Personally I do consider intentional infliction of emotional distress and violation of privacy, both of which the Phelps’ were found guilty of in the Snyder lawsuit, as harassment. I don’t know what the legal definition is in Maryland (where the lawsuit occurred). I’ll start a GD thread though since the point of this one is that it would not be an altogether bad thing if Phelps should fall in a mineshaft followed by hot lava (a point I quite concur with). ---
**Author:** ![wonky](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wonky/32/393_2.png) [@wonky](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wonky)\ **Post date:** [November 14, 2008, 3:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/well-well-well-look-at-what-funeral-fred-phelps-and-co-plan-to-picket-next/471556/97 "2008-11-14T03:53:07Z")
> [@Sampiro](#): > > Suppose the person is suicidal, and you know it. After “the viciousness of the French taunting” you give them, they kill themselves. Should you be culpable legally? No. > [@](#): > > Should I be allowed to punch your lights out if you make a threatening gesture and say to me “I’m gonna kick your ass!”? Now you haven’t got a weapon and haven’t actually made a move towards me, but you are threatening to do it, and you are agitated- should I be able to hit you? No. But what I did should be illegal. > [@](#): > > Personally I do consider intentional infliction of emotional distress and violation of privacy, both of which the Phelps’ were found guilty of in the Snyder lawsuit, as harassment. I don’t know what the legal definition is in Maryland (where the lawsuit occurred). I’ll start a GD thread though since the point of this one is that it would not be an altogether bad thing if Phelps should fall in a mineshaft followed by hot lava (a point I quite concur with). Oh, I concur as well. I wouldn’t cry any tears about him being eaten by a shark or squashed by a meteor. But if intentional infliction of emotional distress is harassment, there are a lot of Dopers who are pretty fucking guilty. ---
**Author:** ![Sampiro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/2acd7d/32.png) [@Sampiro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sampiro)\ **Post date:** [November 14, 2008, 5:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/well-well-well-look-at-what-funeral-fred-phelps-and-co-plan-to-picket-next/471556/98 "2008-11-14T05:33:46Z")
GOD HATES "CITE!"S: [A related thread I opened in G.D. just now.](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=492836) ---
**Author:** ![Baker](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/bb73d2/32.png) [@Baker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Baker)\ **Post date:** [November 14, 2008, 10:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/well-well-well-look-at-what-funeral-fred-phelps-and-co-plan-to-picket-next/471556/99 "2008-11-14T10:58:02Z")
As **faithfool** said, I live in Topeka, which Fred and Co. call home. The church I attend gets picketed a couple times a month. They’re mostly phoning it in now. Sure, they show up and hold signs, but some of the fire seems to be going out. They’ll go for out of town stuff, like the recent funeral of three teens in Nebraska, but when it turns out the Freedom Riders, or Patriot Guard was there, they gave up and went home. Fred himself is rarely seen, he’s looking very ill these days. It may be age(he’s almost 80), or he could be sick, nobody really knows. I still wouldn’t turn my back on them. They have proved in the past they will attack if they believe they’ve been provoked. Just a few months ago there was a fire in a garage at their “compound” that was ruled to be intentionally set. One of their women was quoted as fearing for the lives of her parents. But there has been no follow up. The perpetrators got away with it, and the cynic in me wonders just who the perpatrators really were. A next door neighbor, aged 91, one of only two residents in the block who are not Phelps related, was quoted on television as saying she thought they were trying to scare her away, as they’d been harrassing her for a long time, trying to get her to sell her property to them. Oh, and they won’t get anywhere near that funeral in Hawaii, if they really go. They tried something similar when Clinton’s mom died, saying she was in Hell for raising a son like Bill. But they were **very firmly** turned away. ---
**Author:** ![rockle](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/73ab20/32.png) [@rockle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/rockle)\ **Post date:** [November 14, 2008, 12:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/well-well-well-look-at-what-funeral-fred-phelps-and-co-plan-to-picket-next/471556/100 "2008-11-14T12:21:34Z")
> [@Sampiro](#): > > Waters isn’t attractive, but he did produce/write/direct _Pink Flamingos_ so he has some experience. Still, I’m sure he’d be more than receptive to the idea of a scantily clad male co-host, his own personal Seacrest like person. _headsmack_ I thought John Waters was going to be one of the judges, not the host – read your original post wrong. But you have improved upon my misunderstanding. Because you, sir, are AWESOME. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/well-well-well-look-at-what-funeral-fred-phelps-and-co-plan-to-picket-next/471556.md?page=4) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/well-well-well-look-at-what-funeral-fred-phelps-and-co-plan-to-picket-next/471556.md?page=6)