Westboro Baptist Church

[Jenn]

What is wrong with these people? What fucking right do they have to protest any fucking funeral be it military, gay, etc..

Seriously, to have a website.. godhatesfags.com, and to claim to be better than everyone who doesn't believe in what they believe is just so fucking wrong and these idiots need to be shot.

A few months ago, a dear friend of mine was killed in action, and they went and protested at his funeral. Any decent human being with a heart would allow a family to grieve, and allow a peaceful funeral, but not them.. they scream the most horrible things.

I wish they would all get shot already in the fucking heads.

[Violet]

Heh. Yeah, I've heard about them. I saw this clip last year:



Nutty bastards. Aren't most of them related?

[mcsmc]

Paint ball guns should be taken to all military funerals for this exact issue. Trust me, a paint ball hitting your hand, neck, face, or other soft tissue will DEFINITELY deter you from doing whatever you were doing.

[Fishypancake]

Paint ball guns should be taken to all military funerals for this exact issue. Trust me, a paint ball hitting your hand, neck, face, or other soft tissue will DEFINITELY deter you from doing whatever you were doing.

I have been attacked by paintballers while I've been protesting [not funerals], and it barly slowed me down. Hurt like a bitch, but if you have a message you should not let something like pain stop you from expressing yourself.

My opinion-If you are an american, you should have the right to protest anything no matter how sensitive it is. I agree with the actions, just not with the cause. That is not how I protest I tell you what.

[Polar Bear]

My opinion-If you are an american, you should have the right to protest anything no matter how sensitive it is. I agree with the actions, just not with the cause. That is not how I protest I tell you what.

A funeral dude?....You really beleive people should have a legal right to protest at a funeral?

I'm all for freedom. I've stated before that I support the rights of flag burners, and anti-american demonstrators. But to disrupt a funeral?

That's just sadism, in my opinion. Laws that support our freedom aren't intended to victimize us, they're intended to keep us from being victims. And victimizing people is exactly what this church is doing. What about a father's right to greive for his son or daughter? In your mind that should take a back seat to protestors (regardless of what their message is) every time? No exceptions?

I'm curious to know at what point in your mind a protestor's rights finally should give way. How about at a rock concert? Should protestors have the right to make their way to the stage and disrupt the show that everyone paid for because they don't like Rock and Roll?

[Fishypancake]

A funeral dude?....You really beleive people should have a legal right to protest at a funeral?

I'm all for freedom. I've stated before that I support the rights of flag burners, and anti-american demonstrators. But to disrupt a funeral?

That's just sadism, in my opinion. Laws that support our freedom aren't intended to victimize us, they're intended to keep us from being victims. And victimizing people is exactly what this church is doing. What about a father's right to greive for his son or daughter? In your mind that should take a back seat to protestors (regardless of what their message is) every time? No exceptions?

I'm curious to know at what point in your mind a protestor's rights finally should give way. How about at a rock concert? Should protestors have the right to make their way to the stage and disrupt the show that everyone paid for because they don't like Rock and Roll?

Well yeah of course. Protesters rights should not have to give way, isnt that the point of protesting? Getting your point across, no matter what anyone else says, to inform, to make a stand, even if it makes no difference at all. Its expression. This church found it neccesary to inturupt a funeral to get their point across. Although I think that it is fucked up, I think its right. They had to choose something that properly illustrated how displease they were with the whole thing, the fact that they picked a funeral just says they mean it. They are not protesting the death of the ones you loved, they are trying to get you to realize that this did not have to happen, and trying to get you to fight the injustice. Its just a case of having really good intentions, and a terrible exicution. This is america, they should be given the right to protest just like everyone else.

[Fishypancake]

Its a lot like white supremacist's right as humans [fucking nazi scum]. Although they are nazis, and everyone hates them, they still have basic human rights.

[CrAnIuM]

Well yeah of course. This is america, they should be given the right to protest just like everyone else.

Their right to protest WAS NOT removed. Their civil liberties were not infringed upon.

The governor has a duty to see to the best interest of ALL the citizens. He made the right choice for the safety of those inbred bible fuckers.

Those idiots still have the right to protest...500 feet away instead of grave side like they originally did.

...

[Polar Bear]

Its a lot like white supremacist's right as humans [fucking nazi scum]. Although they are nazis, and everyone hates them, they still have basic human rights.

You really didnt address my question. Which I can't blame you....answering it would quickly point out how fucking silly you're being.

But, for the sake of argument, and benefit of doubt, I'll ask it again, more bluntly. Is there a point at which you believe a protestor's rights should give way to another person's rights, or does that protestor's rights ALWAYS trump another's simply becasue he/ she has a 'message'?

And allow me to add a second question. Do you believe that being able to grieve for a loved one respectfully is a basic human right as well, or is that merely just a privaledge that the government 'allows' us to do when it's convenient?

[Jenn]

Well yeah of course. Protesters rights should not have to give way, isnt that the point of protesting? Getting your point across, no matter what anyone else says, to inform, to make a stand, even if it makes no difference at all. Its expression. This church found it neccesary to inturupt a funeral to get their point across. Although I think that it is fucked up, I think its right. They had to choose something that properly illustrated how displease they were with the whole thing, the fact that they picked a funeral just says they mean it. They are not protesting the death of the ones you loved, they are trying to get you to realize that this did not have to happen, and trying to get you to fight the injustice. Its just a case of having really good intentions, and a terrible exicution. This is america, they should be given the right to protest just like everyone else.

They are trying to get people to realize that it did not have to happen? They were calling HIM, the man who DIED, a KILLER, a CHILD killer, and saying he was burning in hell. These people are fucking ASSHOLES who deserve more than a paintball shot to the face. There were even CHILDREN there protesting. What a way to teach a child.

Fuck that.

[Fishypancake]

They are trying to get people to realize that it did not have to happen? They were calling HIM, the man who DIED, a KILLER, a CHILD killer, and saying he was burning in hell. These people are fucking ASSHOLES who deserve more than a paintball shot to the face. There were even CHILDREN there protesting. What a way to teach a child.

Fuck that.

oh....then fuck all that shit. Forget what I said, all of it, sorry I have dail up videos like that do not load.

[mcsmc]

I have been attacked by paintballers while I've been protesting [not funerals], and it barly slowed me down. Hurt like a bitch, but if you have a message you should not let something like pain stop you from expressing yourself.

Trust me, if everyone at the funeral had paintball guns and were targeting every soft flesh spot on your body, you'd be highly discouraged from continuing.

Of course, beanbags are more effective.

As to the rest of your bullshit, there's a difference between people that protest and haters. People that just have a message will NOT completely disrupt something, they will maintain a distance and hold their fucking sign.

[Shade]

Everyone has equal rights. That means if person A is grieving they have a right to grieve. If person B is protesting they have a right to protest. If person B does not have the right to stop person A nor does person A have the right to stop person B. There is no right however in terrorisng, or slandering someone. There right to protest is the right to be heard. It's not the right to disrupt.

The most common mistake people make with boundries is that standing up for yourself doesnt mean you gotta walk all over someone else.

[Polar Bear]

Everyone has equal rights. That means if person A is grieving they have a right to grieve. If person B is protesting they have a right to protest. If person B does not have the right to stop person A nor does person A have the right to stop person B. There is no right however in terrorisng, or slandering someone. There right to protest is the right to be heard. It's not the right to disrupt.

The most common mistake people make with boundries is that standing up for yourself doesnt mean you gotta walk all over someone else.

That was exactly what I was getting at. I guess he changed his mind though.

Oh well. Bottom line: I support unpopular speech wherever and whenever possible. But there's gotta be fucking limits, man. Otherwise what? You gonna have protestors be allowed to walk in on a surgery while someone's life is on the line? Fuck no...freedom without rational limits isn't freedom at all..it's chaos.

[Silly Cunt]

God Hates Fags.

I hate God.

Fags hate me, and I hate fags.



I have no reason to protest in this demonic love triangle world of mine.



However, funerals are a sacred thing, and if anyone had anything to protest about a loved one of mine, whether they be God, homosexual, or anything, I would stab them in the throat with a car key. Just quietly.

[Fishypancake]

That was exactly what I was getting at. I guess he changed his mind though.

Oh well. Bottom line: I support unpopular speech wherever and whenever possible. But there's gotta be fucking limits, man. Otherwise what? You gonna have protestors be allowed to walk in on a surgery while someone's life is on the line? Fuck no...freedom without rational limits isn't freedom at all..it's chaos.

Agreed.

[badutahboy]

The #1 problem I have with Westboro baptist church is that their protests are completely misdirected....

They're protesting against our government's perceived "support" of homosexuals, which is hilarious in and of itself, since our government has done everything in it's power to strip gay couples of equal rights...

However, rather than actually protesting our government, they've taken to protesting military funerals, trying to somehow tie the war in Iraq into the US government's "support" of homosexuality...

It's like protesting a vegetarian restaurant to further your animal rights cause... Just because they serve food doesn't mean they have anything to do with those who you're actually protesting (especially when you consider the complete lack of substance of the cause they're protesting).

Polar bear asks a great question when he asks at which point human rights stop superceding constitutional rights. The correct answer to that question: Never. NEVER should it be allowed for someone to interfere with basic human rights in order to promote their cause.

Generally, I agree with Polar bear on this topic.. I support unpopular speech in all of it's forms... but there has to be a limit.

I think "protest free zones" are a decent starting point, but I see a lot of potential for abuse there... I think we need a solution to "hate speech" as opposed to free speech. I don't know exactly how to create that solution, but I think we need some civil (and maybe even criminal) penalties for hate speech. I'd like to see the ability to charge these type of people with verbal assault, based on attacking someone like that without any legitimate provocation. However, any legislation created would need to be very careful to not limit the rights of legitimate protest.

I've been directly involved in this specific issue. I'm a member of a group called the Patriot Guard Riders, which was created specifically to counter the actions of the westboro baptist church at military funerals. It's a group of bikers who attend funerals and create a physical barrier between protestors and the funeral party. We do whatever we can (nonviolently) to prevent protestors from harming the funeral.. At funerals I've been a part of, we've had our group sing to drown out their chants, and even gone to the extent of starting our motorcycles and letting the rumble of our engines drown out their noise. It's still harmful to the funeral, but at least we protect the families from having to listen to that message. Check out patriotguard.org for more info (you don't have to be a biker to join)

[Theresa_k3]

The people who protested the funeral want to be respected, yet that was very disrespectful to the family and friends of the person who had died. There needs to be a line drawn there.

[Pinkslit]

I believe anyone acting in God's name should be able to do anything they want.
Besides, is their message wrong? No, it's in religions interest to wipe out all sinners, rapists, murderers, men, niggers, jews, asians and australians forthwith.

[gigman]

Their right to protest WAS NOT removed. Their civil liberties were not infringed upon.

The governor has a duty to see to the best interest of ALL the citizens. He made the right choice for the safety of those inbred bible fuckers.

Those idiots still have the right to protest...500 feet away instead of grave side like they originally did.

...
.

Them sick fucks don't deserve the freedoms that this country has to offer.
And, they do not speak for the Christian church at all. They are a bunch of flakes and idiots. There is no way in hell they can justify such actions. It's a disgrace to all humanity.

[Negativecool]

Good topic--good posts. I'm impressed that Fishypancake was the first to point out that these people actually do have rights and are protected under the laws of a free nation.

I'm impressed because my initial reaction to these people has always been one of inestimable hatred. A knee jerk reaction of desires of extreme physical violence against these "people."
Out of sheer inability to control anger, I could never bring myself to think about these people and what they are doing long enough to come up with a rational thought....Ya know, beyond wishing them all a slow excruciatingly painful beheading death at the sharp end of a Taliban knife.
So kudos for bringing up a very unpopular, but true, point.

As I am sitting here trying to figure these people out, I still cannot understand why what they are going is even categorized as "protesting." I'm not sure they are even protesting anything.
Examining the purpose of a protest, which is to forcefully or peacefully make one's opinion heard in an attempt to sway public opinion or governmental policy; I don't see how what they are doing parallels that rationale.
If they were going to try to influence governmental policy, you would think they would spew their nonsense near a governmental building where legislative officials can hear their message and have to deal with them in some way. Not at a funeral for a family in the general public, a very personal event, far from legislation.
If they were going to try to sway public opinion...Fucking-A-Christ there are too many things wrong with their approach to even begin, lest my post turn into a long hate filled diatribe examining their bizarre methods.
Furthermore, I don't think their protest has any kind of founational reasoning in the first place, just some mindless banter of a crazy society. God is punishing America....ok? How is disrupting a funeral going to change the fact that God has a hard on for punishment?

I think these pukes should be categorized as a public nuisance, a disturbance of the peace or what have you, NOT as protesters within their rights. They should not be allowed to do this anywhere, be it right next to or 500 feet from any funeral, ever.

These are not protests, only the hate mantra of a disturbed, naive, ignorant, and inbred people. Fuck them.

[Shade]

Good topic--good posts. I'm impressed that Fishypancake was the first to point out that these people actually do have rights and are protected under the laws of a free nation.

I'm impressed because my initial reaction to these people has always been one of inestimable hatred. A knee jerk reaction of desires of extreme physical violence against these "people."
Out of sheer inability to control anger, I could never bring myself to think about these people and what they are doing long enough to come up with a rational thought....Ya know, beyond wishing them all a slow excruciatingly painful beheading death at the sharp end of a Taliban knife.
So kudos for bringing up a very unpopular, but true, point.

As I am sitting here trying to figure these people out, I still cannot understand why what they are going is even categorized as "protesting." I'm not sure they are even protesting anything.
Examining the purpose of a protest, which is to forcefully or peacefully make one's opinion heard in an attempt to sway public opinion or governmental policy; I don't see how what they are doing parallels that rationale.
If they were going to try to influence governmental policy, you would think they would spew their nonsense near a governmental building where legislative officials can hear their message and have to deal with them in some way. Not at a funeral for a family in the general public, a very personal event, far from legislation.
If they were going to try to sway public opinion...Fucking-A-Christ there are too many things wrong with their approach to even begin, lest my post turn into a long hate filled diatribe examining their bizarre methods.
Furthermore, I don't think their protest has any kind of founational reasoning in the first place, just some mindless banter of a crazy society. God is punishing America....ok? How is disrupting a funeral going to change the fact that God has a hard on for punishment?

I think these pukes should be categorized as a public nuisance, a disturbance of the peace or what have you, NOT as protesters within their rights. They should not be allowed to do this anywhere, be it right next to or 500 feet from any funeral, ever.

These are not protests, only the hate mantra of a disturbed, naive, ignorant, and inbred people. Fuck them.

Lets take a more extreme case. Lets say it's the leader of the KKK, who had killed 500 black kids, and a mexican. Lets say all the leaders friends and family are there to pay there respects. The object of most funerals is to put someone to rest and tell how good that person was. The last part i personally don't agree with, however most eulogy's are hardly realistic views of a man's life, they are memories of the good times or story's depicting there good qualitys. Those the protesters are challanging the memory of the man. The thing there trying to change is how people view such men, as well as how that mans friends and family think. Just because few to no human's can see a good or plausable reason to protest this guy, that doesn't mean they haven't created one in their head.

If hitler died and was barried, you bet your ass a shit load of jews would show up. No one would question it, because by now everyone is aware of why the jews don't got no love for Mr H. I do believe protesting at anyones funeral is wrong, but it's quite tempting to change that if it was hitler. Part of protesting is for people to get heard, another part of protesting is to change an idea, belief, or value. The last part of protesting is to let go. Part of yelling 'you killed my father' or 'i'm woman, i have rights' or 'i'm gay and inlove i should be able to be married' or further still 'why the fuck can't i drink out of the same fountain as everyone else', brings a sense of peace. You voiced your beliefs, your frustrations, you stood up for yourself, you found there are many like you, so the next time you face the issue, you feel stronger. Your not so alone on an issue, reguardless if your the only fag or black in your neibhorhood.

[Negativecool]

Lets take a more extreme case. Lets say it's the leader of the KKK, who had killed 500 black kids, and a mexican. Lets say all the leaders friends and family are there to pay there respects. The object of most funerals is to put someone to rest and tell how good that person was. The last part i personally don't agree with, however most eulogy's are hardly realistic views of a man's life, they are memories of the good times or story's depicting there good qualitys. Those the protesters are challanging the memory of the man. The thing there trying to change is how people view such men, as well as how that mans friends and family think. Just because few to no human's can see a good or plausable reason to protest this guy, that doesn't mean they haven't created one in their head.

If hitler died and was barried, you bet your ass a shit load of jews would show up. No one would question it, because by now everyone is aware of why the jews don't got no love for Mr H. I do believe protesting at anyones funeral is wrong, but it's quite tempting to change that if it was hitler. Part of protesting is for people to get heard, another part of protesting is to change an idea, belief, or value. The last part of protesting is to let go. Part of yelling 'you killed my father' or 'i'm woman, i have rights' or 'i'm gay and inlove i should be able to be married' or further still 'why the fuck can't i drink out of the same fountain as everyone else', brings a sense of peace. You voiced your beliefs, your frustrations, you stood up for yourself, you found there are many like you, so the next time you face the issue, you feel stronger. Your not so alone on an issue, reguardless if your the only fag or black in your neibhorhood.

While I see the point you were trying to make, unfortunately it wasn't a very good one. Your comparison isn't at all relatable to these people. It's almost seems like you are arguing for the sake of argument, or trying to come across as an intelligent debater...One of the two.

In the hypothetical situations you described, the protesters are protesting the man in the ground, NOT SO is the case with these bastards. They aren't so much interested in the sins of the fallen, merely the war in which they were a part of and the government that put them there. This is evident by their mindless rants that god is "punishing America" for its war mongering sins, and the fallen soldiers simply represent how god is executing said punishment. They are "protesting" a people that had no voice in the decision to start the war in the first place.
Their only discernible point seems to be that America sucks and everyone involved in this war is a piece of shit. Then they tie in god somehow and *pow* you have a jacked up crazy cult on national news.

If hitler died and was barried, you bet your ass a shit load of jews would show up. I do believe protesting at anyones funeral is wrong, but it's quite tempting to change that if it was hitler.

The act of "protesting" at funerals doesn't bother me. I could give two shits about "hollowed ground." The reason these pukes go to the funerals and who they are protesting is what raises my BP. You seriously wouldn't feel completely justified "protesting" Hitler's funeral? Protesting Hitler's funeral wouldn't be wrong in the least. I would be working up an epic shit for seven days before letting it pass on his grave---it would be a scat party.

Part of protesting is for people to get heard, another part of protesting is to change an idea, belief, or value. The last part of protesting is to let go.

There are no emotional phases of protesting. The only people that "let go" after protesting are dumbfuck, impressionable, idealistic college kids that think they did a good thing that day, and don't care if what they did changes anything...As long as they get to fuck the hot chick in the student organizations club for protesting the Iraq war five years too late. Real people that protest for real reasons don't ever "let go" until something changes. -End that rant-

Saying you're glad that Hitler or a murderous lunatic died is one thing. Disrupting a funeral before a family of a soldier doing his job for his country and yelling that he/she was a faggot sinner and it is good that he/she died is something completely different.

It is completely fucked hate speech and it is not protesting.

[Shade]

While I see the point you were trying to make, unfortunately it wasn't a very good one. Your comparison isn't at all relatable to these people. It's almost seems like you are arguing for the sake of argument, or trying to come across as an intelligent debater...One of the two.

In the hypothetical situations you described, the protesters are protesting the man in the ground, NOT SO is the case with these bastards. They aren't so much interested in the sins of the fallen, merely the war in which they were a part of and the government that put them there.

They went to a grave to protest. They where slinging insults at the guy who was dead.

This is evident by their mindless rants that god is "punishing America" for its war mongering sins, and the fallen soldiers simply represent how god is executing said punishment. They are "protesting" a people that had no voice in the decision to start the war in the first place.

This may be there over all cause, by they are there because of the dead guy. Reguardless of it being directly him, or what he represents, they are there to protest at the dead guy's grave. Hitler did not millions of jews. He ordered them to die. He was a part of it. Other then signing papers, and giving orders his hands where quite clean. If you dont like that example, choose any of hitlers generals. These people believed this guy was a part of what they where protesting against. That is why they where there.

[quote]Their only discernible point seems to be that America sucks and everyone involved in this war is a piece of shit. Then they tie in god somehow and *pow* you have a jacked up crazy cult on national news.

The act of "protesting" at funerals doesn't bother me. I could give two shits about "hollowed ground." The reason these pukes go to the funerals and who they are protesting is what raises my BP.

My point is, if it was something you believed in, would it be ok to protest at funerals?

You seriously wouldn't feel completely justified "protesting" Hitler's funeral? Protesting Hitler's funeral wouldn't be wrong in the least. I would be working up an epic shit for seven days before letting it pass on his grave---it would be a scat party.

If i don't believe in protesting at funerals, then i wouldn't protest at his. Justifying it simply because he was the worst case scenerio, doesn't change the fact that i don't believe in it. I don't believe in laws that are made up for only a few people to follow. It's unjust. I may hate what you have to say, but i'll defend your right to say it type of thing. If i feel the need for an exception, i no longer believe in that law.

There are no emotional phases of protesting. The only people that "let go" after protesting are dumbfuck, impressionable, idealistic college kids that think they did a good thing that day, and don't care if what they did changes anything...As long as they get to fuck the hot chick in the student organizations club for protesting the Iraq war five years too late. Real people that protest for real reasons don't ever "let go" until something changes. -End that rant-

This isnt rocket science here. Your pissed at something, you feel your not being heard. You go shout it out a few times, you feel heard. You feel better. It doesn't mean you stop, it means you feel better. It doesn't mean it's over, it means your less likely to get pissed off and blow up a fucking building or shoot a fuck load of people to get your point across.

Saying you're glad that Hitler or a murderous lunatic died is one thing. Disrupting a funeral before a family of a soldier doing his job for his country and yelling that he/she was a faggot sinner and it is good that he/she died is something completely different.

It is completely fucked hate speech and it is not protesting.

It's what they believe. who ar you to say that they are wrong simply because you don't believe it. Basicly what your saying is that you can only protest popular oppinion. Skin heads think hitler was swell. Part of the brilliance of the constatution is it allows the US to be flexable to new idea's. Protesting is one of the ways we learn about the new idea's. Now if we place a lock on new idea's, that only some new idea's are allowed to get out, then who's going to say which idea's are ok and which arn't. If no one believes in the ideal, it will die out. If everyone says 'hey this is a good thing' it will stay strong and get a bigger following. Slavery wasn't popular a few hundred years ago. By your logic, no one should of been able to protest that back then.

[HerCUNTness]

What is wrong with these people? What fucking right do they have to protest any fucking funeral be it military, gay, etc..

Seriously, to have a website.. godhatesfags.com, and to claim to be better than everyone who doesn't believe in what they believe is just so fucking wrong and these idiots need to be shot.

A few months ago, a dear friend of mine was killed in action, and they went and protested at his funeral. Any decent human being with a heart would allow a family to grieve, and allow a peaceful funeral, but not them.. they scream the most horrible things.

I wish they would all get shot already in the fucking heads.

I FUCKIN HATE these people!!! I want to kick this bitches's ass mysllf! I don't care if Im crippled! Fuck that cunt! I will re-injure myself and wait upon the donor list to get fixed.. just for the option to get a good hit in on this cunt and her fucked up bullshit church! This cunt needs to have her ass kicked and not just kicked.. but out of this nation! Fuck that church! they need to go away .. much like electric kool-aid James.. they need to GO!

Lorena Bobbitt was sent back for leser charges!