God Hates Trolls
http://www.cnn.com/2014/03/20/us/westboro-church-founder-dead/index.html
Couldn't think of a better person for it to happen to. Yes, yes, I know we should respect the dead, not speak ill of them, etc.
But for this piece of garbage, I will gladly make an exception.
Quote: Mission146I don't care how he died, there is no way he suffered enough.
CNN didn't say. But if you need proof of justice on Earth, know this - Hitler shot himself. Fred Phelps died in hospice. Mr. Rogers died of stomach cancer. Few people get the death they deserve.
Quote: mikeabiomedIt's amazing how this guy protested our military's funerals. My wife is a military officer and his group tried to get close to a funeral in Carson City a few years ago. Thankfully, a large bikers organization kept them at bay and all went peacefully for the honored soldiers.
Iowa governor Tom Vilsack made a law that protesters like WBC had to stay back something like 1000 ft.
Quote: ewjones080Iowa governor Tom Vilsack made a law that protesters like WBC had to stay back something like 1000 ft.
As I recall, they were more than 1000 feet away and didn't make a sound.
No, he should not be acknowledged. It's what he would have wanted.Quote: rdw4potusAnybody want to go protest at his funeral?
Quote: s2dbakerNo, he should not be acknowledged. It's what he would have wanted.
Exactly. Protesting at his funeral is -exactly- the wrong thing to do.
+1Quote: thecesspitExactly. Protesting at his funeral is -exactly- the wrong thing to do.
I agree with everyone else about this guy, but I saw a comment (on another site) where a guy compared him to Hitler and Stalin. Please. In the big picture, this guy's an insignificant nobody.
Quote: RSDespite the bad things he did when he was alive, he was still a human being. No one deserves to have their grave peed on, their funeral picketed, "hell being too good", or a painful death. You can't hate someone for picketing funerals then turning around and doing the same thing (or anything similar like that), because you become no better than the person you hate. It's a sad day anyone dies. No one's perfect.
Sorry, RS, I have to disagree. He willfully and knowingly perpetrated hate in the midst of sorrow for decades, and led others to do the same. If people do picket the funeral (and I think there will be a massive turn-out), I hope they do it with signs like "God is Love", not "burn in Hell"; it's a teachable moment that needs to happen in full view of the cameras. Live by the sword, die by the sword.
Quote: beachbumbabsIf people do picket the funeral (and I think there will be a massive turn-out)
He gets the last laugh here, so to speak, because his daughter announced there will be no funeral because Westboro "doesn't worship the dead."
Quote: chickenmanHe gets the last laugh here, so to speak, because his daughter announced there will be no funeral because Westboro "doesn't worship the dead."
Jesus didn't die? My understanding of the Bible is, apparently, fundamentally flawed.
Quote: RSDespite the bad things he did when he was alive, he was still a human being. No one deserves to have their grave peed on, their funeral picketed, "hell being too good", or a painful death. You can't hate someone for picketing funerals then turning around and doing the same thing (or anything similar like that), because you become no better than the person you hate. It's a sad day anyone dies. No one's perfect.
I applaud you, sir. I'm sure FrG and several others would as well.
Righteousness is all too fleeting these days. I like to think I am a vessel of compassion, but I suppose I'm struggling lately. I have a hard time not feeling a spark of joy that this hatemonger is gone from the world. Some people are better off gone, and I can unfortunately think of at least one person I'd like to make gone, given the slightest chance.
But your post gives me hope. Thank you.
Quote: RSDespite the bad things he did when he was alive, he was still a human being. No one deserves to have their grave peed on, their funeral picketed, "hell being too good", or a painful death. You can't hate someone for picketing funerals then turning around and doing the same thing (or anything similar like that), because you become no better than the person you hate. It's a sad day anyone dies. No one's perfect.
I just try to be the sort of person such that nobody would dance on my grave, but if someone does, I've danced on the grave of a few others, (including Phelps) so I'll just not be a hypocrite that way by not being concerned if someone dances on mine.
Very smart.Quote: chickenmanHe gets the last laugh here, so to speak, because his daughter announced there will be no funeral because Westboro "doesn't worship the dead."
"I have never wished another human being dead. But I've read some obituaries with great pleasure." Attributed to Mark Twain.
Quote: beachbumbabsSorry, RS, I have to disagree. He willfully and knowingly perpetrated hate in the midst of sorrow for decades, and led others to do the same. If people do picket the funeral (and I think there will be a massive turn-out), I hope they do it with signs like "God is Love", not "burn in Hell"; it's a teachable moment that needs to happen in full view of the cameras. Live by the sword, die by the sword.
Many people do not know that before he went off the deep end, Fred Phelps was a successful civil rights lawyer, working on behalf of African Americans in Kansas in the '60s and '70s.
To better understand the Westboro Church and "primitive" Baptists, this article is very instructive. The Westboro Baptists don't hate gays exclusively; they hate everyone, including themselves.
How Fred Phelps and the Westboro Baptists Are Christians, Explained
Money quote: "The broad theology of WBC can be summed up in one basic statement: Everybody sucks. Only awful, terrible, despicable, depraved people would cause a political hatemongering ruckus at a funeral or an elementary school. That's absolutely true. The thing is, the faithful of Westboro Baptist Church would be the first to claim that they're depraved—and so is everyone else. This is the bedrock of their belief system, laid out on their website."
Quote: Mission146Jesus didn't die? My understanding of the Bible is, apparently, fundamentally flawed.
According to the Bible, yes Jesus died. But then he rose from the dead, and then he went to Heaven to be with God the Father. So, Christians do worship Jesus, but he isn't dead (to them).
Quote: RSDespite the bad things he did when he was alive, he was still a human being. No one deserves to have their grave peed on, their funeral picketed, "hell being too good", or a painful death. You can't hate someone for picketing funerals then turning around and doing the same thing (or anything similar like that), because you become no better than the person you hate. It's a sad day anyone dies. No one's perfect.
I was thinking the same things and I commend you for making a thoughtful, mature, but probably not popular post.
I have seen the ravages of war and I deplore the actions of this vile man and his followers against our fallen veterans and their families but he's dead now. Let's hope that his group disbands very soon.
Quote: AcesAndEightsAccording to the Bible, yes Jesus died. But then he rose from the dead, and then he went to Heaven to be with God the Father. So, Christians do worship Jesus, but he isn't dead (to them).
:mutters: Perfectly good joke...
True enough, though, lol.
Quote: MoscaTo better understand the Westboro Church and "primitive" Baptists, this article is very instructive. The Westboro Baptists don't hate gays exclusively; they hate everyone, including themselves.
Maybe so. But they didn't "protest" everyone's funerals, nor id they carry signs saying "God hates everyone," and much less "God hates us."
If the remains of this person get a grave, it will likely become the most desecrated grave in history.
Quote: Mission146:mutters: Perfectly good joke...
True enough, though, lol.
Haha, sorry, I thought you were honestly asking a question. I was raised with the Bible, and so sometimes I will try to correct people's misconceptions about it...even though I no longer believe it as truth...I've tried to get myself out of this habit, but it dies hard.
Quote: NareedMaybe so. But they didn't "protest" everyone's funerals, nor id they carry signs saying "God hates everyone," and much less "God hates us."
If the remains of this person get a grave, it will likely become the most desecrated grave in history.
I highly doubt that. Like I said before, the guy is an insignificant nobody in history. Unless you say "Westboro Baptist Church", I bet most people today wouldn't even know who he is. And 50 years from now, I doubt anyone will even know (or care) about Westboro Baptist Church.
Quote: NareedMaybe so. But they didn't "protest" everyone's funerals, nor id they carry signs saying "God hates everyone," and much less "God hates us."
If the remains of this person get a grave, it will likely become the most desecrated grave in history.
They focused on the hot button issue of the day, in order to draw the most attention to their message.
Quote: MoscaMany people do not know that before he went off the deep end, Fred Phelps was a successful civil rights lawyer, working on behalf of African Americans in Kansas in the '60s and '70s.
I actually did know this, making the WBC the single worst second act ever. I mean, if people forget about you doing flipping civil rights work, you must be a complete dickhead.
Quote: MoscaTo better understand the Westboro Church and "primitive" Baptists, this article is very instructive. The Westboro Baptists don't hate gays exclusively; they hate everyone, including themselves.
How Fred Phelps and the Westboro Baptists Are Christians, Explained
Money quote: "The broad theology of WBC can be summed up in one basic statement: Everybody sucks. Only awful, terrible, despicable, depraved people would cause a political hatemongering ruckus at a funeral or an elementary school. That's absolutely true. The thing is, the faithful of Westboro Baptist Church would be the first to claim that they're depraved—and so is everyone else. This is the bedrock of their belief system, laid out on their website."
Their website seems to indicate that they are "faithful servants" spreading God's word or the like. When their church was fire-bombed in the 90s, there was no "Well, we deserved it; it's God's will" or anything; they were total crybabies about it. Furthermore, they are also defined as Calvinists, which means that a select few souls are God's favorites and go to heaven no matter what, and the rest go to hell, or in language the average WBC member would put it, "A-B-C-D-E-F-G, God hates everyone but me."
http://godhatesfags.com/fliers/20140321_Garland-Baptist-Church-TX-jmh.pdf
He as far as I am aware never physically damaged or abused anyone. He never made direct threats against anyone and he never published personal information (he only protested public events).
Obviously I think his views are silly. But he has every right to be obnoxious. Just ignore him if you don't like what he says. I think wishing pain and death upon somebody who has done nothing legally wrong and whose only actions consist of words is totally immature and I am appalled by the amount of people on here who are making such wishes/statements...
The constitution exists to protect unpopular views. We don't need a bill of rights to make politically correct statements.
-I support what many gay rights groups agreed upon, which is don't "sink to their level", just ignore them and move on.
