FelixP

I was watching TV at the chowhall the other night and saw a story on Westboro Baptist Church, and LCpl Matthew Snyder's father's lawsuit(s) against them. He claims emotional duress. I was wondering what opinions you all might have about this. As a fellow Marine, I want nothing more than to take aim and drop bodies, but as an American I recognize the value and importance of the right to free speech. What they were doing was hateful, malicious, and intentionally disruptive, but should anything actually be done?

It's been suggested that there be a limit as to how close protestors can get at a funeral, but that could be overcome with megaphones. It's going to be a close case, and I eagerly await the beginning of the Supreme Court trial.

__________________
Free will lies not in the ability to craft your own fate, but in not knowing what your fate is. --Me

"I have just returned from visting the Marines at the front, and there is not a finer fighting organization in the world." --Douglas MacArthur

Willravel

The best thing to do with Westboro is to diffuse them. You can't confront them and ignoring them is irresponsible. Go to wherever they protest with your own innocuous or funny sign and make a mockery of them. Just stand there with your absurd sign, among them. If they move, move with them. If they touch you, get it on film and sue their church.

My favorite sign at a Westboro protest is "I have a sign" and "God hates signs".

Tully Mars

Fuck them.

Seriously got nothing else to add.

Just fuck them.

__________________
I used to drink to drown my sorrows, but the damned things have learned how to swim- Frida Kahlo

Vice President Starkizzer Fan Club

KellyC

Very good idea Will. Perhaps a bunch of gays can follow them and make out where ever they protest.

__________________
Him: Ok, I have to ask, what do you believe?
Me: Shit happens.

Walt

It's been known to happen.



FWIW, I buried a buddy at Arlington National in 2008. His funeral was supposed to be protested by the Westboro douches. Upon learning of this, the other pallbearers and I decided to go against tradition and wear civilian suits instead of our uniforms so as to not to "discredit" the Army.

At the last minute, the protesters skipped my friends funeral so they could protest Heath Ledgers. It was probably in their best interest.

__________________
Calmer than you are...

Poppinjay

I talked to Marge Phelps once, she donated to the public radio station I was working at. I took her pledge and felt the urge to say, you know we have gay people on staff?

After getting to know their family and seeing them in the media I have a theory. I don't think they're really into what they say. I think they do it for the publicity. If nobody came and took pictures of them, they would figure out something else.

They do get a lot of money from anonymous donors. Fred Phelps himself was a major donor to Al Gore's campaign, all the while making All Gore posters depicting him in an unsavory way.

Maybe some of the younger generation of Phelps's believes God hates fags, but I think Fred and Marge are either doing it for the publicity, or are mentally disturbed. That could be the case, the only child to break free from the family has accused them of physical abuse. Plus Fred was sued by a lesbian Topeka council woman for assault.

And the church? The only members allowed are from the family. All those protesters are related. I'm guessing they're not so against incest.

__________________
I think the Apocalypse is happening all around us. We go on eating desserts and watching TV. I know I do. I wish we were more capable of sustained passion and sustained resistance. We should be screaming and what we do is gossip. -Lydia Millet

Hektore

I just found out these cretins are going to protest at a friend's college. I fired off an email yesterday to the head of their LGBT club on campus and much to my delight they were already well aware of WBC intentions. They directed me to this site .

I think these folks have the right idea, peaceable visual obstruction and non-confrontation.

__________________
The advantage law is the best law in rugby, because it lets you ignore all the others for the good of the game.

Poppinjay

Honestly, I wish they would come back to DC just so I can go and hold up a goofy sign.

GOD HATES BAGS!

You kind of have to know what's going on here with that to get it.

__________________
I think the Apocalypse is happening all around us. We go on eating desserts and watching TV. I know I do. I wish we were more capable of sustained passion and sustained resistance. We should be screaming and what we do is gossip. -Lydia Millet

Fire

I would welcome the populace shaming the westboro people- seriously, if every business refused them service, and everyone around them shunned them, things would get rather difficult for them, or at least uncomfortable- my other suggestion runs to bringing back public dueling, and that would lead to its own problems (though I contend it would be hilarious enough to justify the carnage, and thin the herd quite a bit too)....

__________________
Thought the harder, Heart the bolder,
Mood the more as our might lessens

Willravel

Don't forget that, according to the Bible, God hates figs. Dude's kid hella murdered a fig tree like a mofo.

Seaver

The best way to deal with them protesting near you is to start two tables for charities wherever they are protesting.

First Table is to donate to support the troops and their families.

Second Table is to donate to GLBS (Gay rights group)... and sign the donations as the Westboro Babtist Church. If you have the GLBS send thank you letters in return it'd be beautiful.

They will not be defeated by returning the hate... use their publicity to defeat them with their own methods.

__________________
"Smite the rocks with the rod of knowledge, and fountains of unstinted wealth will gush forth." - Ashbel Smith as he laid the first cornerstone of the University of Texas

m0rpheus

Although this is probably my favorite.

__________________
"it never got weird enough for me." - Hunter S. Thompson