Sometimes something is just so over-the-top offensive that it makes me wonder if that whole First Amendment thing was really such a good idea after all. But then I wonder: if it weren't for people like this, who would the rest of us laugh and point at?
I just learned that the "Reverend" Fred Phelps and his family at the Westboro Baptist Church have over the past year been picketing the funerals of soldiers killed in Iraq, branching out from their usual picketing of the funerals of gay men and women, suspected (or mistaken) gay men and women, Catholic church officials, and gay supporters.
The logic? America has turned its back on God (and the Westboro Baptist Church in particular), and therefore God has become "America's Terrorist." Therefore the church members rejoice when Americans are killed, maimed, injured, etc.. But there's more, something strange that I can't quite put my finger on. From the WBC FAQ, "...These turkeys are not heroes. They are lazy, incompetent idiots looking for jobs because they're not qualified for honest work."
The mind boggles.
2 comments:
Remember the rose:thorn::rhino:_____ (rose is to thorn as rhino is to "blank") questions from the old SAT? Everytime I see this idiot, I think "terrorist:Islam::Phelps:Christianity".
Oh, I remember the first time I heard about Ph***s and his merry band; my spouse is from that part of the world, so it was long ago. For what it's worth, I think the utter shamelessness of the Westboro crew is one very small point in their favor: they don't hide behind legalities, or spokesmen, or privilege. Otherwise, this guy is exhibit A in the "why I'm glad God isn't a literalist" category...
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