Fred Phelps Is Almost Dead: My Personal Protest

Phelps and his signature picket signs.

I've never hated anyone.

Anger, rage, disgust - I've certainly felt those things, but hatred, no. No human being has ever pushed me over the edge of that dangerous precipice. If anyone got me close though, it was Pastor Fred Phelps.

Since the 1998 Westboro Baptist picket of Matthew Shepard's funeral, I've been periodically obsessed with my near-hate for Phelps and his entire nutcase "God Hates Fags" clan. My loathing for Westboro and Phelps has never been all-consuming, mostly because I manage to forget about them a few days after each whorish media-grabbing funeral picket. But like God's own demented mafia, each time I think I'm free, their carnival specter makes internet headlines again, and they pull me back in.

This morning Westboro was in the news for very different reasons. According to Nate Phelps, one of the pastor's estranged sons, Fred Phelps was ex-communicated from his own church last August. Even more interestingly, the aging Phelps is on his deathbed in a Kansas hospice.

Now, after more than fifteen years of fiery loathing, you'd think my feelings about this news would be clear. Ding-dong, the witch is almost dead. But it's not like that. Instead, the news that Fred Phelps is near death leaves me confused. As much as I might like to stand on internet hilltops and sing the "good news" at the top of my lungs, that feels all wrong to me.

When I was younger, I imagined proudly picketing Phelps' funeral. I pictured his teary family mourning their beloved hate-mongering mentor at the gravesite, and me ten or twenty yards away, holding a smarmy fluorescent picket sign. "Hey Fred, Tell Satan to Leave the Light On For Me." Something like that. But now that the moment is near, and Fred is finally about to shuffle off this mortal coil, the idea of protesting at Phelps' funeral has lost its appeal. It feels, well, mean.

I've spent the morning thinking about my options, other ways I might mark the miserable life and hateful times of Fred Phelps, and I think I've figured it out. I've decided that I will protest, but not the way Westboro does.

I'll protest by learning more about someone with whom I vehemently disagree.
I'll protest by not judging someone who is different from me.
I'll protest by keeping an open mind when I don't understand.
I'll protest by keeping an open heart when I feel afraid.

When Fred Phelps dies, I'll protest alright, by being exactly the kind of person whose funeral would be picketed by the wicked pastor and his pitiable Westboro Baptist family.

Congress Passes Bill to Restrict Westboro Baptist Military Funeral Protests

Members of Westboro Baptist protest
a soldier's funeral in 2006.

Congress has passed "The Honoring America’s Veterans and Caring for Camp Lejeune Families Act of 2012," and the bill now awaits the President's signature.

The legislation addresses a host of veterans' issues, including the proposal of significant restrictions on demonstrations at the funerals of military personnel.

Under the new bill, protests may not be staged within two hours prior to or after a funeral, and protestors must maintain a distance of 300 feet from the memorial service.

This legislation is bad news for the psychotic media whores at the Westboro Baptist Church, who regularly stage protests at high-profile funerals, military or otherwise, to spread vitriolic and hateful messages about gays and lesbians, and anyone whom they perceive to be in support of the LGBT community.

Interestingly, not unlike those who have leapt to the defense of Chick-Fil-A President Dan Cathy, Westboro Baptist Church members claim their "freedom of speech" rights are being violated when limitations are placed on their ability to protest at funerals holding offensive placards and yelling cruel remarks. (To be clear though, unlike with Westboro, no one is attempting to legally restrict Chick-Fil-A's right to express its opinions.)

The U.S. Supreme Court actually sided with Westboro in a 2011 case, upholding their right to stage funeral protests, so it will be interesting to see if the new legislation passes judicial muster.

You can learn more than you wanted to know about the lunacy and malevolence of Westboro Baptist Church at their website godhatesfags.com.

Turn Style - 9 Year-Old Boy Stages Counter Protest vs. Westboro Baptist

"God Hates No One."      

You go, boy.

The Fine Line of "Occupy" Protests

"Occupy" Protesters' Encampment in Oakland

I believe in the First Amendment. I believe in Free Speech. I believe in the right to assemble and protest. I believe that corporate greed has taken short-term gains that put a long-term hurt on the American economy, and on the American middle class. I believe we must do something to ensure we don't let an unchecked financial sector continue to wreck our nation. I believe an effective protest movement must make people uncomfortable and cause inconvenience.

And...

I believe state and local governments are charged with keeping the peace and ensuring public safety. I believe the Occupy movement lacks the kind of structure and leadership that might make it more palatable to cities and to the general public. I believe Occupy protesters have a mixed bag of motivations, and while many are genuinely committed to an important cause, others are simply seizing a convenient moment to be public fuck-abouts. I believe protests don't have to have unsafe and unsanitary conditions to be effective.

In light of the news that cities around the nation are losing patience and beginning to crack down on Occupy protester encampments, I find myself with surprisingly mixed emotions. Despite the fact that I fully agree with the overall message of the movement, I would not likely choose to participate in the style of protests I see portrayed in cities around the country. I want to participate but I'm not sure how. I think if this movement is going to have a worthwhile impact, then it is incumbent on the Occupy "leaders" to find a way to inspire more ordinary middle class people to join them, and the movement must develop meaningful ways for those of us who are not able or willing to camp in public spaces to contribute.

What about you?