i hope these people die a miserable death. even if you don't agree with the war, _NEVER_ disrespect the dead. bastards. don't fuck with the funeral.

A person can be arrested in most states for being a public nuisance, for lude and disorderly conduct... how does this crew seem to escape such a ticket, 32K times over?

dave8 said: "A person can be arrested in most states for being a public nuisance, for lude and disorderly conduct... how does this crew seem to escape such a ticket, 32K times over?"


Because, as a nation, we're so obsessed with being politically correct with the first amendment that we have come to "tolerate intolerance" to a sickening degree.

I'm not much about suppressing controversial opinion, but this behavior is beyond contempt. These are the exact same types of cretins who told Scott to trust in god while grieving his son (http://exchristian.net/testimonies/2007/10/where-are-you-god.html).

I'd love to see a group counter-protest with signs that say things like "More Fags, Fewer Churches!" and "Thank Nature for Homosexuals Because They're Nicer Than Westboro Baptists!"

Monk, I totally agree. I think this will by-pass a first-amendment challenge in federal court, and stay at the civil trial level.

I as well, have contempt for emotional predators, like Phelps and family.

If I had the time, energy, and patience to deal with a predator such as this - the civil way, I'd likely sue not only "him", but I'd make a case that his company and its by-laws are responsible.

His company is a "faith" based organization, likely receiving a 501(c)3 NPO tax benefit. That is a business that can be held liable for damages. Then, of course, one could possibly argue that since it is considered an "organization" in the "eyes" of the Federal Gov't, for tax purposes that it must take into account the "bible" as part of its "faith" credentials.

Now, maybe this will or will not pan out, but what taking them to court does, is "force" a bunch of predators to acknowledge the higher power in this country - the law.

The reason this particular crew is adept at staying within legal bounds is based on legal experience (lawyers), and how to "interpret" or find the "loophole(s)" in legal code.

Funny thing about law(s), they seem to work for those who abide by them, wonder what it would be like for two people to ignore the law(s)...

I have a little habit of watching wbc videos on Youtube and posting comments. Comments that say things like, "the people of the Westboro Baptist Church are crazy, but they have biblical backing for their actions. They probably more accurately translate the message of the biblegod than most Christians do." These comments often piss off xtians, and they reply with such animosity towards me. They seem so shocked that the bible could be used in such a way. I find it shocking that they refuse to see the potential violence, bigotry, and judgemental nature of the supposed word of God. Even beyond the atrocities of the old testament, Jesus said things that could support violence, judgement, and disregard for others.

Do you ever get the feeling that WBC is just a comedy troupe like "Broken Lizard".

Dave8,

I'd likely sue not only "him", but I'd make a case that his company and its by-laws are responsible.

Actually, it's funny you should say that. According to the court documents (available here), that's exactly what Albert Snyder has done. He isn't just suing one person, but the WBC corporation.

Nice, eh?

JCS, yes :-) That is "very" nice ;-) Have a great one.

I know this has been brought up before but what the hell is it about gay people that bothers and infuriates xtians so much? Why the intense focus to such a ridiculous degree? There is so much real evil in this world but xtians seem to ignore all of it to focus on homosexuals.

Mark--

Good question. I have thought about that many times and I have reached one conclusion about the xtian vehemence to homosexuality and abortion. I think they, as a group, focus on the few things they can not be connected with in anyway.

Certainly, they would not want to focus their efforts on ending poverty; that might cost them money. They would not want to focus healing the sick; that might cost them money. They don't want to focus on peace; that might cost them money (war is profitable, after all).

So hate the fags, and the baby-killers. That way, we can feel superior, and not sacrifice anything of our own.

Stupid bastards!

So god doesn't hate homosexuals - they are homosexual because god hates them. These people need to make up their minds.
They have a soft spot for Islamic fundies apparently, it's just that they've got the wrong god. Maybe they should go and picket in Iraq and see how much god will protect them there.
I had a look at the FAQ on their website - the grace of god, if you receive it, apparently convinces you that newborn babies deserve to go straight to hell yet when one of their children gets a cup of water thrown at him on one of their pickets they ask 'how could a person do such a thing to a child?'... How do these people get up in the morning and continue to breath in and out?
Boe

R. Black said:

"Do you ever get the feeling that WBC is just a comedy troupe like "Broken Lizard"."

R. Black, I know that you aren't advocating what they do or defending them, just musing about them. Nevertheless, I have to say that if they were some twisted comedy group, I, for one, am NOT f****** laughing.

I barely pay attention to those idiots anymore. However, I really am sickened by their funeral pickets. I hate to think that I could die in some national tragedy (a school shooting or bridge collapse or something) and they'd turn my personal funeral into a political hate rally. I hate even more to think they might do that to someone I love. Honestly, I'm surprised no one has ever managed to kill these folks. Let's hope this lawsuit actually goes somewhere.

They are not retarded because they're baptists, they are baptists because they are retarded.

And even though I'm atheist, I know my bible too...

I seem to remember "Let he who is without sin cast the first stone".

I smell internal scandal brewing... as is always with these types of groups.

I just went to their website. There is a link where you can send them a message. I told them that I am a high priestess and I cursed them with one of my most powerful curses! I told them that their prayers to their vengeful god will not be enough to help them! I LOVE fucking with those kind of people! Wouldn't it be cool if everyone from this site did the same thing? Just a thought!

Yeah, I know. I have no life!

Some updated news items on this case, which is scheduled to conclude on Thursday, November 1st:

1. Funeral protest case opens

2. Father of slain Marine takes stand

3. Marine's funeral described as a 'media circus'

4. Closing arguments due in civil suit against funeral protesters

5. Jury sees video of funeral protest

Caleb said:

"I have a little habit of watching wbc videos on Youtube and posting comments. Comments that say things like, "the people of the Westboro Baptist Church are crazy, but they have biblical backing for their actions. They probably more accurately translate the message of the biblegod than most Christians do."

For atheist activists, this is an excellent strategy. We need to force believers into owning what is in their hate filled, misogynistic, intolerant texts. When confronted, Believers usual try to weasel out, claiming they don't personally subscribe to all the OT injunctions. But this is not the point. As long as the Christian Bible, Hebrew Bible and Koran continue to maintain these barbaric passages, innocent (and probably not too intelligent or educated) people will be taken in. Looked at dispassionately, the religious texts are a major source of religious sanctioned hatred and inspire some unbalanced people to act out.