Westboro Bastid Church.

Dudess · 18-02-2012 06:51PM

FrostyJack wrote: »

Freedom of speech = something wrong?

When it's to bully and hurt, yep. That comment is so disingenuous and tbh looks like you're trying to appear all "progressive". So the free speech rights of ***** like them should take precedence over the rights of those on the receiving end who are already in enough distress? Absolute free speech doesn't exist, thankfully - slander being one example of how this is the case.
Let them publish all the hate they want - nobody has to read it. But disrupting a private funeral? ****ers should get a beating - although they have that one covered by bringing kids with them. :rolleyes:

The GodhatesIreland thing is due to Ireland's tolerance (in their eyes) of homosexuality.

Cú Giobach · 18-02-2012 06:51PM

FrostyJack wrote: »

You said say it to a Guard in Dublin. They are in America, hence the legal stance.

Your initial comment said nothing about legality.

If you block these fools, what is to stop say, someone having a pro-gay march? Some people would find that offensive, hence freedom of speech thing, get it?

Taunting people at a funeral is not a march.

I do not condone any religion, I don't believe in myths, but they have the right to the right to practice theirs as long as it doesn't break the law.

As I said, the legality of something doesn't indicate its morality.

The point I was making is they stick to what they believe, unlike other preachers who say one thing then do coke off rentboys.

And I showed that just believing something doesn't legitimise it.

Overheal · 18-02-2012 07:01PM

daithi1970 wrote: »

Its all very well to say.."well they are only exercising their constitutional rights as enshrined in the 1st amendment" ..but at what point does it go from being free speech and becoming incitement to hatred??

The point when they say people should go out and lynch gays... which, hasn't happened. They're saying the reason your son is dead is because he is gay. Which is not exactly incitement to hatred. Even from an evangelical perspective I don't see how that message can be construed as 'you're right, we should go out and kill gays', etc.

There is a line, it just hasn't been crossed.

Dudess · 18-02-2012 07:03PM

Overheal wrote: »

daithi1970 wrote: »

Its all very well to say.."well they are only exercising their constitutional rights as enshrined in the 1st amendment" ..but at what point does it go from being free speech and becoming incitement to hatred??

The point when they say people should go out and lynch gays... which, hasn't happened. They're saying the reason your son is dead is because he is gay. Which is not exactly incitement to hatred. Even from an evangelical perspective I don't see how that message can be construed as 'you're right, we should go out and kill gays', etc.

There is a line, it just hasn't been crossed.

Disrupting his funeral isn't crossing the line?

I just find this "respect intolerance to be tolerant" such bullsh1t - and kinda looks like going against the grain for the sake of it.

Benny_Cake · 18-02-2012 07:05PM

FrostyJack wrote: »

They are according to that big book they read. Have a look through it some time.

I have read through it, and I'd suggest you do the same. They seem to be the only "Christians" preaching the message that God hates everyone and everything, and the other nearly 2 billion Christians believe in a God of love - I'm going to go out on a limb and say that they aren't good Christians.

Overheal · 18-02-2012 07:12PM

Dudess wrote: »

Disrupting his funeral isn't crossing the line?

I just find this "respect intolerance to be tolerant" such bullsh1t - and kinda looks like going against the grain for the sake of it.

The details are available in the Supreme Court audio of the hearing, here

http://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_audio_detail.aspx?argument=09-751

One of the points raised is that the father of the deceased himself made the matter public, which in turn begot a public response by the WBC. The audio is about an hour long, but interesting nonetheless. There was also the case of the distance at which the protesting happened, which is to say they didn't exactly barge into the funeral home or anything.

FrostyJack · 18-02-2012 07:18PM

Dudess wrote: »

When it's to bully and hurt, yep. That comment is so disingenuous and tbh looks like you're trying to appear all "progressive". So the free speech rights of ***** like them should take precedence over the rights of those on the receiving end who are already in enough distress? Absolute free speech doesn't exist, thankfully - slander being one example of how this is the case.
Let them publish all the hate they want - nobody has to read it. But disrupting a private funeral? ****ers should get a beating - although they have that one covered by bringing kids with them. :rolleyes:

The GodhatesIreland thing is due to Ireland's tolerance (in their eyes) of homosexuality.

Yes you know what I am trying to be, thanks for telling me. Why haven't they been arrested? Why haven't they been shot/beaten up? I never said they were right to do what they do, I hate them with a passion. The 1st ammendment law protects them as it does ALL minorities, to nit pick what offends YOU or YOU see is wrong is irrelevant. Over here we don't have that, so they would probably recieve a hiding at some stage.

FrostyJack · 18-02-2012 07:25PM

Cú Giobach wrote: »

1.Your initial comment said nothing about legality.

2.Taunting people at a funeral is not a march.

3.As I said, the legality of something doesn't indicate its morality.

4.And I showed that just believing something doesn't legitimise it.

1.Freedom of speech = legal

2.I used an example of people expressing their opinion, I thought that was obvious.

3.I never said they were moral

4.I never said they were legitimite, I said they have a right, that is all.

FrostyJack · 18-02-2012 07:29PM

Benny_Cake wrote: »

I have read through it, and I'd suggest you do the same. They seem to be the only "Christians" preaching the message that God hates everyone and everything, and the other nearly 2 billion Christians believe in a God of love - I'm going to go out on a limb and say that they aren't good Christians.

Majority = right? Discuss. Google what the Church say, they even put in the location in the bible where they quote, one of good thing they do.

Dudess · 18-02-2012 07:31PM

FrostyJack wrote: »

Dudess wrote: »

When it's to bully and hurt, yep. That comment is so disingenuous and tbh looks like you're trying to appear all "progressive". So the free speech rights of ***** like them should take precedence over the rights of those on the receiving end who are already in enough distress? Absolute free speech doesn't exist, thankfully - slander being one example of how this is the case.
Let them publish all the hate they want - nobody has to read it. But disrupting a private funeral? ****ers should get a beating - although they have that one covered by bringing kids with them. :rolleyes:

The GodhatesIreland thing is due to Ireland's tolerance (in their eyes) of homosexuality.

Yes you know what I am trying to be, thanks for telling me. Why haven't they been arrested? Why haven't they been shot/beaten up? I never said they were right to do what they do, I hate them with a passion. The 1st ammendment law protects them as it does ALL minorities, to nit pick what offends YOU or YOU see is wrong is irrelevant. Over here we don't have that, so they would probably recieve a hiding at some stage.

It's nothing to do with what I personally find wrong, it's about not letting ***** be ***** to other people.

Why the rights of people to be bullies would be championed is beyond me...

Cú Giobach · 18-02-2012 07:57PM

FrostyJack wrote: »

1.Freedom of speech = legal

There are limits, as has been mentioned earlier. Freedom of speech does not mean you can say what you like when you like.

3.I never said they were moral

4.I never said they were legitimite, I said they have a right, that is all.

You questioned whether it's wrong. It is.

Ghost Buster · 18-02-2012 07:58PM

FrostyJack wrote: »

Majority = right? Discuss. Google what the Church say, they even put in the location in the bible where they quote, one of good thing they do.

They back up their views, every one, with bible passages so the majority of christians are wrong to believe in the god of love as opposed to the 'jealous, vengeful, one

Wattle · 18-02-2012 10:56PM

In fairness lads their version of that song couldn't be any worse than the original

toexpress · 18-02-2012 11:08PM

It's disturbing that people that this are allowed to walk the street it truly is.

It takes a real special sort of person to preach the love of god, the word of god and then have no thought not just for the deceased but for those they left behind, a daughter, a mother. When you think about it, I mean really think about it you begin to realise that you just don't know what sort of nutters are out there in the world.

I hope that wherever Whitney's spirit is she knows some peace now, she surely knew none for the last 20 or more years. I hope she knows she is not hated and I hope her family know the same, there were to many people who loved her and admired her for a sad bunch of repressed homosexuals to put a dent in it.

Mike 1972 · 18-02-2012 11:24PM

Interestingly God doesnt seem to hate Kyrgyzstan

Naomi00 · 18-02-2012 11:31PM

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6e5hRLbCaCs

Counter protest/pisstake of WBC, it's good

Princess Consuela Bananahammock · 18-02-2012 11:42PM

What about these guys? I'm confused...

Killer Wench · 19-02-2012 02:16AM

Duiske wrote: »

Not ones to miss a opportunity to show the world what a group of sick cnuts they are, The Westboro Baptist Church crackpots plan to picket Whitney Houstons funeral, and have released a rehash of "I will always love you". Its against the law in the States to mention Christmas inside a public school, but these guys are allowed to spout whatever they like ?
What has gone wrong with America ?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1NytqUdtpQI

OFFS!!

The vast majority of the American people absolutely hate the Westboro Baptist Church. And, there have been numerous anti-protests conducted against them and their campaign of bigotry.

And, here in the US, we recognize the separation of Church and State. Schools are administered by the state government, and therefore fall under this doctrine. We also support the Bill of Rights, including the Rights to Freedom of Speech, Religion, and Assembly. The purpose of the Bill of Rights is not to protect speech that everyone agrees on, it is there to protect all forms of speech whether distasteful or not.

Killer Wench · 19-02-2012 02:18AM

Overheal wrote: »

They've been before the Supreme Court in a couple of cases. One of which was their picketing outside the funeral of a gay soldier. The ruling was upheld constitutionally, in an 8-1 vote. Rightly so, in fact. Not all speech should be silenced for being disagreeable. Even the really stupid stuff. Perhaps especially the stupid stuff, so it can be seen for what it is.

In a similar case they picketed the funeral of a girl who was killed in the Tucson shooting. Though in response, a counter group of picketers set up a barrier of angels to block the WBC pickets from being seen by mourners.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RmIfEXiU7l8

What most people don't know about the Phelps is that most of the children are licensed attorneys. They support their families and their protest activities by suing state and local governments that infringe upon their rights. Essentially, they receive damages when they are not permitted to protest at these types of events. So, you are damned if you do, and damned if you don't.

Killer Wench · 19-02-2012 02:22AM

daithi1970 wrote: »

Its all very well to say.."well they are only exercising their constitutional rights as enshrined in the 1st amendment" ..but at what point does it go from being free speech and becoming incitement to hatred??

Also, why would the Westboro Baptist Church be picketing Whintey Houstons' funeral anyway??
I reckon the best thing to do with these muppets is to ignore them....

daithi

They ride the back of any highly publicized death or event. Recently in WA, there was a father who killed himself and his two sons. His wife has been missing for several years so this family has been in and out of the spotlight for quite some time.

The WBC made an announcement that they were going to protest at the funerals of these small boys. A local radio station offered them two hours of free radio time in exchange for not protesting at the funerals. The WBC decided to accept their offer.

The WBC has made a name for themselves by protesting at funerals of fallen military personnel. In response, a group of veterans have begun to counter-protest against them. This is the Patriot Guard.

Jimoslimos · 19-02-2012 02:29AM

Overheal wrote: »

The point when they say people should go out and lynch gays... which, hasn't happened. They're saying the reason your son is dead is because he is gay. Which is not exactly incitement to hatred.

No, what they are saying is that your son is dead because America has a lax stance on homosexuality in the army and in society in general - not because the son was gay. If that isn't incitement to hatred against gays, I don't know what is.

stupidfishy · 19-02-2012 02:34AM

WBC - Weally Bad Chwistians

Father Damo · 19-02-2012 10:37AM

I am mystified as to how they have the funds to fly around the US holding their protests. IIRC in the Louis Theroux docu most of them were soliciters by trade, but who in their right mind would have these people represent them in court?

re the hate Ireland thing I would love it, absoloutely love it, if they had the balls to bring their protests to Dublin. They would be on the ground getting their jaw knocked in four within two seconds of stamping on the tricolour.

El Horseboxo · 19-02-2012 11:40AM

I'd love to see their Church blown up or someone drive by and riddle them during one of their 'protests'. But they're protected under American law. The US Supreme court can't just select what instances they do and do not want to apply a law to and don't want to set a precedence for further issues down the road. These Westboro cúnts know exactly what boundaries they must stay within in order to avoid breaking the law. And they push it right to the edge but never cross it in a legal sense. If they were banned from protesting on a certain ground it would mean further protests on different topics could be too if a good enough lawyer handled a case.

R0ot · 19-02-2012 11:55AM

Ah if Karma was real and the world was just they'd end up with some suicide bomber in their church one morning.... oh well.

U
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A

U
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A

panda100 · 19-02-2012 12:07PM

Father Damo wrote: »

I am mystified as to how they have the funds to fly around the US holding their protests. IIRC in the Louis Theroux docu most of them were soliciters by trade, but who in their right mind would have these people represent them in court?.

Their views aren't that far removed from the rleigious right, or republican party, as far as Im concerened. I would presume they get a lot bussiness from these types of people.

Personally I think if there is any evidence to show that God does not exist, or if s/he does exist (which s/he doesnt) s/he is one uncaring,evil f**k. I was watching Whitney's interview with Ophrah on tv the other night. In ever second sentence she mentioned her relationship with God, and how she prayed every night for God to give her the strength to leave her situtation and get clean. God obviously didn't care too much to let her dies in the way she did.
Whats damaging is this was a women who was desperatly lost, and convinced herself the only way out was to put her faith in a mythical being who had no chance of changing her circumstances.

DannyKing · 19-02-2012 12:25PM

Hate to be the bearer of bad news but there is no such thing as god. these people are just lunatics and should be locked up. Or send them to Israel or Gaza where they might feel closer to their ''god''

Dermighty · 19-02-2012 12:39PM

Not those nutjob ****s again, they should be out working instead of picketing funerals. What a bunch of assholes.

At least Whitneys with her career now

languagenerd · 19-02-2012 01:15PM

Naomi00 wrote: »

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6e5hRLbCaCs

Counter protest/pisstake of WBC, it's good

I opened the thread to post that, you beat me to it!

Brilliant video, even for people who don't like the Foos (if such people exist :P). For anyone who hasn't watched it: the band hear that the Westboros are planning to protest outside their show, so they get a truck, drive past and park opposite them (in costumes) playing a song about gay truckers meeting in garages

Dudess · 19-02-2012 03:00PM

panda100 wrote: »

Father Damo wrote: »

I am mystified as to how they have the funds to fly around the US holding their protests. IIRC in the Louis Theroux docu most of them were soliciters by trade, but who in their right mind would have these people represent them in court?.

Their views aren't that far removed from the rleigious right, or republican party, as far as Im concerened. I would presume they get a lot bussiness from these types of people.

I'd have to disagree with you on the Republican Party - overall, it's not so extreme as to be close to the Phelps' stance. I don't think anyone high profile supports them either, and not many low-profile. Vast majority of the church is made up of the Phelps family.
Staunch Republicans and members of the christian right may agree with the homophobia but they're not going to agree with the picketing of dead soldiers' funerals. They're not going to agree that "GodhatesAmerica" either.

The church is reviled by all quarters. Interestingly, Phelps was a Democrat when more involved in politics, and even pally with Al Gore! Phelps also fought for civil rights in the 1960s, being legal representation for black people. Not what you'd expect eh?

Westboro Bastid Church.

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