fag
"Million Fag March" Turns the Tables on Homophobic Pastor Fred Phelps | PEEK | AlterNet
@import url("/css/master2.2.css");
@import url("/css/blogads2_v2.css");
Home
Archive
Columnists
Video
Blogs
Discuss
About
Search
Donate
Advertise
Media
Elections '08
Human Rights
Iraq
Environment
Water
Health
Drugs
Sex
Corporations and Work
Democracy
Books
Get AlterNet in your mailbox!
@import url("/css/calendar.css");
PEEK archive by date:
«April 2008»
SunMonTueWedThuFriSat
12345
6789101112
13141516171819
20212223242526
27282930
Use » and « to view other months.
Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement
AlterNetYour turn
Support AlterNet
Do you value the information you're getting from AlterNet? Please show your support with a tax-deductible donation.
Feedback
Tell us how we're doing.
Search:
Blogroll
Afro-Netizen
All Spin Zone
Altercation
Americablog
And, yes, I DO take it personally
Another Iranian Online
August J. Pollak
Baghdad Burning
Barry Lando
Bloggrrrlz Gallery
Blondesense
Bob Geiger
Body and Soul
Boing Boing
Booman Tribune
BOP News
Bush Watch
BUZZFLASH
Carpetbagger
Clean Air Blog
Cool Hunting
Corrente
CrooksandLiars
Cursor
Dahr Jamail
Daily Howler
Daily Kos
DC Media Girl
DemiOrator
Direland
Echidne of the Snakes
Elayne Riggs
Eschaton
Fact-esque
Falafel Sex, and Other Things Best Left Unsaid
Farai Chideya
Feminist Peace Network
Feministe
Feministing
Frameshop
Gristmill
Huffington Post
Hullabaloo
Informed Comment
James Wolcott
Jesus General
Lady Jayne's Blog
Liberal Oasis
Mad Kane
Mahablog
Majikthise
Media Girl
Media is a Plural
MediaCitizen
Metafilter
Michael Berube
MyDD
News Dissector
News For Real
Norbizness
Oliver Willis
Pacific Views
Pandagon
Political Animal
PopPolitics.com
PR Watch
Prometheus 6
Raed in the Middle
RH Reality Check
Robert Greenwald
Roger Ailes
Rox Populi
Sadly, No!
Seeing the Forest
Shakespeares Sister
Sirotablog
Sisyphus Shrugged
skippy the bush kangaroo
Slacktivist
SpeakSpeak
Stay Free!
Steve Gilliard
Talking Points Memo
TalkLeft
TBogg
Thatcoloredfellasweblog
The Bilerico Project
The Hutchinson Political Report
The Republic of T
The Revealer
The Sideshow
The Swift Report
Think Progress
This Modern World
TikvahGirl
Trish Wilson
War and Piece
Waveflux
What She Said!
Whiskey Bar
Working Families Vote 2008
"Million Fag March" Turns the Tables on Homophobic Pastor Fred Phelps
Posted by
Trish , Pensito Review at 1:08 PM on March 5, 2008.
Organizers say it's time to "show Phelps and his church that freedom of speech works both ways."
Post Tools
EMAIL
PRINT
34 COMMENTS
Share and save this post:
Got a tip for a post?:Email us | Anonymous form
PEEK RSS Feed
Main AlterNet RSS Feed
Get PEEK in yourmailbox!
Also in PEEK
Ledbetter is Fair Warning for LiberalsAntoine Morris Drum Major Institute
Conservatives Retreat into Fox's Media BubbleAmanda Terkel Think Progress
Reporters Get a Closer Look at the Wright StuffSteve Benen The Carpetbagger Report
Finally, someone is protesting the world's most odious protester. The Million Fag March is set for Sunday morning, March 30 in Topeka, Kan., home of Fred Phelps' Westboro Baptist Church.Fred and his family (13 children and 54 grandchildren) show up at military funerals with signs reading, "God Hates Fags," "God Hates America," "Fags Die, God Laughs," etc. Fred apparently arrives at these insights after personal discussions with The Creator wherein He tells Fred that everything bad that happens in the world is His revenge for America "tolerating" gays.Organizers say it's time to "show Phelps and his church that freedom of speech works both ways." There are two big challenges with the march. First is the laws passed in Topeka to protect the other churches from Phelps. They prohibit the Freds of the world (of which, mercifully, there are few) from getting within 50 feet of a house of worship for a half-hour before or after services are planned. So the march might have to take place in Topeka but not too close to Westboro Baptist.The second challenge could be even harder. Organizers are determined to keep the protest peaceful, but since Fred's whole goal is to whip up feelings of intolerance and hate, not responding in kind will be a toughie. Still, the expectation is clear.
Absolutely. No. Violence. It doesn't matter if Fred Phelps comes to the March himself and starts throwing punches. The police will handle it.If you feel that you could in any way be provoked, do not plan on attending....The Phelps family uses hate speech to draw attention to themselves. To do that during the March would only be bringing ourselves down to their level. So, please, no hate speech on your signs, clothes, and mouths.Besides, "God Hates Fred" signs are lame and obvious. You can do better. Sending the message you want to send without being blatantly hateful shouldn't be all that hard for you.If you're anywhere near Topeka, please plan to attend the march. You can sign up here. If you're not, organizers need donations for costs associated with permitting, security, etc. so your donations are welcome.
Tagged as: homophobia, gay rights, phelps, religious right
Trish is a regular blogger for the Pensito Review.
Return to PEEK »
Post Tools:
EMAIL
PRINT
34 COMMENTS PERMALINK
Also in PEEK
Ledbetter is Fair Warning for LiberalsLedbetter is fair warning for liberals: the Bush judiciary will be with us for decades
Post by Antoine Morris. April 28, 2008.
Conservatives Retreat into Fox's Media BubbleA new study shows just how polarized our news consumption has become.
Post by Amanda Terkel. April 28, 2008.
Reporters Get a Closer Look at the Wright StuffThe media just won't let the Rev. Wright scandal die. Then again, he's not exactly maintaining a low profile.
Post by Steve Benen. April 28, 2008.
Comments
Turn comments off sitewide
Give us feedback »
Comments closed.
The comments for this story have been closed. Thank you to everyone who participated.
View:
Threaded
Expand All
Collapse All
Flat
Flat Unthreaded
Wish I could go!
[Report this comment]
Posted by: jpopphan@charter.net on Mar 5, 2008 2:05 PM
Current rating: 4 [1 = poor; 5 = excellent]
I'd love to be there... and I hope that the even draws lots of people, both gayfolk and straightfolk as well.
I say the heck with the law re: protesting near churches - especially since it is the Phelps' church itself whose conduct led to the law in the first place. Surround the church and drown them out with singing and celebration!
I for one am saving up so that I can make it to Phelp's funeral where I will indeed be carrying a sign that says "God Hates Bigotry". What a wonderful, fun day it will be!!
[« Reply to this comment]
[Post a new comment »]
[Rate this comment: 1 - 2 - 3 - 4 - 5]
» RE: Wish I could go!
Posted by: medusa
» RE: Wish I could go!
Posted by: mkruege
» RE: Wish I could go!
Posted by: sansphelps
» RE: Wish I could go!
Posted by: Libsrule
» RE: Wish I could go!
Posted by: angelxmas
Talk about sinking to his level
[Report this comment]
Posted by: Figfest on Mar 5, 2008 2:07 PM
Current rating: 3 [1 = poor; 5 = excellent]
I'm sure the organizers are sincere, but I can't see how this will help. Phelps is so odious that he has, thankfully, done huge damage to his "cause".
This just gives him more attention, and you can be certain that the disseminated images of marchers won't be of the boringly ordinary majority. It will be the ones that look the most interesting or freakish, or have the profane or anti-religious signs.
The more I think about it, this is exactly the photo-op that Phelps would want.
[« Reply to this comment]
[Post a new comment »]
[Rate this comment: 1 - 2 - 3 - 4 - 5]
» RE: Talk about sinking to his level
Posted by: jpopphan@charter.net
» RE: Talk about sinking to his level
Posted by: Figfest
» RE:Our side would like
Posted by: boydranchitos
» RE: Our side would like
Posted by: sansphelps
Phelps plus our cowardice equals the same old thing
[Report this comment]
Posted by: gendershaman on Mar 5, 2008 5:36 PM
Current rating: 5 [1 = poor; 5 = excellent]
Let's never take action where we might be mistaken for people with passion, with humor, who dare take risks, who dare to take a brave stand. This is why left/progressives/activists will continue to be marginal. We are too often part of the problem.
As little as I want to waste my time dealing with him, I feel if I don't then that sends a message of approval to he and the other, as virulent but less publicly jerky, homophobes. I can't let him further poison my world. I cannot stand by and watch him spread his hate unchallenged. Fred Phelps should present the easiest target imaginable for our outrage, our passion, our wild, anarchic humor, our love, our utter difference from him and his. But no, let's tiptoe around hoping that people will imagine an alternative to Fred and his merry band of haters. News flash: they mostly won't. Because no one has articulated or embodied an alternative. Ooh, he's homophobic. Uh huh. So is much of the country. Fred Phelps gives us a gift. He shows us exactly how hating makes the hater ugly, how the hater is diminished by his hate. He shows us exactly how so many boys who were beaten by their fathers end up replicating their father's hate even as they hate themselves for doing so. Freddie perfectly embodies what people without love look like. His sad, hate-filled life is no doubt familiar to many people. But without a cleverly articulated model, people just cringe or shrug or yawn or join in because "at least he (Freddie) stands for something."
I can't take complete responsibility for keeping Freddie from returning to Madison, Wisconsin (where I live) after his first visit 4-5 years ago. But I take some. How? Meet him where he is. Not try to match him rage for rage. Not try to match him hate for hate. Not to meet his rage and hate with fear and not wanting to offend. We met his sad, cruel hate with our ferocity, our silliness, our clarity and our love.
I made and carried several of these signs that day. Other people asked for and carried the rest.
These are a few of my signs:
1. Amo ergo sum (I love therefore I am)
2. Just 'cause you have one, doesn't mean you have to act like one
3. Forgive Your Father Fred
He hurt you, that was wrong
But all you have done is replicate his abuse
First beating your family, and now bashing gays.
Deal with the abuse your father perpetrated on you, Fred
4. How little love you must know, to envy others' so.
5. Why not focus your rage at all the clergy who sexually-assault children? Too close to home? Or are the rapists your allies and you provide a gay-hating smokescreen to protect them?
6. "It is a terrible, an inexorable law that one cannot deny the humanity of another without diminishing one's own: in the face of one's victim, one sees oneself." -James Baldwin
7. Christians: Unless you speak-up, this man speaks for you.
8. "More people have been slaughtered in the name of religion than for any other single reason. That, that my friends, that is true perversion!"-Harvey Milk
9. "He who fights with monsters might take care lest he thereby become a monster. And if you gaze for long into an abyss, the abyss gazes also into you." -Fredrich Wilhelm Nietzsche
10. Fred Darling, you simply must move to Madison, there's so much delicious sin here to arouse you
11. Your Hate Defines You
12. But Fred, We Love You-Come Out Fred, it's safe
13. Gee Freddie- People are starting to wonder...just why do you keep going to gay towns?
14. Freddie...Remember that night of blissful love we spent together on your last visit? Are you still my "little snuggle bunny?"
I have others. He is inspiring.
If we don't confront him, we are part of the problem. If we only meet him on his terms we reinforce him and his. Use him as the ultimate teachable moment.
You get the idea (I hope).
Joe Weinberg
[« Reply to this comment]
[Post a new comment »]
[Rate this comment: 1 - 2 - 3 - 4 - 5]
» RE: Phelps plus our cowardice equals the same old thing
Posted by: sansphelps
A Million Fags.
[Report this comment]
Posted by: Longdream on Mar 5, 2008 6:20 PM
Current rating: 5 [1 = poor; 5 = excellent]
Heh heh.
Well, It's better than what the Phelps virus has been getting lately. One of the vets they dishonored by harassing his family at his funeral happened to be a motorcycle enthusiast, and many of his friends have been following The Holy Family around.
When Phelps et al sets up the requisite number of yards away and starts shouting filth, the bikers back right up to them and give them the high revs and exhaust until they choke and leave.
Next time you see a dude on a motorcycle, shoot him a good thought.
[« Reply to this comment]
[Post a new comment »]
[Rate this comment: 1 - 2 - 3 - 4 - 5]
» RE: A Million Fags.
Posted by: squaddie
» RE: Yes!
Posted by: Longdream
possible signs to march under
[Report this comment]
Posted by: smcsong on Mar 5, 2008 6:39 PM
Current rating: 5 [1 = poor; 5 = excellent]
"Jesus called. He wants his religion back."
"I'm for the separation of church and hate."
I copped these from the Northern Sun Bookstore catalogue in Syracuse NY.
[« Reply to this comment]
[Post a new comment »]
[Rate this comment: 1 - 2 - 3 - 4 - 5]
» RE: Those are GREAT!
Posted by: boydranchitos
» RE: possible signs to march under
Posted by: Woodpecker
» RE: possible signs to march under
Posted by: sansphelps
Ignoring the booger makes it insignificant.
[Report this comment]
Posted by: ABetterFuture on Mar 5, 2008 11:05 PM
Current rating: 5 [1 = poor; 5 = excellent]
Not that I oppose a counter-demonstration in the least. Phelps is an idiot who holds the virtue of free speech; if others choose to elevate his nasty message by countering it, they are endowed by their creator with the right to free speech also.
Phelps, like most fundamentalists--be they biblical, green, political, etc, or otherwise--is an insignificant player, until you lend him your attention...your significance.
[« Reply to this comment]
[Post a new comment »]
[Rate this comment: 1 - 2 - 3 - 4 - 5]
What about the angels?
[Report this comment]
Posted by: Beepath on Mar 6, 2008 4:58 AM
Current rating: 4 [1 = poor; 5 = excellent]
Yeah, that's the ticket. I've seen the pictures of women dressed in white robes with what must be 15' tall wings. These wonderful women would surround these fools and cover up their awful posters and drown them out singing "Amazing Grace." Very effective. And all the other kind protesters should do Ghandi-like protest of sitting down around the angels and singing with them. Oh, blessssed beeeee!
[« Reply to this comment]
[Post a new comment »]
[Rate this comment: 1 - 2 - 3 - 4 - 5]
I Live in Kansas and .....
[Report this comment]
Posted by: Navyvet59 on Mar 6, 2008 7:27 AM
Current rating: Not yet rated [1 = poor; 5 = excellent]
I dislike Phelps and his followers. But I think it is time to send him a message. I am a 100% disabled veteran and the mother of a lesbian daughter. As such I find the need to be in Topeka to let him and his followers that he needs to stop his hate mongering!
[« Reply to this comment]
[Post a new comment »]
[Rate this comment: 1 - 2 - 3 - 4 - 5]
I think Fred Phelps is GREAT!
[Report this comment]
Posted by: rickiey on Mar 6, 2008 8:02 AM
Current rating: Not yet rated [1 = poor; 5 = excellent]
Be honest, this moron has drummed up more support for the gay community from the straight community than all of the gay activists in history.
The more he talks, the more the message gets out. His words damn themselves.
[« Reply to this comment]
[Post a new comment »]
[Rate this comment: 1 - 2 - 3 - 4 - 5]
Lawrence King and all who love deserve so much more. . .
[Report this comment]
Posted by: Prairie Waif on Mar 6, 2008 8:12 AM
Current rating: Not yet rated [1 = poor; 5 = excellent]
It was just last week that this forum posted a video of Ellen Degeneris speaking on the death of 15-year-old Lawrence King, the young student shot to death by a fellow student because Larry had asked him to be his Valentine.
The society has allowed girls to ask girls to be Valentines without sexual overtones and yet, the phrase, "That's so Gay!" pervades the current culture up to 30-somethings.
Christians, if they truly are, need to remember two things:
1. God made each person in his perfect image. Who is *anyone* to deny God's unique expression in each individual?
2. The last Commandment, the one that trumps the previous 10; Treat your neighbor as you would have them treat you. *note: how you treat them comes before how they treat you.
Shamefully, the televangilists hawk religion and cd's and bibles with names engraved in "gold-colored text" on the front more than they remember Biblical instructions and inspriations.
Is it any wonder that people are turning away from "organized" religion in droves?
As the t-shirts, at the height of the Aids epidemic so succintly stated: Silence = Death.
Unfortunately, it lead to Larry King's death in a middle school computer lab and countless other men who "appear" gay to be beaten and oft time beaten to death all because of who they were assumed to be.
And yet, killing in the name of "democracy" seems to be the same lesson. Hmmmm. . . something to think about. . .
[« Reply to this comment]
[Post a new comment »]
[Rate this comment: 1 - 2 - 3 - 4 - 5]
» Oops! Didn't finish my thought. . .
Posted by: Prairie Waif
open a gay church nextdoor to Freds...
[Report this comment]
Posted by: Bearzerker on Mar 6, 2008 9:03 AM
Current rating: 5 [1 = poor; 5 = excellent]
... and preach tolerance!
would be the perfect protest vehicle against this pest...
encourage state and federal politicians to adopt anti-hate laws!
but do follow this clown around and give him his due...
I always thought Religion was about inclusion and not exclusion
this guy and his beliefs are obviously the workings of an Anti-Christ!
and didn't Dubya say we are fighting them over their so we wouldn't have to fight them over here? well... their here now it seems...
FUND-A-MENTAL-ISTS seem to be rampant in all of Abraham's stock religions these days...
[Jews, Christians and Muslims]
Bin Laden actually said its alright to KILL non-combatant civilians... and look at them now... blowing themselves up in their own markets... a slaughtering of their own innocence! he doesn't have to worry about us though... I'm sure we've our own martyrs to worry about [ala Timothy McVeigh]
Intolerance flourishes with the inept and uneducated!
and as the many profits [pun intended] have told us over the histories...
hatred is a sin, but preaching hatred is a blasphemy!
[« Reply to this comment]
[Post a new comment »]
[Rate this comment: 1 - 2 - 3 - 4 - 5]
Heidi
[Report this comment]
Posted by: hhunt on Mar 6, 2008 11:08 AM
Current rating: 5 [1 = poor; 5 = excellent]
I am, for better or worse, a member of one of the congregations that Fred and clan picket every Sunday morning.
So, first, the rule is that they have to leave half an hour before the service. The reality is that they show up at 15 minutes before the service and leave just as it begins. Our elderly and children have to walk through their line every Sunday.
Second, I think you need to find out when they worship - if they do. They are not doing so on Sunday mornings because they are all over town with picket signs, moving from place to place.
This is a great idea and I will be more than happy to participate, but it needs to be when they will know we are there!
[« Reply to this comment]
[Post a new comment »]
[Rate this comment: 1 - 2 - 3 - 4 - 5]
» RE: Heidi
Posted by: sansphelps
» RE: Best of the Best
Posted by: Longdream
How about a Christian response to Phelps?
[Report this comment]
Posted by: healthy1 on Mar 7, 2008 2:46 PM
Current rating: Not yet rated [1 = poor; 5 = excellent]
I am amazed that Phelps and his group, purported Christians, so blatantly disregard the teachings of Jesus. Jesus repeatedly commanded, "Love your enemies; pray for those who persecute you." Matthew 5:43-45; Luke 6:27-38. When Jesus was questioned about why he associated with sinners, he said, "It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick." Matthew 9:12. It is obvious that Phelps believes homosexuals are sinners and sick. If Phelps were truly following Jesus and his teachings, he would open the doors of his church and welcome homosexuals rather than shun us. This is the standard Jesus set. It is the standard to which all Christians are called to aspire.
I truly hope this march is peaceful. I cannot imagine a better response to Phelps' hatred than with non-violence and non-hatred. Imagine, homosexuals and our supporters teaching Phelps a lesson in Christianity.
"Do not judge, and you will not be judged. Do not condemn, and you will not be condemned." Luke 6:37
"If anyone says 'I love God,' yet hates his brother, he is a liar. For anyone who does not love his brother, whom he has seen, cannot love God, whom he has not seen." 1 John 5:19-20.
[« Reply to this comment]
[Post a new comment »]
[Rate this comment: 1 - 2 - 3 - 4 - 5]
Donations
[Report this comment]
Posted by: elsinann on Mar 7, 2008 9:17 PM
Current rating: Not yet rated [1 = poor; 5 = excellent]
I want to donate to the March, but when I click on the donate site, it takes me to my PayPal's main page with no mention of the March. How do I PayPal them a donation?
[« Reply to this comment]
[Post a new comment »]
[Rate this comment: 1 - 2 - 3 - 4 - 5]
Fred You Have a Problem.
[Report this comment]
Posted by: gooch on Mar 10, 2008 7:16 AM
Current rating: Not yet rated [1 = poor; 5 = excellent]
This man has a problem. This man needs to get back on HIS knee's and ask for forgiveness. God teaches Man-kind to Love and Not Hate.
Go to God in Prayer and let him lead You.
[« Reply to this comment]
[Post a new comment »]
[Rate this comment: 1 - 2 - 3 - 4 - 5]
Phelps needs to be charged
[Report this comment]
Posted by: Intellect on Mar 27, 2008 7:44 AM
Current rating: Not yet rated [1 = poor; 5 = excellent]
Phelps needs to be charged with child abuse for what he has so obviously done to his own family.
[« Reply to this comment]
[Post a new comment »]
[Rate this comment: 1 - 2 - 3 - 4 - 5]
Home
Top Stories
Columnists
Video
Blogs
Discuss
RSS/XML
About
Search
Donate
Contact Us
Advertise
Reproduction of material from any AlterNet pages without written permission is strictly prohibited.© 2008 Independent Media Institute. All rights reserved.
разделы
доставка канцелярия
компания сент-лючии
hi-fi
кострома жилье
телевизионный антенна
новосельский доломит
создание лого
машина r-600
пежо 407
швейцария культура
выделенка
слюдопластовые втулка
купить нипель
man гильза
травертин
этнический психология
купить угольник
холодильник норд
фосфорицирующая краска
fag