Celebrated British documentarian Louis Theroux, son of author Paul Theroux (The Mosquito Coast), has spent years examining American subcultures from swingers to gamblers to hypnotists. For this hour-long doc, Theroux spent two weeks with the members of the Westboro Baptist Church in Kansas. All from the same family, the 75 members, led by Pastor Fred Phelps, earnestly spread their message of God's wrath by lofting signs that say "God Hates Fags," and picketing the funerals of American soldiers killed in Iraq…
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SEPT. 1 PROTESTS
The Westboro Baptist Church, a group know nationally for outrageous and offensive protests, plans six protests in Vermont on Sept. 1.
• 7:20-7:50 a.m.: Montpelier High School.
• 7:55-8:25 a.m. Statehouse, Montpelier.
• 8:30-9 a.m. Montpelier City Clerk’s Office.
• 9:45-10:15 a.m.: University of Vermont Hillel, Burlington.
• 10:15-10:45 a.m.: Chabad of Vermont, Burlington
• 10:45-11:15 a.m. Ohavi Zedek Synagogue, Burlington.
Community meeting
Local organizations plan a “Community Meeting of Solidarity in the Face of Hate Speech,” 7:30 p.m. Aug. 31, First Congregational Church, 38 S. Winooski Ave., Burlington.
ANGER HASN'T WORKED BEFORE, AND WILL NOT WORK ON TUESDAY
In light of the fact that Fred Phelps’ churchmembers are coming to Montpelier and Burlington next week (on the first day that same-sex marriages become legal in the state), I thought I would post a few links about the church that came up after our riveting FIVE HOUR DISCUSSION back in January.
It is my sincere opinion that the churchmembers' purpose is to offend people to the point of retaliation, during which it is likely that violations of the churchmembers’ civil rights will occur, thus giving them grounds for lawsuits. I believe this is how a community of ~70 with no known source of income sustains a comfortable lifestyle. Financially comfortable, that is.
Personally, I would urge everyone to attend the Monday night peace gathering (above commment), and to ignore the Phelps’ visit completely on Tuesday. Or go and try to explain to other Vermonters who are counterprotesting that the anger they show the Phelps' is the anger the Phelps' are going for.
Here are some interesting sites with more information (sorry they're just text links - copy and paste them in your address bar). I definitely recommend the link to the transcript, as well as the story of Fred Phelps' son...
This transcript of an interview is just one example of how Phelps fights dirty from word one to elicit an emotional and aggressive reaction out of his interviewer:
http://crooksandliars.com/2007/11/02/rev-fred-phelps-loses-11-million-in-lawsuit-cries-hogwash/
Another example of the this: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qCdT9dfrb-Q.
Fred Phelps is a damaged man who may find hating the world around him easier than facing his own demons:
http://74.125.47.132/search?q=cache:nOE4p0EXGrMJ:www.skeeterbitesreport.com/2006/06/exposed-dirty-secret-that-anti-gay.html+Pastor+Fred+Phelps+%22source+of+income%22+suing&hl=en&ct=clnk&cd=7&gl=us&client=safari
The Story of Fred Phelp’s Estranged Son (absolutely fascinating!):
http://www.stoppingthehate.com/News-Article1302_Nate_Phelps_Estranged_Son_Of_Fred_Phelps_Speaks_Out_Publicly.htm
Timeline of the Church:
http://www.stoppingthehate.com/News-Article999_They%27re_Creepy_And_They%27re_Kooky_Mysterious_And_Spooky_They%27re_All_Together_Ooky_The_Phelps_Family.htm
ASIDE FROM THE LINKS, THIS COMMENT IS JUST MY OPINION, AND I'M MORE INTERESTED IN HEARING YOURS. FEEL FREE TO POST A COMMENT AND TELL US WHAT YOU THINK.
One theory is that the Phelps family supports themselves by suing the cities and organizations where they protest. They try to get someone to violate their civil rights, and then they sue. it is usually cheaper to pay them $30,000 than to defend themselves against a lawsuit. They have very little other visible means of supporting their families. There are only a few of the Phelps's who actually have jobs.
I really hope that Believers can come together on this day - and all days, really! - to demonstrate and overflow with the love, compassion & forgiveness that has been shown to us by God.
A gentle word turns away wrath. Prov.15:1
As God's people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience. Col.3:12
Do you show contempt for His kindness, tolerance and patience, not realizing that God's kindness leads you toward repentence? Rom.2:4
Colin, thanks for posting the video and the link about the younger Phelps. Really interesting stuff man.
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