A respectful protest:

[weswilson]

Passed on to me by dominique:

I just learned that Fred Phelps is coming to Huntsville on Friday to picket the funerals of Lee High School students killed in the tragic bus wreck. Here's the press release from his web site: http://www.godhatesfags.com/fliers/nov2006/20061121_huntsvill-alabama-school-bus.pdf

There will be one funeral on Friday, and two on Saturday (see details at the bottom).

I'm of two minds about this. On one hand, I believe that there should be a public outcry against Phelps' hateful homophobic agenda, and a clear message that Huntsville rejects him and his attempt to capitalize on personal tragedy.

On the other hand, I recognize that he is looking for media minutes, and the more counter-protestors there are, the more press Phelps and his hate group will get. He may bring 15 people to picket the funeral. We could organize a counter-protest of many times that number, but that would add to the circus and the stress for families and friends of the deceased.

Here's something that has been done successfully in other cities: collect pledges for a good cause for each minute that Phelps and his group demonstrate. The longer Phelps is there, the more money gets donated to local gay and lesbian groups. In this case, I think it would be appropriate to split donations between the fund for the students' families, and Aids Action Coalition.

Would you be willing to donate? I suggest $1.00 for every 10 minutes that Phelps and his group demonstrates in Huntsville. More or less is OK, of course, depending upon your circumstances.

We will display a large sign that is visible to Phelps, and will update it every 10 minutes with the current total. Please send me your pledge by Friday morning, and also let me know if you would like to help in other ways.

Tom Moss, Mr.Carlson@knology.net
Social Justice Commitee
Unitarian Universalist Church of Huntsville


~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Christine Collier
The funeral will be Saturday at 2 p.m. at Union Chapel Missionary Baptist Church, 315 Winchester Road. Pastor O. Wendell Davis will officiate. Viewing will be Friday from noon until 9 p.m. at Nelms Funeral Home, 2501 Carmichael Ave. Burial will be in Berkley Community Cemetery.
Nicole Ford
The funeral will be at noon Friday at True Light Church of God in Christ, 6480 Pulaski Pike. Dr. H. Wendell Thompson will officiate. Viewing will be today from 3 to 9 p.m. at Royal Funeral Home, 4315 Oakwood Ave. Burial will be in Blutcher's Ford Cemetery on Oscar Patterson Road at Macon Lane.
Tanesha Hill
The funeral will be Saturday at 11 a.m. at Oakwood College Church, 5500 Adventist Blvd. Pastor Craig Newborn will officiate. Burial will be in Valhalla Memory Gardens, 698 Winchester Road.

Comments

[gremlinkin.livejournal.com]

The best thing to do with morons like this is to ignore him. We did that with the aryans up here in the northwest. All they want is attention so don't give it to them. I just wish there was a way to convince the news broadcasters of this.

[gremlinkin.livejournal.com]

I do have to say though this way of dealing with them is entertaining.

[mudo.livejournal.com]

That was actually pretty good.

[johnny9fingers.livejournal.com]

Fred Phelps protests too much. There's some sort of substitution agenda here isn't there? He's hiding stuff from himself.
I always think that these right wing religious lunatics are getting 'massages' from chaps in private. It's the only explanation. I'd like to know if anyone's got any photo's of Phelps with his choirboys? I'm not saying it's certain, but...

[gremlinkin.livejournal.com]

You know I'm finding more and more that that is the case. For example Foley, Mayor Jim west, Rev. Haggard. Me thinks he doth protest too much.

[johnny9fingers.livejournal.com]

yeah, but even if not true we've still got something to go on - it's a fine line between having to prove you hate gay people so your congregation doesn't suspect you with the choirboys, and the Bible's overall charitable christian message of forgiveness. Just as we've a fine line to walk between speculating and accusing to the point of apoplexy, and a burst popliteal artery. Which would be uncharitable.
If only the lord would take these matters from our hands...
You see, these religious, closeted, gay people, who have to be secretive about things, and are exploitative of their positions of power, are the reason gay folk have such negative press.
Fine, upright, honourable, nay, noble gay folk without religion are these twisted folks targets. Hating themselves, they turn that hatred onto the people like themselves that actually have the courage to live the life they were born for.
But then again, me - I'd use that as the starting point for a campaign specifically set up to embarrass.
Well Fred, what've you got to hide?

[fahkingnut.livejournal.com]

Absolutely FANTASTIC!!!

The most effective and productive way I've ever heard of handling a "holy warrior" like this slime.

Love & Hugs,
FahKingNut

[9jack9.livejournal.com]

Yes, that is pretty much how they roll. All of the church's money comes from the combined income of its congregants (who all live in a 10 house compound) and from lawsuits.

[coral.livejournal.com]

Hi, I just added you...JustJ told me to come here after I was reading about this asshole.

Bravo on the Donation idea!

[ldy.livejournal.com]

Best idea I've heard yet. Posting in my journal, and asking others to do the same :)

Money's a little tight this month, but we'll find a way to at least donate something.

Thanks for passing this along :)

[strange.livejournal.com]

I don't understand why they would "picket" a funeral for some kids killed in a horrible tragedy - how does that relate in the least to their cause?

Now if they were to picket a gay pride parade, while I still think they are complete asshats, at least that would make sense.

Why make a spectacle in a time of such grief? That's just fucking tacky and in my mind, not very Christian at all.

[9jack9.livejournal.com]

Because they believe that any tragedy in or on the United States is God showing his displeasure with America for tolerating homosexuality.

[strange.livejournal.com]

Ah, so they are absolutely crackers.

Beautiful Wes!!!

[aprilblu.livejournal.com]

I want to help any way I can...I will make a signs to put up in five points and, spread the word personally with whomever I can...Please let me know about any more details that could help make this a success. Lots of Love...Aprilblu

[9jack9.livejournal.com]

They do a lot of no shows. They say they are coming to picket, then don't.

I'd go with the funny instead http://www.godhatesshrimp.com

[khrome.livejournal.com]

That is truely disgusting. What does the tragic accident have anything to to with Fred Phelp's bullshit? This is why I hate religion. I hope someone shoots him.

[dunce-at-large.livejournal.com]

That kind of twisted logic... I always counter the fundamentalists with some pointed questions:
(1) For what sins did God punish America with Pearl Harbor for?
(2) Over a million Americans died of Spanish flu in 1918. What had the nation done wrong to deserve such grief?
(3) Average life expectancy 100 years ago, when America was still godly, was 46 years. If you're over 46 and still judging others today, aren't you destined for hell?
(4) Five times as many children died in childbirth in 1940 as will today. Aren't our modern medical perversions against God's will? Explain.
(5) Everyone knows that the rise of women's rights and civil rights have polluted our once noble country over the past 50 years. How far are you willing to go - removing from your life all the advances made since then, from the contents of your medicine cabinet to the remote controls on your coffee table - how many elements of our current corrupt society are you willing to discard for your purer, more godly vision?
And so on.
I've found that more folks want an ATM installed on the corner than a statue of the Ten Commandments.

[dunce-at-large.livejournal.com]

And I respect the Amish more and more...