This is an article referring to their hateful actions regarding the fires in Australia: http://mcv.e-p.net.au/news/gay-lobby-slams-anti-gay-church-stunt-5018.html

I think they should be exposed for who they really are, a hate based (you could even say, political) organization that enjoys the tax exempt status of a church. Actually, it’s not a bad idea to suspend a church’s tax exempt status anytime they delve into the political arena (I think there are some church’s in California that the IRS could look at right now…). Anyway, exposure of their agenda, makes it less likely that an ill- or uninformed citizen will become encapsulated in their dogma.

Reply: I agree. people like Falwell, etc. The tax exempt status needs to go.

I just finished watching all five videos and oddly enough, I find these people just pathetic and crazy. They are so on the fringe that that can’t possibly be taken too seriously by enough people to matter. What they are doing is vile, but it is so apparently bizarre that you almost have to laugh at it.

They should all be committed and locked away, but in essence I find their rhetoric less harmful than what is being spewed out of the mouths of the right wing nut jobs.

I also came across a video of Michael Moore vs Westboro:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ra_fAYl4Th4&feature=related

Reply: Willpen, they are on the extreme right of what I think is a cult mentality of Christian right wingnuts. They hate are on the fringe because they feel no need to conceal it. What is more of a concern are those who believe in dominionism. They want to take over the government and the courts to get rid of the Constitution and re-write it according to their beliefs. That is why the war on Christmas is not so funny. The whole concept of dominionism has crept farther into mainstream society than we think. John Ashcroft was a good example of the ultra conservative rightwingnut evangelicals getting access to a position of power. Scary.

I am familiar with the Michael Moore video as well as a few others.

Reply: I don’t condone violence toward anyone, but I must admit when I was researching this and I saw them screaming at soldiers who came to pay their respects for another fallen soldier, I was very upset. I was also upset when I saw their protest at Matthew Shepard’s funeral, which was really over the top. My hear broke for his parents. Truly vile people.

Catherine, I think you are correct in assuming that someone like Fred Phelps most probably has been living a life of repressed desires. He feels things that make him afraid and fear can become such an empowering emotion. It can drive people to the furthest reaches that border between sanity and insanity.

Those who fear, turn that fear to hate and this is what you get. God help us all…

Reply: Willpen, don’t watch them! I fond them interesting because I plan to do a series of posts on the religious right, which I happen to believe is the greatest threat to our nation since the Civil war and Hitler. But if Alan Keyes upset you, this will be way over the top.

They sure shout about freedom of using their mouths however they please.

What arrogant, narcissistic, paranoid loonies.

Nothing like a hate group masquerading as a tax exempt religious group and hiding behind a religious book, huh?

I’d like to see them try this garbage in Chicago or St. Louis, or Boston, or LA or NYC…

Reply: Well said Skye. I’d really like to see them try in San Francisco! LOL!

They are really nuts and mean too. Why is that people like this always want to talk over people and seem afraid to listen. They want to shut other people out. Are they afraid to listen?