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The leader of the hate group Westboro Baptist Church Fred Phelps is being reported as having died last night.

Anyone shedding a tear? This is one of those times I mourn being an atheist. I'd be secure knowing he's in hell wallowing in the fiery pits of his own hatred.

I'm sorry that he probably never knew real love in his adult life, but I'm not sad.

I'm more sorry to the victims of his hate and the children in his family that was raised to think it was normal.

I will admit I am not shedding a tear that he is dead but at the same instant I refuse to celebrate his death. I know that he was a evil and hatred filled person but if I was to celebrate his death I would be stooping to his level.

Honestly, I hope folks are classy enough not to picket his funeral.

That aside, good riddance to awful rubbish. I will be standing by to observe the inevitable breakup of the WBC in the wake of losing the charismatic leader.

I am also kind of sad that he died before they found him in a compromising situation with a male prostitute. Because you know old Freddy wanted the D.[DOUBLEPOST=1395333609,1395333448][/DOUBLEPOST]But I do have a different take on whether to picket the funeral and say hateful things. Yes, I understand the need to rise above, but this is a very concrete opportunity to show the family - who remain hate-filled and in the church - how these things affect those grieving a loved one's passing. Yes, we can be better, but does that teach them anything at all? Would they then say, "Well, we were given compassion and privacy so we should stop doing what we're doing!" I don't think so.

The only sad thing about this is that it's not the entire church.

Dave said:

I am also kind of sad that he died before they found him in a compromising situation with a male prostitute. Because you know old Freddy wanted the D.

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It was difficult to get action an a Daguerreotype (holy hell I spelled that right!)

And nothing of value was lost.

Dave said:

But I do have a different take on whether to picket the funeral and say hateful things. Yes, I understand the need to rise above, but this is a very concrete opportunity to show the family - who remain hate-filled and in the church - how these things affect those grieving a loved one's passing. Yes, we can be better, but does that teach them anything at all? Would they then say, "Well, we were given compassion and privacy so we should stop doing what we're doing!" I don't think so.

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I have a feeling that would have the opposite effect. It would most likely give them a reason to continue, and worst of all, more attention.

I don't know if I want no one to attend his funeral, forgotten before he was cold. Or, have a Gay Pride Parade following the hearse. Or, just silent protesters with "Hate is not the answer" signs.

Ooh, I like that, @sixpackshaker!

sixpackshaker said:

I don't know if I want no one to attend his funeral, forgotten before he was cold. Or, have a Gay Pride Parade following the hearse. Or, just silent protesters with "Hate is not the answer" signs.

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Line the streets. And as the hearse goes by...

Officer_Charon said:

Honestly, I hope folks are classy enough not to picket his funeral.

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It seems to me that the most appropriate response would be to do nothing. Not only to rob the followers/movement of attention, but to just let it die, already.

Just shun it.

--Patrick

Have a huge crowd of people show up at his funeral, each holding a sign that says "We forgive you."

Now THAT would be a classy response.

That would only work if the protestors were all genuine about it. And finding that many people who would genuinely forgive them would be difficult.

It would be the Ultimate solution, though.

--Patrick

facebook's witty response

Today is the International Day of Happiness. I choose to celebrate it in his honor since he brought misery into this world.

Facebook words from a good friend of mine who was also a pastor:

8 years ago, a member of the Westboro Baptist Church screamed in my face at a funeral of a soldier I was conducting. She asked me if I read my Bible, specifically the part in Romans that spoke of God's wrath on homosexuals. I responded that Romans 12 also said we are to mourn with those who mourn. She then called me a lying whore. I walked away and buried a hero. The chapter continues to say, "Do not repay anyone evil for evil ... Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good."

I hated what you did to people in pain, but today, Phelp's family ... I am sorry for your loss. I hope someday you find the peace that has eluded you so far in life.

Frank said:

Was it a redirect image/anti-hotlink thing rather than the actual gif?

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it was. I should delete my post.

I'm probably going to get slammed for this but I actually pity the man. I can't imagine going through life filled with such blinding, crippling hate. Hate that spewed out to contaminate everything it touched, including his own family. Hate that lives on to contaminate others. Such a narrow, suffocating way to live. Such a legacy to leave behind.

Emrys said:

I'm probably going to get slammed for this

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Not from me, you won't. It is unfortunate that he chose that path, yes. I have no idea what cemented his position, but it must have been quite unpleasant/embarrassing to have driven him so strongly. He has my pity, as well.
Let us also remember that his hate was not genetic, but rather a lifestyle choice of his own making, and he could have changed his mind and begged forgiveness at any time, even on his deathbed, but he did not.

--Patrick

I will like that gif no matter where I see it. Tom Cruise is coo-coo pants, but he was great in Tropic Thunder.

Jay said:

View attachment 14237

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I'm listening to Bad Blood by Bastille right now and it is synced perfectly with this gif.

Emrys said:

I'm probably going to get slammed for this but I actually pity the man. I can't imagine going through life filled with such blinding, crippling hate. Hate that spewed out to contaminate everything it touched, including his own family. Hate that lives on to contaminate others. Such a narrow, suffocating way to live. Such a legacy to leave behind.

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I don't pity him, but I sympathise with your point of view. Regardless of the hate and evil he put into the world, he also (hopefully) loved and was loved and is missed; those feelings aren't illegitimate just because I condemn many of the beliefs and actions he and his family take. There are people in pain over his death, that is sad, too.

I refuse to call them a church, I say that WBC stands for Westboro Blithering Cult. They don't follow the words of the Bible, and actually twist them (such as the Romans reference above) and ignore the direct words and actions of Christ. Christ met and ate (and HUGE thing during that time) with those that were considered separated from the faith (Samaritans and such), these cultists would never do that.

I feel pity for the family of this man, and honestly hope that he prayed for forgiveness from God for what he did before he died. But I doubt that happened, and he has now found the folly of his false preaching.

While there probably is/was a lot homophobic hate in that group, people seem to forget that they were (and probably will continue to be) a bunch trolling, grifting scumbags, many of whom are lawyers.
They did what they did hoping to be put in a situation for a civil suit payout/settlement and being AW's more than getting some Church's message out.

Just watched the national news. They didn't even mention him. Flippin' sweet!

I remember hearing a few days ago that the church had already disowned Phelps over his last minute appeals for the church to treat people better. So not only has the power struggle over leadership of church begone... not only has it shown that it will continue as normal... but it showed that Fred was (on his death bed) absolutely terrified of what he had done and sought last minute redemption like a fucking death row inmate. If he's be forgiven by god, than fine... but his lifetime of hate has ruined countless lives and his legacy will ruin more to come.

So, do we have an anti Brazelton tag?

Timmus said:

So, do we have an anti Brazelton tag?

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Brazelton is just an announcement of someone's passing, not a mourning of the same. SO I thought it was still valid.

I was just trying to be a smart ass.

Timmus said:

I was just trying to be a smart ass.

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And I missed that by being a dumb one.

But in this case it'd be a ,"nice work Brazelton." as opposed to a ,"Damn you Brazelton."

No funeral for Phelps. Children deny in-fighting for leadership.

I think they were just afraid of what would happen if they DID have one. Of course, now someone is just going to have one in his "honor" and turn it into a spectacle.

to Mr. Phelps, may he find peace in death since he gave us none in life. I hope his estranged family finds peace with his passing and that his followers are never heard from again.

Seen at a WBC counter protest:



(via RawStory)

Totally classy. Sad the WBC guy didn't understand the message. Love and sympathy can be so confusing for those who have nothing but hate in their hearts.