Westboro didn't fare to well in Joplin!!

Originally posted by getreadyalready
reply to post by The Sword

 

reply to post by Fromabove

 

I do have to agree that all of the attention and chaos is exactly what this group craves. Unfortunately the more we fight against them, the more justified and righteous they will feel. That is exactly the reason I feel violence is more effective. We will never change their minds, we will never change their self-righteous opinions of themselves, but at least maybe those people hurting in Joplin could relieve some of their frustrations and share some of that pain with people that actually deserve it, instead of just innocent kids and victims!

The best way to fight an enemy that fights with words is to ignore that enemy and take away it's power. I understand why the people there became upset and so acted as they did. I do not understand that people from parts unknown had to show up to "be" violent.

The problem here is that they think they are waking up America to the certain judgment that God is beginning to bring upon America. They are not. Just like the tables of the money changers that Jesus overturned, they set them back up again and did business as usual. America is not going to wake up. America is going to be destroyed by a series of events that come from weather, economy, and political forces, and when it's weak enough, from military action including nuclear holocaust.

I think what I'm trying to say is this. If a man comes up and says my actions are bringing my house down, and I get angry and beat him with a base ball bat, others will them look at that and say he must be right and so empower the now beaten man to do it even more. I still say you have to ignore words when words are the weapon. Don't feed them what they crave.

Not to be a conspiracy theorist or anything, but has anyone paid any attention
to the fact that the CIA seem to be as thick as thieves when it comes to cults.
A hate cult like Westboro would be excellent fodder...

reply to post by Fromabove


Ignoring them is a great idea. It would be highly effective if it could be done. It could certainly be done on a local level, but what are locals supposed to do when a group such as this gets National Press coverage?

Sure, Joplin could have entirely ignored them. They certainly have more important things to be concentrating on, but then the National Press would have reported that WBC showed up and protested yet again. They would have emboldened them by letting them get all the coverage and none of the consequences.

All in all, today was a sad day in Joplin. WBC got ran off, and Obama made a beautiful speech, but at what cost? All Police and Fire personnel were re-tasked for the majority of the day today. They weren't searching through rubble, they were directing traffic for Obama and WBC. The past several days have seen street closures for Secret Service agendas. Today it took over an hour to make a normal 10 minute journey. Today it was impossible for my brother to make it to the search site that he was working yesterday.

So, in this regard, I have to agree with you. It would have been terrific to ignore WBC, ignore Obama, ignore the world and focus on the locals that needed to be helping one another, but unfortunately the world does not allow that. They intrude, and they force themselves upon you, and you are forced to respond. For better or worse. The people who really lose, are the people of Joplin, regardless of how they respond. It was all just one more distraction when they could have been doing more important things.

I do not believe the Bill of Rights should ever be infringed upon by the Government. These people have a right to show up and say whatever they want, without fear of government intrusion................

reply to post by getreadyalready


I agree with this. No reasonable person would confuse a beating by a biker with governmental infringement of rights. Apples and oranges. The Constitution addresses the limits of governmental power. Doesn't mention bikers.

Those that think this so called church should be allowed to protest may sing a different tune if they find them standing outside the funeral of their own loved one.

Would Jesus approve of this behavior? Is he sitting up there in heaven looking down saying, "There's my boys from Westboro spreading their love and compassion, setting the example for Christianity so we can convert more folks into the fold" ?

I do not consider this a free speech debate...it's simple decency and common courtesy to your fellow man.

I don't like roller coasters so does that give me the right to go to Japan and scream at people they deserved what they got from their disasters because they let DisneyLand open a park in Tokyo? Makes about as much sense as Westboro's reasoning

reply to post by pop_science


Thanks for bringing Nate Phelps to my attention! It seems the Phelps family has actually given the world a true blessing.

That being said:
I'm not a religious person by any means, but the members of the Westboro Baptist Church certainly give me the urge to pray THAT THERE IS A HELL, because they won't get what they deserve until they get there!

See ya, Milt

Originally posted by getreadyalready
"They were arrested as a potential threat to Obama,"
"They were tazed and tear-gassed,"
"They were blockaded by truckers and not allowed to leave,"
"They began their protest, were attacked, one was sent to the hospital, and then they were escorted out of town."

I don't know how many (if any) of those things are true, but I have high hopes!!

Hopefully all of the above has happened to Fred Phelps and the WBC.

On a more serious note, I hope that all the family and friends that you have in Joplin are safely accounted for, and that your hometown will recover strongly from this disaster.


I can't actually elucidate my true thoughts on how I would like one of these WBC pickets to serious backfire on the adult members of this warped cult, but the stories you post in your OP paint a good picture of how good men and women will always successfully rally around in times of turmoil, regardless of the twats that they will inevitably encounter on their way.

reply to post by The Sword


here is the thing, they have their rights. Guaranteed by the constitution and it's amendments. They can protest, and peacefully say whatever message they want. But I have right's too. I have the right to be offended. I have the right to be pissed off, I have the right to not agree with them, and I have the right to take a swing at one of them If I chose. there are consequences to those actions, and anyone who knows the MO of the WBC knows that they want to get hit. They want an ass whoopin, so they can sue people and make money. So in closing, yep, they can say whatever they want, and I can hoop holler, and congratulate anyone that beats the dog out of them. Isn't America a wonderful place?

reply to post by getreadyalready


Thank You for bringing this to my attention, I hadnt been able to watch the news to see what happened in Joplin. I also have a comment, for all of those folks out there who think these idiots have a right to do this.

To be totally black and white truthful-they do have the right to protest where they want for any reason they want.
That being said-I dont agree with what they do-AT ALL. While free speech gives them the right to speak out. It does not give them the right to avoid the consequences of thier actions.

Should these fools ever make it into the river rat area of Missouri where I live they are liable to meet the business end of a shotgun. I know they certainly will if they ever step one foot on my property. As for the bikers and truckers who stood for Joplin -Thank You, you stood for people who were too busy grieving to worry about dealing with trash like westboro.
As for the businesses who wouldnt serve them-Thank You for taking a stand for the people of your town, your townfolk will remember that, and your business will be the better for it.

On a side note: there has to be a way to stop these people from doing the morally horrendous things they do, we just need to find a way to do it. I know that when they came to Jefferson City about a year ago.or so, they govenor posted police to protect them, but beyond that they were largely ignored. No one picketed against them, no one confronted them, and they exited pretty quickly-why? because they didnt make any headlines. Since they are publicity seekers only they werent making any headway here so they left-shunning is one way to get them to leave. It also says alot to all observers when everyone suddenly turns thier back on something and walks away.
Gotta be honest, Im not one to turn the other cheek, my irish temperment often gets the best of me, but I saw it work here.

I believe karma is going to be huge for these bloody awful people. They must be mentally ill to even think of protesting this outright tragedy, and all of the other funerals and devastation they dishonor!

While I agree with many others in this thread that these people have the right to say whatever they want, there is something called common decency and respect for others rights. The people of Joplin have a right to not be harrassed by these ignorant people. The westboro folks have no decency. They deserve to suffer the consequences of their actions.
I find it sad that so many people forget that there are consequences to the behavior of hate promoters like westboro. They have yet to get what they truely deserve and that day will be very sad. I for one will not feel sorry for them as they will have brought it upon themselves.
When that day comes do you suppose that they will then say that it was brought down upon them because their hate mongering offended god?

I cannot even begin to imagine how awful it would be to have these 'things' turn up at the funeral of a loved one.

However in all honesty, if i were the one being buried and they were targeting my family, I would want them to be ignored, i mean to the point where they feel invisible. As everyone has pointed out they are negative 'things' who seem to flourish and grow by draining on the negative emotions of vulnerable people.

All they have in their lives is provoking a reaction out of others, take it away (inc media coverage) and maybe they will go away. We all know that the quickest way to get to someone is to blank them all together - they don't exist. Easier said than done obviously, but to retaliate in any way, keeps them going.

It is just outrageous that people trying to help clear up were hindered by the WBC, draining police time and resourses but equally outrageous that the same could be said for Obamas visit. Show your face by all means but don't get in the way!

reply to post by getreadyalready


It is a beautiful thing, getready, a beautiful thing.

My good friend's (in real life) brother lives in Joplin and belongs to an MC, and his words (also unconfirmed, as you say about your sources, as she simply related to me what he said on her FB) is that two of the Westboro bunch didn't fair well at their hands. This story seems to corroborate at least part of one of your stories..That's all I know.

Just want to add: I don't agree with this sort or vigilantism OR giving these people ANY sort of attention or notoriety or ANY excuses to sue or tell their stories and make their money. Both the media and people taking things into their own hands, particularly with violence, fosters and enables this type of behavior and plays right into their hands. Violence only begets more violence and more of the behavior people claim to abhor. Foolish and dangerous.

reply to post by getreadyalready

The government should never infringe upon right to free speech

Is what WBC do really a freedom of speech issue?

I highly doubt this is what or forefathers had in mind to protect.

Yeah i was outside when over a dozen police cars from across town came zooming into the college area, i knew something was up! These people just want to start chaos. I stayed away as i have temper and didnt want to go to jail. The people of Joplin didn't deserve any protest. Yes Joplin is a rowdy town.

Here is another link to a video

Looks like WBC got punished by "God" for THEIR "sins" now!! The "sins" of acting like A-HOLES towards others!!! @ WBC

Wow, impressive restraint... Seriously... They let them take one to the ER?

Getready, Didn't know if you had heard this yet, but early on in this thread you mentioned some restraunts refused to serve WBC in Joplin. Well, I've read in several "social networking" sites that Joplin Applebee's employee's refused WBC also. Corporate Applebee's fired the whole staff at Joplin for this. Applebee's was closed for a short while, but now is reopened.

reply to post by MosesIsTheGreatest


Thank you for your future service