![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
gizaAs some folks may have been able to figure out by my previous postings, I'm not a big fan of the Iraq war nor of "Faux News", as I prefer to call them. However, I must say that they did an awesome job of slapping the sh*t out of someone from the Westboro Baptist Church on TV:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1G470rfJQCI
For those who the name does not ring a bell, the church is run by Fred Phelps of "God Hates Fags" fame. Their latest stunt consists of protesting funerals of soldiers, which is what this interview was about.
Heck, it's not every day that a newscaster calls an interviewee "a nut".
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1G470rfJQCI
For those who the name does not ring a bell, the church is run by Fred Phelps of "God Hates Fags" fame. Their latest stunt consists of protesting funerals of soldiers, which is what this interview was about.
Heck, it's not every day that a newscaster calls an interviewee "a nut".
(Thanks for the hookup, ![[livejournal.com profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/external/lj-userinfo.gif)
omnibahumut!)
omnibahumut!)![[identity profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/openid.png){kind=small}
(no subject)
Date: 2006-05-17 05:32 pm (UTC)(no subject)
Date: 2006-05-17 06:07 pm (UTC)(no subject)
Date: 2006-05-17 06:14 pm (UTC)Though hearing Sean Hannity call someone "A Nut" is funny.. and sad in its own right.
I applaud the Freedom Riders, the Patriot Riders, motorcycle clubs who monitor these twisted people and attend the funerals of fallen soldiers, attacting as a shield between the families and these wack jobs. There are several cycle riders in Fandom who regularly attend these and I'm aiming to hook up with them and join in.
And people wonder why many of us are ashamed to call ourselves Christians.
(no subject)
Date: 2006-05-18 05:12 am (UTC)(no subject)
Date: 2006-05-17 06:53 pm (UTC)(no subject)
Date: 2006-05-17 06:55 pm (UTC)(no subject)
Date: 2006-05-18 02:46 am (UTC)Where is the little Prince?
The REAL sickness here is media attention.
Date: 2006-05-17 10:23 pm (UTC)The number one way to stomp out fringe hate groups like WBC is for the media to totally ignore them, no matter what happens.
Now, I'm not advocating they have free reign to protest at funerals. Laws limiting political protests at funerals are a good thing. IMO, laying someone to rest is not a time to protest their cause.
Seems to me, the easiest way to deal with people like WBC is for the police and the media to slooooowly leave, one by one, the next time they turn up at a funeral.
If it's being watched over by the Patriot Guard, or maybe even some other organizations (I'm thinking Hell's Angels, neighborhood vigilantes, veterans, maybe even the grieving family... ) the problem should resolve itself with some finality.
Hell, let the police stay and handle the situation the way everyone wants to, just as long as the media agrees to turn their back on it.
Re: The REAL sickness here is media attention.
Date: 2006-05-18 03:47 am (UTC)Re: The REAL sickness here is media attention.
Date: 2006-05-18 12:40 pm (UTC)Everyone knows how to handle fringe loonies: Ignore them. If they intend harm others, render them harmless.
Now, if they cross the line so far it requires the disposal of bodies (and WBC is getting damn close) well, I think the police know how to do that better than anyone. If the whole community hates them, no one will ever say a word until it no longer matters.
Until the media decides to make them martyrs.
When the news takes these wackos and gives them a voice on nationwide TV, the news gives them the power they are seeking. WBC (and others) want to shock, outrange, anger, and disgust. They know most people will direct these feelings at them, and they are willing to chalk it up to "Sinful, Immoral God-Hating America!"
They also know a small minority will agree with them and feel hate, anger, and disgust towards gays, jews, catholics, etc... and they just got a few more members.
Plain and simple, they need to be silenced. The least violent way would be media silence.
Re: The REAL sickness here is media attention.
Date: 2006-05-18 01:58 pm (UTC)I can't agree with that. I think it sets up a slipperly slope that could be used to justify a whole lot of other nastiness.
The best way to counter hate speech, is with more speech. Eventually the volume of good speech will drown out the bad speech.
Re: The REAL sickness here is media attention.
Date: 2006-05-18 09:30 pm (UTC)The media controls everything these days. If the news won't print it or show it, it might as well have never happened. It's time for the media to realize just how much of a role they have in not just recording reality, but also shaping it.
Come to think of it, they most certainly have realized this, and they know blood and hate grab eyeballs better than peace and love.
We have truly passed the point of no return. I truly believe there will be something akin to another civil war in this country. I just don't think it will be as clear as north vs. south.
wow
Date: 2006-05-17 11:10 pm (UTC)It amazes me that a religion that preaches nothing but love can harbor SO MUCH HATE.
Ketrava
Re: wow
Date: 2006-05-17 11:54 pm (UTC)One of the reasons why they haven't been sued out of existance is because between Fred Phelps's kids and their spouses, he has several full time lawyers at his disposal who will tie up any case in court for years.
Try Googling "Fred Phelps" sometime, he's a nutcase. I think 2 of his children thusfar have publicly disowned him, even.
(no subject)
Date: 2006-05-18 05:14 am (UTC)(no subject)
Date: 2006-05-18 06:32 am (UTC)