Westboro's Shirley Phelps Roper Gets Arrested

I was wondering how long it would take for something like this to happen. Since the members of Westboro Baptist, especially Shirley (daughter of church leader Fred Phelps), almost always involve their children in the various protests they conduct, it was only a matter of time...

"Shirley Phelps-Roper, 49, of Topeka, Kan., was arrested on suspicion of
contributing to the delinquency of a minor."

I think "suspicion" is putting it mildly, but here's what her son was seen doing during a protest in Nebraska...

"Phelps-Roper acknowledged that she allowed her 10-year-old son, Jonah, to
stand on the flag — an action that she says is protected by the U.S.
Constitution."

Honestly, she's right...that action, I believe, does fall under the free speech allowances of the Constitution, but does anyone really think a 10 year old child needs to be involved in such demonstrations? It's one thing for an adult to stomp on the U.S. flag in protest, but to involve a child in such behavior (and this is just one example of how the children of church members have been involved) is unconscionable. Shirley is out on bond and is, of course, going to battle the charges against her...

"Phelps-Roper said church members have protested at more than 280 military
funerals in 43 states since June 15, 2005, and that Tuesday marked her church’s
first arrest at a funeral."

I say it's about time someone was arrested. Not for protesting, as that is their right, but for involving their children in these protests. I refuse to give Westboro a link, but you can Google them and find their site. Take a look at some of what their children have been involved in and tell me if you don't think it's abusive. I don't throw that word around lightly, but to have your child hold signs and say hateful things to people is abusive. I hope this isn't the last arrest, and I hope it leads to the end of Westboro youth participating in their parents' protests.

Westboro The Target of a Bomb Plot?

As I mentioned in an earlier post, Westboro Baptist planned and did picket the funeral of Rev. Falwell. Jeremy over at Good As You communicates quite frequently with the completely unhinged daughter of Fred Phelps, Shirley, and posted the emails they exchanged involving what did, in fact, turn out to be a bomb attempt against the folks of Westboro. I'll let you surf over to Jeremy's site (I'm all for giving other bloggers hits, lol) to read the email, but I have to share his last comment...

"Leaving us with only one real question (which we've passed along to
Shirley): "Why does Westboro EVER need police protection if the Living
God they serve is willing and able to deliver them from every evil work?"

Excellent question, Jeremy! Shirley did reply (scroll down, and you'll see it), and she didn't really give a great answer. It was pretty much her usual, "Everyone is against us," reply that left me rather nonplussed.

What I find most humorous about all this, is that it turned out to be a Liberty University student who tried to carry out the plot. I don't think I need to explain the irony there, lol.

Westboro to Picket Falwell's Funeral

Is there any group that this church (and I use that term very loosely) doesn't hate? According to their latest manifesto (and, no...I won't give you a link to their site), not only will the extreme, batsh*t crazies at Westboro Baptist be picketing Falwell's funeral, but they've given a litany of reasons as to why he is now burning in hell. I was never a fan of Falwell, but no grieving family deserves the kind of treatment that Westboro is notorious for giving.

Not only do they regularly picket the funerals of fallen soldiers, but they do so bearing signs reading such hateful things as, "Thank God For Dead Soldiers." Their behavior is abominable and heartless. Mr. Phelps, your behavior bears absolutely no resemblance to the love that Christians and their God are supposed to have. Either walk the talk or shut up!

Westboro Update

Due to some copyright infringement issues, YouTube has yanked the "God Hates the World," music video I referenced yesterday. I hate the idea of giving their website any extra hits, but this video is worth watching once...just so you get an idea of who these idiots really are. You can Google Westboro Baptist Church and look for the link to the video on their page...just try not to vomit when you read the drivel you'll find.

As for an interesting side note, YouTube has been flooded with uploaded video responses to the Westboro 'musical.' I only looked at a few, but I found it interesting how much of a response the video had gotten. Unfortunately, I think that's exactly what these lunatics want...publicity, and as many 15 minute blocks of fame they can get their hands on. Thanks to people like Mike Gallagher, they're getting exactly what they want. In lieu of picketing the Virginia Tech funerals, the church accepted an offer from the radio host to appear on his show. A similar offer was made by Gallagher to prevent the church from picketing the funerals of the Amish children killed last fall.

I find myself a little torn on this issue. While they're pickets are despicable, degrading and bring only more anguish to the families who have already lost loved ones, the church does have the right to show up and make whatever statement they want. Protecting everyone's right to free speech is something that is very near and dear to my heart...even if what someone is saying makes my blood boil. In this particular case, though, I think the church is more interested in shock-jock type headlines and publicity than actually making a statement. Mr. Gallagher seems to be playing right into that line of thought by offering the church a huge public forum from which to opine, while racking up huge ratings for himself.

Westboro Baptist Church - God Hates the World...And Monday's This and That

Just too unbelievable. On the heels of announcing they'd be picketing the funerals of those killed in last week's Virginia Tech massacre, the 'church' released this little musical gem for our enjoyment. YouTube has it up...for some reason I can't get it uploaded directly here, lol...so here's the link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ETpnHnK9Eis

I've come across so much idiocy today, that I've decided to list them here and give a few brief (Okay...maybe not so brief, lol) comments on each one...

**Concerned Women for America...you know, the group whose 'talking head' is Matt Barber (I still fume over the notion that a group of women need a man to be their spokesperson)...has lashed out at last week's "Day of Silence." In their most recent rant, CWA takes yet another opportunity to point to that ever elusive agenda of the LGBT community as the absolute root of all evil and the ultimate corrupter of all that is good and decent. No wonder I'm so damn tired at the end of the day!

**WingNutDaily's founder, Joseph Farah, has an article up condemning the search engine Google as being 'evil.' Of course, a great deal of this little journalistic tidbit is nothing but pure, unadulterated pimping for his latest book, but that's beside the point. If you've got the stomach for it and an urge to get in a good laugh or two, check out some of his other articles...

Dump the 'gay' beat - 2/24/07

Google censors China criticism in U.S. - 4/10/07

And, of course...a typical 'the sky is falling' rant... It's not just Imus - 4/13/07

**Americans For Truth ...the ones who have committed themselves to exposing and defeating the homosexual agenda, have posted a response to the "Day of Silence," aptly named "Day of Truth." It's worth a read, but try as they may...they're incapable of promoting anything other than their very clear-cut agenda...debasing, degrading and promoting hatred.