Homophobes desecrate flag at Mass. protest

You just knew the Fred Phelps Burlesque Revue would be booked in Mass. today, didn't ya?

Here's the blow-by-blow:

http://www.nytimes.com/2004/05/17/national/17CND-GAYS.html?pagewanted=3
(registration; couldn't find this little gem anywhere else)

Across the street from Cambridge City Hall on Sunday night a dozen or so opponents of gay marriage led by a Kansas minister, the Rev. Fred Phelps, gathered holding signs, some with slurs against homosexuals.

"Two men and two women marrying each other is a passport to hell" said Katherine Hockenbarger from Topeka, Kan., who was standing on an American flag.

Standing on the flag? Can you say "flag desecration", kids? Mr. KamaAina can!

You'd think these nutjobs hated America or something. Oh, right, they do...

http://www.godhatesamerica.com

Remember, homophobes = flag desecrators; gay couples = true patriots in the finest Massachusetts tradition.

In fact the Patriot Act makes it possible for the government to declare all anti-gay groups "terrorist organizations".

From a practical perpective it is far more likely pro gay groups to be declared terrorists than for anti gay ones in the vast majority of places. But even if that weren't true, it still would be profoundly unAmerican to use the government to censor those with whom we disagree.

The only way to prove to the people on the Right who support the Patriot Act that it is wrong would be to label their groups as "terrorist".

with signs like:

YOUR GOD SEZ STONE YOUR KIDS TO DEATH

YOUR GOD SEZ SELL YOUR SISTERS INTO SLAVERY

YOUR GOD SEZ HAVE SEX WITH PEOPLE YOU AREN'T MARRIED TO

YOUR GOD IS A MASS MURDERER

:grr:

I am begging you. Sorry folks, I know how horrible they are.

Don't be hypocrites. Conservatives have just as much right to trample an American flag as anti-war protestors.

The fact that THEY are likely hypocrites (if they're against flag desecration) is besides the point. Their sin isn't desecration, it's hypocrisy.

Phelps and his lot are not conservatives. They are outright detached insane. They'd get dizzy if they tried to walk in a straight line!

You are right in principle, though. But Phelps ain't no conservative. He's a crock.

Is that burning is the CORRECT and prescribed manner for disposing of an American flag.

Anybody over there who can report?

Throw her in the Reagan Re-Education camp. It is a big NO-NO to desecrate the flag. Of course, * stains flags with ink in the formation of his handwriting, so she'll not get in trouble either. x(

Phelps is clearly a psychotic who should be locked up in a padded cell. Indeed, "The American Army is a Fag Army!!", not to mention the content of that 'article' says it loud and clear. He's a nutter.

He also thinks Nick Berg is Christ: Nick Berg died for America's sins. I am not making this crazy whacko-jacko up!

babbling on about how gay marriage is "against God's will" and that America is turning into the "new Soddom and Gomorrah, which was destroyed, I don't want America to be destroyed" and laughed so hard I nearly drove up the back of the truck in front of me.

There's a lot I don't like about the country I live in but a healthy scepticism about religion is one of the good things!

Wasn't this settled in the sixties?

Um, I don't get it.

in their world view.

Rights, while standing on an American flag, I could pretty well guarantee myself a spot on Faux News.
Can't you just hear Hannity?

I was an undergrad at the time (1990), and on our campus there was a "Free Speech Zone" where people could speak, proselytize, rant, mime, or whatever. We had some great times there (including seeing the Pixies rock out on a 20'x20' stage!), but the most memorable was when I saw a guy try to kill Fred Phelps.

It was early (for me) on a Wednesday, and I was strolling to a class that I really had no intention of passing. When I got over the bridge to the non-residential side of the campus, I saw a guy in a black suit loudly preaching, with two women at his side. I immediately noticed something odd: usually, at least a few people would be standing around to listed to whoever was in the Zone, but at this moment, people were swerving to the far side of the sidewalk and rushing past him.

When I was about fifty feet away, I discovered why everyone was avoiding this guy--he was berating everyone that walked past! A young female student who was wearing a halter walked past him; "Whore!" he screamed. A couple of guys walked past him talking to each other, but they must've been too close together for Phelps, because he shrieked, "Faggots!" Then, finally, as I was about twenty paces from him, he points at a large, stocky African American student who was in traditional Muslim garb and screams, "You Muslim devil!"

The guy stopped dead in his tracks and slowly turned his head to Phelps. Then, in one beautiful leap, the guy pounced on Phelps, choking him with both hands. In seconds, the whole student body appeared to rush around them, cheering as Phelps' face turned a deep shade of purple. Two campus security guys rushed over, and the crowd shielded the Muslim guy as he vanished in a cluster of students.

No one was ever charged.

Ah, memories...