At this point, I think everyone is at least somewhat familiar with the controversial Westboro Babtist Church. For those who don't know them by name, you know those people holding multiple billboards reading "GOD HATES FAGS" and "THANK GOD FOR DEAD SOLDIERS"? Them.
According to wikipedia the church, which is very small I might add, spents upwards of $200,000 on travel expences in their cross-continent protesting quest at the highest profile events they can muster.
Honestly, I have a grudging respect for how effective they are at viral marketting. They've gotten millions of dollars of 'free' exposure on the news, had multiple high-profile documentaries made about them, and have become a household name to many lgbt rights activists.
The church, though it qualifies as a non-profit organization under US law, has landed on several lists of known hate organizations.
Which makes it all the more surprising when little over a week ago the Knights of the Southern Cross, a Virginian chapter of the notorious Klu Klux Klan, showed up to counter-protest the WBC's latest attention grab at the funeral of a US soldier. The organizer of the KKK's presence, a veteran himself, felt the WBC's protests at soldier funerals were deeply disrespectful.
More surprising is that the Westboro Babtist Church, which has labeled Barack Obama the Anti-Christ and have compared jewish people en mass to Nazis, claim to have nothing against people of other race. In fact, the churches founder, Fred Phelps, reportedly was involved in the civil rights movement of the '60s.
Remember when it was easy to tell who the bad guys were?
Until next time, I'm the Trenchcoat Anti-Critic.
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
I used o live like 5 blocks form the phelps. I see too often them picketing in town with young children holding signs that otherwise we would find indecent. The meaning behind WBC makes me sick and frankly they seem to have a great graps on using religion as their leverage to what they please. This is in my opinion but it sickens me that there is nothing that can be done about them. I cringe on the day my kid reads the signs and asks questions on them as they are just that bad. The so called church is in one of the homes. They have a good half a block to themselves and have joined together the backyards for get togethers and family fun. They fly a canadian flag upside down and have a huge banner across the side that reads "godhatesamerica.com". Truly sad people if you ask me :S
ReplyDelete