dreamer_easy: (darkgod)
dreamer_easy ([personal profile] dreamer_easy) wrote2008-04-12 07:47 pm

(no subject)

Holy cow, I only just clocked this and at ED, of all places: Fred Phelps successfully sued for 11 million dollars for "protesting" at the funeral of a Marine from Maryland who died in Iraq.

[identity profile] antikythera.livejournal.com 2008-04-12 01:14 pm (UTC)(link)
I am fascinated by the fact that they put "church" in quotation marks.

[identity profile] karjack.livejournal.com 2008-04-12 02:16 pm (UTC)(link)
Well, Phelps' "church" consists pretty much of himself, his kids, their spouses and children. I suppose by some standards one guy's batshit crazy family constitutes a religion, but most folks I talk to are dubious.

[identity profile] antikythera.livejournal.com 2008-04-12 03:15 pm (UTC)(link)
I note that in the rest of the article they refer to it as a cult, and say that while he calls it a Baptist church it isn't officially affiliated with any Baptists.

[identity profile] drox.livejournal.com 2008-04-12 03:40 pm (UTC)(link)
One of the comments [to the linked article] expressed sympathy for the family of the slain Marine, and added "To lose one’s son is a horrible tragedy. To have your son dishonored after his death is beyond words."

Dishonor? Dishonor?!?! Personally, I can think of few higher honors than to be hated and protested by Fred Phelps and his cult.

[identity profile] alryssa.livejournal.com 2008-04-12 05:47 pm (UTC)(link)
I offer this amusing tidbit as a supplement to this great news:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iT7xQJrqUQ8

[identity profile] kateorman.livejournal.com 2008-04-12 11:46 pm (UTC)(link)
Awesome piece of non-violent protest there. I approve.

[identity profile] travlr1.livejournal.com 2008-04-12 07:06 pm (UTC)(link)
Fred Phelps looks like Reverend Kane from the Poltergeist series of movies. O_O

[identity profile] otteronuppers.livejournal.com 2008-04-13 12:10 am (UTC)(link)

I'm sorry to say this, but I notice that story is dated in November of last year, and I believe the verdict was overturned on appeal in the last three months or so.

[identity profile] kateorman.livejournal.com 2008-04-13 12:24 am (UTC)(link)
I didn't notice the date, but here's an article from a week ago. Phelps and family are still up shit creek without a paddle, lulz.

[identity profile] ianracey.livejournal.com 2008-04-13 12:30 am (UTC)(link)
No, the case is still on appeal, though one appellate judge has already reduced the amount of damages to $5 million. Given that basically the entire Phelps family are lawyers, it's actually a bigger concern that they'll get out of paying up by keep the appeals going for decades than it is that they'll actually get the verdict overturned.

[identity profile] ianracey.livejournal.com 2008-04-13 12:30 am (UTC)(link)
Guess I hit the wrong button. This should have been in response to otternuppers in the thread up above.

[identity profile] otteronuppers.livejournal.com 2008-04-13 05:38 pm (UTC)(link)
That's okay. I always hit the wrong button myself.

The only upside is that keeping the issue on appeal will probably bankrupt them--almost no one has the money to survive a lengthy court battle unscathed. Also, it will devour their time and keep them off the streets.

[identity profile] jhg.livejournal.com 2008-04-14 11:27 am (UTC)(link)
Hooray!

[identity profile] qthewetsprocket.livejournal.com 2008-04-15 01:39 am (UTC)(link)
if fred phelps could just admit he was gay, he'd save a whole lot of people a whole lot of trouble.