Comments on: A Modest Proposal to Humiliate Fred Phelps http://www.daylightatheism.org/2006/06/a-modest-proposal.html NIGHTTIME IS FOR DREAMING. DAYLIGHT IS FOR ACTION. Wed, 7 Jan 2009 03:24:32 +0000 By: Jay Raines http://www.daylightatheism.org/2006/06/a-modest-proposal.html#comment-14543 Jay Raines Sat, 10 Feb 2007 07:12:22 +0000 http://www.daylightatheism.org/2006/06/a-modest-proposal.html#comment-14543 could someone please send me more information on the play? I've had my eye on this particular group for a while, and have seen them protest once before, but I need to see the beast in action. Also, it sounds like a good play ;) could someone please send me more information on the play? I've had my eye on this particular group for a while, and have seen them protest once before, but I need to see the beast in action. Also, it sounds like a good play ;)

]]> By: richard kobzey http://www.daylightatheism.org/2006/06/a-modest-proposal.html#comment-11120 richard kobzey Sun, 24 Dec 2006 08:23:39 +0000 http://www.daylightatheism.org/2006/06/a-modest-proposal.html#comment-11120 Open Letter to Reverend “God Hates Fags” [Please feel free to share all or parts of this letter when dealing with hate mongers, and please read the link for even more “ammo”.] This letter is to Fred Phelps and his family at the Westboro Baptist Church. As some know, they are the “ministry” that callously demonstrates at people’s funerals, and jeer at mourning loved ones. Dear Reverend Fred Phelps, If you believe that homosexuals deserve death because they cannot change, then for what purpose did your god create them in the first place? [Oops, God’s mistake?] Did your god put them here for your gruesome pleasure to persecute? If you believe that gays must and can stop being as they are, with your help, but resist being changed, what is to say that they might not change with someone else’s help in the future, if they should really need to change? How do you know that Matthew Shepard might not have changed, if he needed to change, and what purpose would his being here have served him, you, or your god? You seem to want to save only those who apparently do not require much change and celebrate the death of those who bear witness to that which either could not change or could changed, but had the opportunity removed. Your family consists of several lawyers who have enough sense to keep the IRS out of their tax-exempt “charitable ministry”, but they do not seem to have any sense of diplomacy with those who obviously would prefer that your family not show up during their time of grief to defame their loved ones. While I feel that you are just a religion pimp who abides by the sorcery of lawyers, politicians, preachers and the IRS combined; I am not supposed to say these things, lest I face censorship by libel. Do you care less if people flock to Westboro Baptist Church just for the security of their own souls, or do you love it more that when the taxman cometh you can tell him that you have the infrastructure and the subjects that constitute a tax exempt charity? You Sir, represent to me abuse of law and the unworthy privileges of organized religion. You also represent to me someone who just laughs about the suckers who are unable to open an issue that poses an assortment of problems that even the government does not wish to address. You are one to laugh into hell your Government’s troops. Your government is the only source of your tax exemption. Go protest at a gathering that gathers to redress the government as follows. Separating Church and State: Fred Phelps hails from Sam Brownback's state of Kansas. If Mr. Brownback wishes to talk about decency, let us ask him to address the Westboro Baptist Church, and watch who will stand in defense of Mr. Phelps and his lawyer family. Let us say, “Mr. Brownback, ‘We the People’ wish to revoke tax exemption of the Westboro Baptist Church”. Here is a link that discusses this matter further: http://www.okimc.org/newswire.php?story_id=1646&language=all&results_offset=140 Open Letter to Reverend “God Hates Fags”

[Please feel free to share all or parts of this letter when dealing with hate mongers, and please read the link for even more “ammo”.]

This letter is to Fred Phelps and his family at the Westboro Baptist Church. As some know, they are the “ministry” that callously demonstrates at people’s funerals, and jeer at mourning loved ones.

Dear Reverend Fred Phelps,

If you believe that homosexuals deserve death because they cannot change, then for what purpose did your god create them in the first place? [Oops, God’s mistake?] Did your god put them here for your gruesome pleasure to persecute?

If you believe that gays must and can stop being as they are, with your help, but resist being changed, what is to say that they might not change with someone else’s help in the future, if they should really need to change?

How do you know that Matthew Shepard might not have changed, if he needed to change, and what purpose would his being here have served him, you, or your god?

You seem to want to save only those who apparently do not require much change and celebrate the death of those who bear witness to that which either could not change or could changed, but had the opportunity removed.

Your family consists of several lawyers who have enough sense to keep the IRS out of their tax-exempt “charitable ministry”, but they do not seem to have any sense of diplomacy with those who obviously would prefer that your family not show up during their time of grief to defame their loved ones. While I feel that you are just a religion pimp who abides by the sorcery of lawyers, politicians, preachers and the IRS combined; I am not supposed to say these things, lest I face censorship by libel.

Do you care less if people flock to Westboro Baptist Church just for the security of their own souls, or do you love it more that when the taxman cometh you can tell him that you have the infrastructure and the subjects that constitute a tax exempt charity?

You Sir, represent to me abuse of law and the unworthy privileges of organized religion. You also represent to me someone who just laughs about the suckers who are unable to open an issue that poses an assortment of problems that even the government does not wish to address.

You are one to laugh into hell your Government’s troops. Your government is the only source of your tax exemption. Go protest at a gathering that gathers to redress the government as follows.

Separating Church and State:

Fred Phelps hails from Sam Brownback's state of Kansas. If Mr. Brownback wishes to talk about decency, let us ask him to address the Westboro Baptist Church, and watch who will stand in defense of Mr. Phelps and his lawyer family. Let us say, “Mr. Brownback, ‘We the People’ wish to revoke tax exemption of the Westboro Baptist Church”.

Here is a link that discusses this matter further:

http://www.okimc.org/newswire.php?story_id=1646&language=all&results_offset=140

]]> By: justin http://www.daylightatheism.org/2006/06/a-modest-proposal.html#comment-10913 justin Thu, 21 Dec 2006 14:15:37 +0000 http://www.daylightatheism.org/2006/06/a-modest-proposal.html#comment-10913 this tactic could work against the entire christian right. Let's use a ton of the 'happy holidays' pc crap to distract the AFA and the Catholic League, while we secretly ram through pro-gay marriage legislation. they'll never see it coming. :) this tactic could work against the entire christian right. Let's use a ton of the 'happy holidays' pc crap to distract the AFA and the Catholic League, while we secretly ram through pro-gay marriage legislation. they'll never see it coming. :)

]]> By: schemanista http://www.daylightatheism.org/2006/06/a-modest-proposal.html#comment-3284 schemanista Mon, 19 Jun 2006 03:12:18 +0000 http://www.daylightatheism.org/2006/06/a-modest-proposal.html#comment-3284 How about an atheist/pro-gay <a href="http://www.randomhouse.com/features/ensler/vm/vday.html" rel="nofollow">V-Day</a>? Proceeds to charities, etc. How about an atheist/pro-gay V-Day? Proceeds to charities, etc.

]]> By: tng http://www.daylightatheism.org/2006/06/a-modest-proposal.html#comment-3074 tng Thu, 15 Jun 2006 23:15:32 +0000 http://www.daylightatheism.org/2006/06/a-modest-proposal.html#comment-3074 Here you go Ebonmuse. <a href="http://www.tectonictheaterproject.org/Contact.html" rel="nofollow">Tectonic Theater Project</a>. That should be a start. Here you go Ebonmuse. Tectonic Theater Project. That should be a start.

]]> By: Ebonmuse http://www.daylightatheism.org/2006/06/a-modest-proposal.html#comment-3067 Ebonmuse Thu, 15 Jun 2006 17:40:04 +0000 http://www.daylightatheism.org/2006/06/a-modest-proposal.html#comment-3067 I don't know how to contact the author of the play (Moises Kaufman, I believe), but if anyone has contact information, I'd take the idea to him. In any case, I doubt he would object; the far more difficult part of the idea would be convincing multiple colleges or theaters to stage the play on a tightly planned schedule. I don't know how to contact the author of the play (Moises Kaufman, I believe), but if anyone has contact information, I'd take the idea to him. In any case, I doubt he would object; the far more difficult part of the idea would be convincing multiple colleges or theaters to stage the play on a tightly planned schedule.

]]> By: tng http://www.daylightatheism.org/2006/06/a-modest-proposal.html#comment-3027 tng Thu, 15 Jun 2006 03:02:06 +0000 http://www.daylightatheism.org/2006/06/a-modest-proposal.html#comment-3027 What I like about the idea, regardless of Phelps, is that it has the effect of presenting a solid block of time during which it becomes virtually impossible to ignore the message. And anything Phelps does just amplifies the publicity for it. I haven't seen the play or movie, but I assume it requires very little in the way of stagecraft and should therefore be inexpensive to produce in each venue, although I think overall the project/protest would still require a substantial chunk of change. I don't see where organizing it via the web and phone would be extraordinarily difficult. I guess the first step would be to contact the author and see if he likes the idea. He should have media contacts from interviews and such he's done over the past few years that would help to build an initial wave of publicity. What I like about the idea, regardless of Phelps, is that it has the effect of presenting a solid block of time during which it becomes virtually impossible to ignore the message. And anything Phelps does just amplifies the publicity for it. I haven't seen the play or movie, but I assume it requires very little in the way of stagecraft and should therefore be inexpensive to produce in each venue, although I think overall the project/protest would still require a substantial chunk of change. I don't see where organizing it via the web and phone would be extraordinarily difficult. I guess the first step would be to contact the author and see if he likes the idea. He should have media contacts from interviews and such he's done over the past few years that would help to build an initial wave of publicity.

]]> By: Ebonmuse http://www.daylightatheism.org/2006/06/a-modest-proposal.html#comment-3022 Ebonmuse Wed, 14 Jun 2006 23:48:22 +0000 http://www.daylightatheism.org/2006/06/a-modest-proposal.html#comment-3022 <blockquote>Could Phelps' group be counted on to act in the desired manner?</blockquote> I don't know if they'd take the bait, but it wouldn't really be a problem either way. If they decline to come, that's basically conceding defeat, and we could declare victory even earlier.

Could Phelps' group be counted on to act in the desired manner?

I don't know if they'd take the bait, but it wouldn't really be a problem either way. If they decline to come, that's basically conceding defeat, and we could declare victory even earlier.

]]> By: tng http://www.daylightatheism.org/2006/06/a-modest-proposal.html#comment-3019 tng Wed, 14 Jun 2006 20:57:14 +0000 http://www.daylightatheism.org/2006/06/a-modest-proposal.html#comment-3019 Sorry. I had misread it before. I thought you were talking about merely giving the impression of staging the play all across the country and somehow convincing Phelps and his traveling hate fest to drive to non-existent venues. Logistics aside, this is actually kind of interesting because it also works to counter Phelps' agenda at every step. Could Phelps' group be counted on to act in the desired manner? Sorry. I had misread it before. I thought you were talking about merely giving the impression of staging the play all across the country and somehow convincing Phelps and his traveling hate fest to drive to non-existent venues. Logistics aside, this is actually kind of interesting because it also works to counter Phelps' agenda at every step. Could Phelps' group be counted on to act in the desired manner?

]]> By: Ebonmuse http://www.daylightatheism.org/2006/06/a-modest-proposal.html#comment-3012 Ebonmuse Wed, 14 Jun 2006 19:34:34 +0000 http://www.daylightatheism.org/2006/06/a-modest-proposal.html#comment-3012 Hi tng, I'm not sure I follow you. What about this plan strikes you as similar to the tactics of the religious right? Hi tng,

I'm not sure I follow you. What about this plan strikes you as similar to the tactics of the religious right?

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