Phelps Clan Tweets Intent To Picket Jobs Funeral Via iPhone

It comes as no surprise that Margie Phelps of the infamous Westboro Baptist Church has already declared the church's intention to picket Steve Jobs's funeral. What is interesting, is that she did so using an iPhone. The 142 characters of wrath read: "Westboro will picket his funeral.He[sic] had a huge platform; gave God no glory & taught sin. MT @AP: Apple co-founder Steve Jobs has died at 56."

Comments

Her Defense Was Pretty Good Too

[eldavojohn]

You missed the best part when she defended herself:

Rebels mad cuz I used iPhone to tell you Steve Jobs is in hell.God created iPhone for that purpose! :)

She's just confirming what Apple fans already knew: God works at Apple.

That's a bittersweet reminder of my Roman Catholic upbringing. Whenever I did something good like played the trombone well or scored well on a test, I was instructed to pray to Jesus for working through me to do something so good. Whenever I screwed up, well, all those powerful forces like God and the Devil were suspiciously absent and the fault was solely mine.

Re:Her Defense Was Pretty Good Too

[Anonymous Coward]

Also: Whenever life is going well, praise the lord for your good fortune. Whenever your life hits a snag, your faith is being "tested".

Re:Her Defense Was Pretty Good Too

[uigrad_2000]

Ok, I've swung to the other side about WBC. These people are not sincere.

They just want to make headlines, and publicity is the only god that they worship.

Re:Her Defense Was Pretty Good Too

[hansamurai]

I'm an adult with faith but his complaint seems more than warranted.

Re:Her Defense Was Pretty Good Too

[lymond01]

I'm guessing the Phelps aren't like this, but I remember reading a letter to the editor in some mainstream magazine where the author said something like, "I don't understand how people can act this way. Their souls will be delivered to eternal torment in Hell. We HAVE to keep trying to change them to prevent that!"

Despite religion being mostly a community of mythologists, some people feel that Hell is as real as an oncoming bus while you're standing in the road. You NEED to listen! You need to get out of the road! Can't you see!

It's a little spooky.

Re:Her Defense Was Pretty Good Too

[maxume]

You thought they were sincere?

Their whole schtick is to be assholes and then sue anyone who confronts them.

Re:Her Defense Was Pretty Good Too

[dougmc]

They just want to make headlines, and publicity is the only god that they worship.

They want publicity, yes. Because they want somebody to assault them or violate their civil rights, so they can sue.

This page explains how they work pretty well. Basically, they're all lawyers, and the moment something happens, they sue, and all their paperwork is perfect.

Re:Her Defense Was Pretty Good Too

[SleazyRidr]

Is God willing to prevent evil, but not able?
Then he is not omnipotent
Is God able to prevent evil, but not willing?
Then he is malevolent.
Is God both willing and able to prevent evil?
Then how does evil still exist?
Is God neither able, nor willing to prevent evil?
Then why call him God?

Re:Her Defense Was Pretty Good Too

[Rolgar]

Fred really got going in '92 or '93, and I had a couple of friends that would counter protest over the next few years before we left town for college or military service.

I'll tell you this, they sincerely hate the people they protest. You can sense it in them when they are around, although their usual weekend rounds at the local churches is usually pretty low key other than the obscene stick figures on their signs, which I don't care for my kids to see.

What Fred's family really gets out of this though is that their protests bring condemnation. I suspect they sell this to the congregation that they are being good Christians being persecuted like the early Christians who were tortured and executed by various means. By ostracizing his followers from everybody else in town, they reinforce their members' dependance upon one another like any cult, and the family probably sees pretty good revenue in the collection basket.

A couple of his kids (he has a very large family, 2 or 3 are at odds with the rest of the family) wrote a book about Fred and the things that went on during the 70s and 80s. I think I once read some of it online. Very disturbing stuff.

Re:Her Defense Was Pretty Good Too

[MrNiceguy_KS]

Frankly, journalistic style sheets need to be updated so that they are always referred to as Westboro Baptist "Church", including requiring TV presenters to make finger-quotes when using the word "Church".

Re:Her Defense Was Pretty Good Too

[DJLuc1d]

I can attest that all Catholics are indoctrinated this way.

I can attest that not all Catholics are indoctrinated this way. I can however attest that people with a narrow mindset will say things like this.

Re:Her Defense Was Pretty Good Too

[couchslug]

Your reply is suspect because Catholics must defend their faith and honesty is not required by your Church in dealing with outsiders or the flock.

I cite the ONGOING pedophile scandal(s) throughout the Catholic world as examples. There is zero reason to believe your assertion over the FACT of more than ONE BILLION dollars being paid out in settlements/hush money and the FACT of pedos being hidden from the law and the FACT that this was systematically done.

Even the Vatican's most primitive followers are sometimes having second thoughts.

http://www.nytimes.com/2011/09/18/world/europe/ireland-recalibrates-ties-to-roman-catholic-church.html

Before anyone mods this Troll, use the search engine of your choice and have a look at Church exploitation and corruption worldwide.

So far only one predator got real justice:

http://articles.cnn.com/2003-08-24/us/geoghan_1_joseph-l-druce-worcester-county-district-attorney-defrocked-roman-catholic-priest?_s=PM:US

Attention Whores

[recoiledsnake]

Nothing but attention whoring, they shouldn't be given press at all.

Mistake

[bonch]

Westboro Baptist Church doesn't want to incur the wrath of hardcore Apple fans. They just don't know it yet.

Why spread the vile?

[CTalkobt]

Why do people help these people spread their vile?

Posting stories on Slashdot / Putting it on CNN is only helping them get what they crave : Attention.

Some problems are best ignored - then they'll fade away out of frustration when they realize they're not getting the attention.

Blah blah - free press - I get it. I'm not asking for a law but common sense to take place.

People love dirty laundry - D. Henly.

Re:This has to be a troll

[Anonymous Coward]

Of course they do, they're a family of professional trolls - literally. That's how they make their money. Spout off a slew of hateful garbage, push people to the breaking point, and let the lawsuits fly.

I think you meant "bile"...

[neiras]

Why do people help these people spread their vile?

"Vile" isn't a thing one can metaphorically spread.

Unless you're talking Vegemite or Marmite - that shit is spreadable vile incarnate.

Patriot Guard

[Ganty]

All we need are the Patriot Guard in black turtlenecks to even up the numbers.

www.patriotguard.org

Ganty

terrorists

[roman_mir]

Don't you look at these people, who cheer when others die and think - wish I had a military drone of my own on stand by?

Re:You Misunderstand My Fond Anecdote

[ElectricTurtle]

It's the god that Jesus said was his father. The god who sure as hell played favorites with a "chosen people" who were given divine commands to kill all the infidels, not to mention all the petty squabbles about birthrights among the leading patriarchs and progeny.

Your "Christian" god is heresy, as you're describing the conception of Christianity as viewed by Marcion of Sinope, who was excommunicated for it.

Christians would do well to research their religion fully, and they will perhaps realize their religion is morally detestable, and that anybody who opens their eyes and questions it is kicked out, lethally if the tempora's mores are willing. (Forgive me, Cicero.)