I am Fred Phelps

Among the multitude of ways to deal with these assholes while respecting the First Amendment.

Illinois Group Pickets Fred Phelps' Church

Fuck you, Fred. That's my contribution.

That and I agree with your son. You have my pity. And even my empathy and genuine concern. For how you could so totally twist the decent, compassionate teachings of Jesus of Nazareth into your hateful screeds. And so utterly undermine your family's more honest strength and well-being, in the process.

Fear, of hell and damnation, as a means of coercing conscience is exactly what Fred Phelps stands for. Fear of mass murder is how Al Queda goes about it. Fear of the government is how Iranian clerics and the Taliban do it.

Surely, we can stand for something stronger.

Meaning, something more like Jesus. Something more compassionate and decent. And loving.

And which more honestly respects peoples consciences.

Because if not, we really are just lesser versions of this dick. A man who really does believe in force and fear as a governing philosophy. All in the name of scaring people into good conscience.

Just like him.

Let him eat the court costs of his little adventures, I say. The families of U.S. Marines certainly shouldn't be picking up the tab.

But, at some point, all of us should take a step back, I think, and ask ourselves, "Am I more like Fred Phelps than I would like to admit?"

For many among us, the answer to that question, even unintentionally, is yes.