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News & ArtsThursday, February 19, 2009
Religion / Theater Way to Excercise Good Judgment, United Kingdom
Posted by Paul Constant on Thu, Feb 19, 2009 at 3:06 PM
Officials are refusing to allow a family from the Westboro "God Hates Fags" Baptist Church to enter the UK.
A father and daughter from a US church which preaches hatred of homosexuals have been banned from entering the UK by Home Secretary Jacqui Smith.Fred Phelps and his daughter Shirley Phelps-Roper from the Westboro Baptist Church had urged protests against a play being put on in Hampshire.
Queen Mary's College in Basingstoke is staging The Laramie Project, a play about a man killed for being gay.
The UK Border Agency said it opposed "extremism in all its forms".
A spokesman added: "Both these individuals have engaged in unacceptable behaviour by inciting hatred against a number of communities.
Now we should refuse to take them back.
2
I agree with the sentiments 100%, but in a country with free speech, the only way to suppress the sort of vilifying bile that the Phelps clan spews out is to deprive them of an audience. I propose a media blackout on these hate-mongers. Ignore them and, whilst they may not necessarily go away, they won't be able to spread their pernicious creed.
3
In other religious bigot news: Rick Warren of Saddleback infamy is on the cover of "Reader's Digest" this month presenting a plan to save our nation. Oh, how I wish Obama had not given him world recognition. Our nation needs to be saved from the likes of Warren.
4
Actually a better way would be to eliminate their tax free 'church'status...How did they get the money to go there in the first place?
5
As much as I'd like to "refuse to take them back", they're American citizens first and religious extremists second. They're our problem.
10
@4
Let's just generalize that and eliminate ALL tax-exempt status for churches. No reason to be inconsistent. It would help nail down insane, dangerous cults like Westboro, and take a sizable bite out of money-grubbing con men like Rick Warren.
"Gospel of prosperity" my ass.
Anyway, one way or another, yeah, Phelps is our problem. Our culture created him and has refused to do anything about him. Good on the UK for refusing to put up with our bullshit.
Let's just generalize that and eliminate ALL tax-exempt status for churches. No reason to be inconsistent. It would help nail down insane, dangerous cults like Westboro, and take a sizable bite out of money-grubbing con men like Rick Warren.
"Gospel of prosperity" my ass.
Anyway, one way or another, yeah, Phelps is our problem. Our culture created him and has refused to do anything about him. Good on the UK for refusing to put up with our bullshit.
11
We could start posting those pictures of Fred Phelps having sex with male members of his church. But that would be wrong.
12
Oh and I should say, the phrases "good judgment" and "kingdom" don't really belong in the same sentence. And I should know, because I live in one.
You guys may have your Phelpses, but at least you've got a republic.
You guys may have your Phelpses, but at least you've got a republic.
13
I don't know, as much as I don't like the Westboro baptist people, my threat to civil liberties flares light up all over the place with respect to this post.
14
if you don't know where to draw the line on civil liberties you're just another (useless fucking) extremist
19
We are so quick to deny constitutional rights to those we dislike and then are surprised when voters reject gay marriage.
20
Thank you @19!
I may not like what they have to say (or especially how they say it). But they should have a voice. It's the principle damn it! And that's what (supposedly) makes us the United States.
That said, you relinquish a lot of your rights traveling abroad, going abroad. They aren't British citizens, so Great Britain can extend whatever civil liberties they want ...
True to the letter, violates the meaning I guess.
Unfortunately, we have to take them back.
I may not like what they have to say (or especially how they say it). But they should have a voice. It's the principle damn it! And that's what (supposedly) makes us the United States.
That said, you relinquish a lot of your rights traveling abroad, going abroad. They aren't British citizens, so Great Britain can extend whatever civil liberties they want ...
True to the letter, violates the meaning I guess.
Unfortunately, we have to take them back.
22
intolerance is illegal according to the 1st amendment, but nobody enforces it. Thank "god" for the UK, of all places
24
Yeah, don't let them back into the USA.
Let 'em rot in some detention center for those who are, like, in passport limbo.
Let 'em rot in some detention center for those who are, like, in passport limbo.
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