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Fred Phelps wins the 2007 Asshole of the Year Award!

Thursday, November 1st, 2007

Fred Phelps wins the 2007 Asshole of the Year Award!

As a disabled veteran, I strongly believe in the first amendment, but there is a time and place for everything. Fred Phelps just picked the wrong time and the wrong place to be an asshole. I crossed paths with Phelp many years ago, but I haven't spoken about it. The last thing I want to do is give him publicity. Many years ago the saying was, "Any press is good press" - but that isn't true anymore. Bad press is posted on the Internet, and it never goes away. Phelps finally crossed a line, and I can no longer remain silent.

What has gotten me so stirred up? You may remember this guy and his "church" protesting the funeral of Matthew Shepard. Matthew was tied to a fence and beaten to death just because he was gay. Phelps started a website and held signs saying "God Hates Fags" at Matthew's funeral. The "church" then made it a habit to protest at the funerals of AIDS patients and anyone else they thought was "not worthy to live."

Now Phelps and his band of heathens are protesting at the funerals of our fallen soldiers. He says that God is punishing the US for our tolerance for homosexuals, and so God is killing our soldiers. I can't think of a word strong enough to express the disgust I feel about this man! Our soldiers and sailors did not start the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq. Given a choice in the matter, I doubt any of them would be fighting overseas. Losing a son or daughter is hard enough on a family. It takes a real low-life scum to intentionally cause their family more grief and distress. To make things worse, he likes to hold up his "God Hates Fags" at the funerals for people who weren't even gay. If he wants to wave signs and protest the war, he should do it under Bush's nose and not at the funerals of people who died while serving the country they love.

They finally protested at a funeral where the family fought back. The group held their protest at the funeral of Lance Corporal Matthew Snyder. Snyder died in a vehicle accident while serving in Anbar, Iraq. The father of the marine took the church and it's leaders to court, and the jury awarded the family $2.9 million in compensatory damages and $8 million in punitive damages. They were found guilty of defamation, invasion of privacy, and intentional infliction of emotional distress. I don't think the punishment wasn't harsh enough.

Phelps and the members of Westboro Baptist Church, who constantly spew their hatred for others, is a disgrace to people who are genuinely religious. They are a total embarrassment to Baptists around the world, and the city of Topeka, Kansas where the "church" is located.

There is no doubt in my mind, this disgusting group of people should now rightfully hold the title of "2007 Asshole of the Year"!

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