I Would Like to Introduce to You: The Worst Person in America
Meet Fred Phelps.
To look at him, you’d think he was just an average Midwesterner who likes to wear Stetsons and drink bourbon. A God-fearing family man. Maybe he even owns a ranch and rides horses or something. (I’m not sure if he actually does any of these things.)
What I do know is that Mr. Phelps is the founder of the Westboro Baptist Church in Topeka, Kansas. This “church” has become notorious for “preaching” an anti-gay agenda (note: not suitable for work) at the expense of those families who have lost loved ones from the present war. Not only that, but this religious group has the poor taste of picketing and parading its “message” at the actual funerals of those soldiers who have died serving their country. The signs that they carry usually tote the motto of their website and other horrible messages which I will not repeat here because they are that bad. (again, not suitable for work, or anytime ever, really.)
Margie Phelps, the daughter of Pastor Crazypants claims that these funerals are the perfect stage to share their message. She says, “I remember watching the news, and all of its pomp and circumstance. These funerals are a major public platform and no one is telling the truth,” That’s right, from a Crazy’s mouth to your ears. Did I mention that it doesn’t matter if the soldier is gay or not? They are very non-discriminatory about whose funeral it is; just as long as you have people there to offend.
Can you be a worse person?
Now, I think crazy people are in most cases extremely entertaining. But this goes beyond that. When you have the utter audacity to disrespect a mourning family in the midst of the most tragic moment of their lives, you will be labeled the Worst People in America. Not only that, but they are protected by the Constitution to continue doing this most abominable act.
You heard it, the Phelps Clan of Crazies can never be prosecuted because they happen to be sticklers of the law and take precautions to make sure that their act is protected under freedom of speech. Since 1991, the Phelps’ have offended people at over 42,000 events including countless military funerals and I’m sure have been sued a boatload of times. Yet somehow in their insanity and repugnance, they have managed to stay out of prison and have avoided costly fines.
The price of freedom of speech can be such a pain sometimes.
