Comments on: The ‘Real Story’ on Last Week’s Westboro Protest http://www.jerseycityindependent.com/2009/11/02/the-real-story-on-last-weeks-westboro-protest/ Thu, 09 Feb 2012 01:36:00 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.2.1 By: Jon Whiten http://www.jerseycityindependent.com/2009/11/02/the-real-story-on-last-weeks-westboro-protest/comment-page-1/#comment-16732 Jon Whiten Tue, 03 Nov 2009 14:55:43 +0000 http://www.jerseycityindependent.com/?p=6162#comment-16732 Alb- You are absolutely right re: Phelps' mental illness. That is an overlooked part of the Westboro phenomenon -- this POZ story from nearly 15 years ago also goes into the abuse that Phelps has allegedly inflicted on his children and family, to the point where they will do what he wants them to. An interesting theory is posed by a Kansas journalist: "that the family finds protesting so much fun because they have transformed their anger at Fred into a general rage at any target he puts in front of them." http://www.poz.com/articles/2106_13378.shtml Alb-

You are absolutely right re: Phelps’ mental illness. That is an overlooked part of the Westboro phenomenon — this POZ story from nearly 15 years ago also goes into the abuse that Phelps has allegedly inflicted on his children and family, to the point where they will do what he wants them to. An interesting theory is posed by a Kansas journalist: “that the family finds protesting so much fun because they have transformed their anger at Fred into a general rage at any target he puts in front of them.”

http://www.poz.com/articles/2106_13378.shtml

]]> By: Alb http://www.jerseycityindependent.com/2009/11/02/the-real-story-on-last-weeks-westboro-protest/comment-page-1/#comment-16726 Alb Tue, 03 Nov 2009 14:39:26 +0000 http://www.jerseycityindependent.com/?p=6162#comment-16726 I think the answer here is that, sure, there are some reasonably mentally healthy people in Kansas who are offensively conservative by Jersey City standards, but the pastor of the Westboro Baptist Church is delusional even by the standards of very conservative Kansas churches. A very conservative Kansas minister might fulminate against the sin of Onanism, or whatever, but he's not going to bring his family across the country to yell at the students in an ordinary public high school. So, it seems as if Phelps is just plain off his rocker. He's not just conservative; he's got a seriously messed up brain, along with enough charisma to get his family to buy into his delusions. It would be fun to yell at the guy, or throw tomatoes at him, but I think it would be kinder and more useful to donate to charities that try to help find ways to prevent, diagnose and treat conditions that wreck people's brains. I think the answer here is that, sure, there are some reasonably mentally healthy people in Kansas who are offensively conservative by Jersey City standards, but the pastor of the Westboro Baptist Church is delusional even by the standards of very conservative Kansas churches. A very conservative Kansas minister might fulminate against the sin of Onanism, or whatever, but he’s not going to bring his family across the country to yell at the students in an ordinary public high school.

So, it seems as if Phelps is just plain off his rocker. He’s not just conservative; he’s got a seriously messed up brain, along with enough charisma to get his family to buy into his delusions.

It would be fun to yell at the guy, or throw tomatoes at him, but I think it would be kinder and more useful to donate to charities that try to help find ways to prevent, diagnose and treat conditions that wreck people’s brains.

]]> By: Joi Kelley http://www.jerseycityindependent.com/2009/11/02/the-real-story-on-last-weeks-westboro-protest/comment-page-1/#comment-16584 Joi Kelley Mon, 02 Nov 2009 19:32:28 +0000 http://www.jerseycityindependent.com/?p=6162#comment-16584 I was so upset by this person's blog, that I couldn't write straight. What I meant to write was: What tiny town in Kansas did these crazies come from? I hope their next next journey is to see the wizard! I was so upset by this person’s blog, that I couldn’t write straight. What I meant to write was: What tiny town in Kansas did these crazies come from? I hope their next next journey is to see the wizard!

]]> By: Joi Kelley http://www.jerseycityindependent.com/2009/11/02/the-real-story-on-last-weeks-westboro-protest/comment-page-1/#comment-16571 Joi Kelley Mon, 02 Nov 2009 17:45:55 +0000 http://www.jerseycityindependent.com/?p=6162#comment-16571 What tiny little town in Kansas did these crazies come from! I hope there next journey is to see the wizard. What tiny little town in Kansas did these crazies come from! I hope there next journey is to see the wizard.

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