Westboro Baptist Church Leader Fred Phelpd dies age 84

chronology: Anti Gay Activist Fred Phelps dies in Topeka Kansas today. Any thoughts from Wireclubbers

Slaughterin: I think many are partying.

LiptonCambell: Im worried about what kind of despicable person will take his place...

chronology: Lipton. Most folks expect Shirley to take over, but the group seems to be falling apart as people leave. even Megan left the group, she was a regular attender at all their demonstrations. The reasons people give for leaving is curious. As far as I understand, Rebeka is still a group member, (Rebaka who regularly walks over the United States Flag), Megan and Rebeka are Shirleys daughters, if Rebeka exits, Shirley will have a serious credibility problem in her endless Press Interviews.

davidk14: .

Chrono seems to be on a first name basis with those loons. I just knew them all as mentally disturbed at the very least. However I am glad though that their free speech was protected. In the face of evil, one has to stand up to it, and when we all do as one, we will be victorious.

chronology: David. Most Americans tend to let 'bygones be bygones' when someone like Fred dies, but in the case of old Fred they are making an exception. One man summed up the feelings of many folks in America when he Posted that Phelps never had any understanding or sympathy for any Americans who were hurting or suffering 'so screw him, I hope he died in pain and never had a peaceful death, because he did not deserve one'. Many folks feel that way across America. Personally I think he will be forgotten in a month. But it is doubtful if the thousands of families who the church gloated over when they lost children or homes in fires etc will forget old Fred, however much they would like to.

davidk14: .

I do not believe 'old Fred' will have a large funeral and pretty sure no one will go out to protest his death.

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wayne elliott: This man will now experince all the hurt and suffering he caused others with his choice to spend his life dishing out ridicule and hate. It is appalling that the Constitution can be used to allow and justify such practices. Hopefully, this is the end of westboro

DJupiterFlyTrap: Thing that troubles me the most is that he simply said in public what many religious people say in private.

davidk14: .

Were you ever there when religious people agreed with Fred's view of the world?

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chronology: DJupiterFlyTrap I have never ever heard a single person agree with Fred when he gloated over the deaths of Americans and laughed at them loosing homes to fires floods and earthquakes.

wayne elliott: Interesting doco from Louis Therouax BBC who went into Westboro and hung with them for a few days. Got to speak to Fred who was arrogant. Funny how the members (mostly the same family) avoided answering simple questions. They got alot of abuse in their roadside protests.

DJupiterFlyTrap: @ David...Yes, when I used to associate with religious folk. Although they didn't invoke his name, they espouse many of the same beliefs that he did, albeit expressed in a typically more diplomatic manner.

davidk14: .

Flytrap,

Seriously? That they were happy that US Soldiers died because of societal issues? You mean to tell me, that you used to associate with those that believed that God struck down US personnel and that they were happy that God sent their dead loved ones home in a box because of societal issues? Paaleez.

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chronology: DJupiterflytrap. So you are saying you knew people who chuckled instead of laughed out loud when American children were killed in a house fire? or they smiled instead of laughing when a Congresswoman was diagnosed with Breast Cancer? or they just smiled when thousands of people died of Flu in America?

DJupiterFlyTrap: @ Chron...There are many within the religious community that believe natural disasters are an expression of God's dissatisfaction with the current state of affairs. There are many who believe that homosexuality is a sign of the apocalypse. There are many who hate homosexuality and believe that their God does also. Most do not express these ideals with the fire-breathing wrath that Fred did. However, their core beliefs are essentially the same. Please note that I used the word "many" in my above statement and not "all". If you have never heard anyone agree with Fred's statements chances are that you either haven't associated with many religious folk or that they expressed their beliefs to you in a subtle manner and you did not get the gist of it.

chronology: DJupiterFlytrap. Honestly, I remember Westboro rejoicing that four American children were burned alive in a house fire, I think it was in Colorado. I have never known any person twisted enough to do that. Yes you are correct, some do make cruel comments about Gays. Even Sean Hannity was speechless one time when Shirley Phelps was thanking God for the little American Amish girls being shot in the head.

DJupiterFlyTrap: I think I should clarify. I did not mean to imply in my above statement that people say verbatim in private what Fred said in public concerning specific events. Concerning natural disasters, I have never actually heard someone break out in laughter upon hearing of the death and destruction but I have heard them say things like "Well, that's just gods judgement" in a rather unconcerned manner. Concerning homosexuality, I probably haven't heard people say "God hates f**gs", but I've heard plenty say that god hates homosexuality and that those who practice homosexuality will be destroyed. Personally, I don't see a lot of difference in the essence of what I've heard discussed in private and what Fred said in public but that's just me. Sorry for the confusion.

davidk14: .

My condolences to you and your family.

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The13th: Dont know Fred, but looks like another interesting character from the US of A. One of those old hard and harsh fellow belonging to another era. A bit of an extreme but perhaps only in thoughts and in words, but no in deed? If he is at the fire scene I would expect him to rush in and save the children?