Because I like beautiful girls.

Friday, July 9, 2010

Westboro Baptist Church is coming to Comic-Con

The Westboro Church has some stern words for us comic-loving, costuming, nerds:
Comic Con is an excuse for whores to wear skimpy get-ups (as if they don't already) without censure & for emulating rebels to compare costumes. Yikes. Put away your action figures & get about the business of serving your God. You fail as a human being because you shun your only obligation in this life. - From the Press Release

If these people would spend even some of the energy that they spend on these comic books, reading the Bible, well no high hopes here. They have turned comic book characters into idols, and worship them they do! Isaiah 2:8 Their land also is full of idols; they worship the work of their own hands, that which their own fingers have made: 9 And the ... See Moremean man boweth down, and the great man humbleth himself: therefore forgive them not. It is time to put away the silly vanities and turn to God like you mean it. The destruction of this nation is imminent - so start calling on Batman and Superman now, see if they can pull you from the mess that you have created with all your silly idolatry. - From the Picket Schedule

Comic-con has finally caught the eye of Fred Phelps and his so called 'church'. I'm only sad that I'll be at a panel so I can't counter protest colorful signs such as "# Thank God For IEDs # God Hates Fags # USA = Fag Nation # Thank God For Dead Soldiers # Thank God For $10.9 Million # God Is America's Terror # Your Pastor Is A Whore # Don't Worship The Dead # America Is Doomed # God Hates America # Fags Doom Nations # God Hates Fag Enablers # Fag Court # Priests Rape Boys # Fag Church # Fag Flag" . No, I'm not making these up check the website. I knew they were nuts but protesting outside a 200,000+ person convention in downtown San Diego? Sounds a bit suicidal too.

4 comments:

Yuka said...

If I could protest in their face without any crowd obstruction or getting sued, I would. The look on their faces would be priceless.

iyaaaanitsFuku said...

From Wikipedia. "The Westboro Baptist Church is not affiliated with any known Baptist conventions or associations. The church describes itself as following Primitive Baptist and Calvinist principles, though mainstream Primitive Baptists reject the WBC and Phelps.[6]"

This church is an outlier and is not indicative of the norm. Normal churches are about bringing together a local community of like minded individuals and promoting positive values, etc, etc. Which I think is a good thing.

I have a homosexual friend who goes to church and he's made a lot of friends there that he wouldn't be able to otherwise since he spends most of his time going to gay bar/clubs.

And Yuka I don't think you could get sued for counter-protesting. Why would you?

Yuka said...

@iyaaaanitsFuku: It's just a rumor, and I'm airing on the side of caution due to having the funds of a college student. The way that these guys are able to travel all around the U.S. is on the money they win in those cases. They're able to take it too far with people they talk to, since they've done it so often.

Jyuichi said...

Yay comments :D

As for counter protesting the legal basis varies from where exactly they are at the con but:

If they are on public (city) property such as the sidewalk/gaslamp area (most likely situation) you have the exact same rights they do. I bring up the first amendment a lot on this blog and it applies here too: “the right of the people peaceably to assemble.” As long as you do not block pedestrians or violate the law (noise/violence) you are allowed to protest.

If they dare to protest on convention center property things get a little muddier but you still have the upper hand. Since you are a badge holder, you are explicitly allowed on convention center premises provided you follow the terms and conditions set forth at the time of purchasing. They are not. Furthermore they are attempting to disrupt the event so it is likely the private security will have them off the property before you get the chance to protest. The convention center and comic-con both have nothing to gain from allowing the WBC on the land. First amendment protections do not apply because WBC would be removed for interfering with a private event irrespective of their political/religious views.

Whew that was long!

Fuku, its nice to hear from you again :) I guess I wasn't clear but, as you said, I don't really consider the WBC a "church". Churches are organizations of people working together for spiritual well-being. IMHO the WBC is simply a hate-group but more precisely they are simply a private organization. I am unsure of thier current tax-status (I know it has been denied/appealed/etc) but I think it takes more work that legal designation to become a church, churches help the public good (by spiritual education/etc) and I don't see WBC doing that.