My plea to the Tennessee media
Fred Phelps’ followers are going to protest at the funerals of two fallen US soldiers in Tennessee tomorrow. Michael Silence has been on the story. I ask the press, with all sincerity, not to show up. Do not go to the funeral. Do not give these whackjobs a platform to spread their delusional message of hate.
If you do go (and some of you will), ignore these hate-mongering psychopaths. Cover the funeral only. Please. Do not give them air time. Do not talk to them. Look away. Leave the family to its grief and ignore these zealots.
It’s the decent thing to do.
August 26th, 2005 at 11:17 pm
Here’s hoping your words are listened to and followed.
August 27th, 2005 at 12:12 am
There is no excuse for this behavior. Any media that covers this type of behavior should be treated as a pariah. The same goes for anyone that would sink to this level. It is beneath human dignity.
August 27th, 2005 at 2:01 am
I don’t care what side you argue on, disrespect by protesting at a funeral is intolerable and appalling, and ditto to any media members who show up too.
August 27th, 2005 at 3:54 am
Actually, I think there ought to be media coverage. If there are grieving families being tortured by nutjobs, then this story ought to be covered. It should be covered from a respectful distance, it should not show pictures of the grieving family. It should have a more distant relative (e.g. 2nd cousin or something) saying something like “The family is having a very hard time and this isn’t making it easier. I don’t know why they want to destroy a day which is for celebrating the life and grieving for the loss of our fallen relative.”
The story should reveal what a hateful bunch of people the Phelpsites are to do something so cruel and tacky as to protest the funeral of a private citizen-soldier. It should NOT be a platform for the Phelps message.
But I can understand why you call for no media. Covering this story properly would require a degree of sensitivity we don’t always see.
Read the “coverage” of this by Big Orange Michael, that’s what we’re looking for.
http://bigorangemichael.blogspot.com/2005/08/plea.html
And of course, I urge counter-protesters, valid as their point might be, to stay away. These families don’t need any more trouble. Be the bigger person, don’t go.
August 28th, 2005 at 10:57 am
You know, I always figure if I developed pancreatic cancer or something equally incurable, I’ll find some bastard to take down with me. Fred Phelps is certainly high on that list.
August 29th, 2005 at 9:05 pm
It gets better. The m*****f**ker is a DEMOCRAT:
http://www.motherjones.com/news/feature/1999/03/lauerman.html