One of the true crazies of the religious Right in this country is the Reverend Fred Phelps, bona fide hatemonger and pastor of the Westboro (Kansas) Baptist Church. He’s the man who claimed that 9/11 was God’s payback to America for its tolerance of feminists and homosexuals, as was Hurricane Katrina, and he regularly drags his congregants all over the United States to let people know just how much “God hates fags.” (His words, not mine.) His group also protests funerals of soldiers and hate-crime victims (like Matthew Shepherd) for the same reasons. When the Westboro folks showed up in Chicago recently, this is what they looked like:
I can only imagine the good Reverend’s surprise when his flock was met by a hoarde of counter-protestors from the University of Chicago bearing their own signs, with messages like: “God Hearts Netflix” and “God Hates Gen Chem” and “God Loves Red Lobster” and — admittedly, my favorite– “God Hates the New Facebook.” Here they are in all their glory:
There’s a lot to be said for sardonic mockery. This truly is the Jon Stewart Generation.
That’s so awesome.
You may have seen it, but some fraternity boys protested in their own way.
Maybe it’s reinforcing some stereotypes, but the sentiment is good. Rock on, frat boys.
That is really cool.
In my intro classes I regularly show an episode of the show 30 Days that has a brief cameo by the good reverend. I might have to show my students these signs after.
And I’m pretty sure God doesn’t hate figs. They are delicious.
Thanks for that link, Mark. It’s really funny. And, in the video, I saw a couple more hilarious signs…. including my new fave: “God Hates It When You Don’t Call.”
God Listens to Kenny Loggins. Brill.