I know. It can make someone feel a little guilty for feeling a sigh of relief when someone odious dies, but for Fred Phelps, and anyone who is a facsimile of Fred Phelps, they'd best postpone, or avoid, meeting God. But that's not possible!
He leaves behind a legacy of hate and intolerance that hurt many people even his own family (like Lauren and the others who ran away). As an atheist there is nothing more to say, he is dead thats it
I hope he finds some peace that he never was able to find in his life. No one filled with so much hatred was stable.
He was a mirror that your average homophobe did not like looking into and in death he'll never harm another human being again. That's about all I got to say about him.
Libby Phelps who was kicked out of Westboro Baptist Church posted this today on her Facebook. "One way or another, he's at peace. There's only Heaven or peaceful nothingness. That's what I think." RIP, Gramps. I love you forever. I'm so sorry for the harm he caused. That we all caused. But he could be so kind and wonderful. I wish you all could have seen that, too. I understand those who don't mourn his loss, but I'm thankful for those who see that "An eye for an eye leaves the whole world blind." Love and peace to all. The world needs more of both." I won't be mourning his loss or crying over him, but I do understand where she is coming from. I'm not going to stoop down to his level, and bash him like he did to others. That would make me as bad as him. It was her grandfather, and she still loved him no matter what he was like. I find it kinda sad that he started out as a civil rights leader, and then turned into such a hateful person. I agree, the world needs more love and peace not hate.
Yes I also see where she is coming from. Not going to shed a tear for this man, but I wont go down to their level either. I'll give him a worse fate, I'll forget about him. To me there is nothing worse then if you are forgotten, since I don't believe in an afterlife.
I feel sorry for the people that (for unknown reasons) liked him. Otherwise I'm going to get on with my life.
He kinda helped radicalise homophobia / make it seem like an extreme viewpoint, and therefore pushed equality into the mainstream. Even if unintentional, I think he did more than his fair share in favour for gay rights in his lifetime.
I understand why people are hurt by what he and his church has done, trust me I understand. However, the we have to realize is that he was still someone's father and grandfather. He loved his family, there is no denying that, and that protesting that his church did, was out of love. A very twisted form of love, but love none the less. I am not excusing what he had done by any means. But what you guys seem to be missing is that he was still a person just like you and I. No one has a right to celebrate his death. That is just cruel and wrong. How would you feel if you found out someone was celebrating the death of your father or grandfather? It would hurt. You would be upset, and rightfully so, now imagine what his family is going through, after seeing post like these. They loved him. Losing someone you love is painful enough, why put the family through more hell. To celebrate his death is be on wrong and is cruel to his family.
I know I'm supposed to be big about this but... *pauses to stand up and do the Happy-Fred-Phelps-Is-Dead Dance* Can't say I'm sad about it.