What it takes to reach pariah status — redux

June 12, 2006

A few days ago, after [tag]Ann Coulter[/tag]’s latest flap, I asked whether there was literally anything a conservative could say that would make him or her a [tag]pariah[/tag]. Apparently, there is one thing.

A discussion about protests by an anti-homosexual church at the funerals of fallen American soldiers turned into an astounding shoutfest on national television this weekend, with [tag]Fox News[/tag] host [tag]Julie Banderas[/tag] calling a fire-and-brimstone Christian preacher “the devil” and apparently condemning her to [tag]hell[/tag].

“You are the devil!” Banderas exclaimed to Shirley Phelps-Roper. “If you believe in the Bible, miss, you’re going to hell!”

Phelps-Roper, who believes America’s sinful behavior has resulted in God’s cursings rather than blessings, was appearing on “The Big Story” last night to talk about why members of her Westboro Baptist Church of Topeka, Kan., protest at funerals for slain U.S. troops with slogans such as “Thank God for 9-11,” “Thank God for IEDs (improvised explosive devices),” and “God Hates Fags.”

“What would you do if you had a son in the military?” an outraged Banderas asked. “Would you damn him to hell as well? Because you’re gonna join him there if you had a son!”

Apparently, when the right (Fox News) takes on the hyper-right (Westboro Baptist), it can get generate a little hostility.

Interestingly enough, I found this story by way of several conservative blogs, each of which were thrilled to see Fox News’ Julie Banderas rebuke Phelps-Roper on the air. As one put it, “What can anyone say to this? Heh, even my most liberal trolls agree with us that this cult is one of the most sickening manifestations of hate we have in America.” No argument here.

So, I guess there is some kind of line of decency that even conservatives don’t want to see crossed. Far-right activists who revile gays are fine, but far-right activists who revile [tag]gays[/tag] while protesting at slain soldiers’ funerals are not. Good to know.

I’m always amazed when those who (loudly) call themselves Christian shout at others that they’re bound for Hell. I guess I can understand it – they’re obviously emotionally disturbed and not very rational anyway – but still surprises me.

Even more disturbing, however, is when otherwise calm, bright, intelligent people (some of my best students in fact) smugly smirk and brag that they’ll be enjoying salvation (whatever that is) while I’m roasting in hellfire. And they really believe(ed) that. What a peculiar religion. What a miscarriage of Jesus’ apparently forgotten message of love.

I’m personally looking forward to the rapture, when all the so-called religious people have gone off to salvation and I’m “Left Behind” here in the garden of earthly delights.

  • “You are the devil!” Banderas exclaimed to Shirley Phelps-Roper. “If you believe in the Bible, miss, you’re going to hell!”

    Was this supposed to be a legitimate news story? Whatever happened to, “We report; you decide.”? Not that I haven’t decided or anything.

  • what was that “comment longer than the original post” rule of thumb from our troll experience some months ago, Steve?

  • what was that “comment longer than the original post” rule of thumb from our troll experience some months ago, Steve?

    Agreed. It’s gone.

  • CB, post number 2 is rather interesting no? Anyway, can you or any of your wise readers explain to me the connection (logical or not I guess) between the group hating homosexuals and what that has to do with the troops, the protests at the funerals, the IEDs?

  • I’ve always thought that this whole Westboro church thing was perhaps a sign that God really does exist. And he’s misled these churchies in order to offend the rest of us away from their gay-hating extremism. Not that I believe in gods or anything, but if I was God, this is exactly what I’d do. No better way to get people to push away from the extremes than to expose how extreme things can really be.

  • Bubba, I’ll take a shot based on my readings of their arguments when they were threatening to protest here. Trust me — it makes no sense, so if it seems that way, it isn’t my fault! – I’m just the messenger! 🙂

    1) The US is increasingly tolerant of homosexuality;
    2) This makes God most irate;
    3) God is punishing the US by letting our soldiers be killed in Iraq;
    4) The more we are punished, the more likely we repent and become intolerant of homosexuality;
    5) Therefore, the means of punishment are to be lauded because they hasten our return to grace;
    6) So cheering 9-11, IEDs, and American casualties in Iraq is the Godly, pro-Christian thing to do as we are siding with God in his judgment and punishment of sinful tolerance of homsexuality.

    Just typing that made my brain hurt.

  • Of course your brain hurts Zeitgeist, you are not supposed to think about it. Logic and internal consistency are not requirements of right-wing reasoning. In fact, they are frowned upon.

  • Decency, to the GOP, is a matter of perspective. I wouldn’t hold them to this line, if I were you.

    Anything that threatens to make the party look bad marks the line between good/evil. So the raid on the Branch Davidians Clinton was evil, evil, EVIL. But waging an illegal war of aggression is hunky dory, as is places like Gitmo and Abu Ghraib. Talk about moral relativism!

  • Zeitgeist,

    Actually, it is less complicated that that – Phelps and the Westboroians hate all things gay and their protests of funerals and praise of IEDs stems simply from the military’s “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” policy.

    Anything that is not as anti-gay as they are is, by their standard, pro-gay.

  • Zeitgeist and EO. Thanks. IJust reading it, and the lack of any real logic, does my head in.

  • ‘….. even my most liberal trolls……….’

    I take offense to that.

    I’m actually a half-orc 5th level fighter

  • I only wish the so-called liberals on television would have the guts to show some disgust and contempt where it is deserved.

    Bet Wesley Clark wouldn’t have been shy to show it for Coulter in her criticism of 9/11 widows.

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