The Westboro Baptist Wackos Are In Town Today

[ChoppinBroccoli]

They are protesting at a high school right down the road from where I live. And why are they there? It seems THEY don't even know. When a local TV news station asked why they were protesting at this particular high school, their spokesperson answered, "Because that high school teaches 'Revolution 101.'" A spokesperson for the school replied, "we have no class called 'Revolution 101.'"

But here's the REAL reason why they're there (and it's quite possibly even stupider than the non-explanation above). A DIFFERENT suburban high school here in Columbus (known as Worthington Kilbourne H.S.) has a class that's called "Post-Rad" that deals with radicals of every stripe, and they actually INVITE radical people to come and share their views with the class. So Worthington Kilbourne INVITED these wackos to come speak in that class. However, since showing up at a school as an invited guest wasn't rude and obnoxious enough for these walking pieces of filth, they decided to go have a protest at a completely DIFFERENT suburban school (known as Hilliard Darby). And yes, in case you were wondering, Worthington and Hilliard are two DIFFERENT suburbs of Columbus with two DIFFERENT public school systems.

To their credit, the Hilliard schools have asked everyone in the area to just stay away and/or ignore the protest, and I recognize that the absolute worst possible thing you can do to these "people" is ignore them, but it is quite tempting to go over there and give them a bit of a "welcome." I understand that several people have been organizing a counter-protest. I probably will just stay away, but it is awfully tempting to head over there.

[valerief]

1. Ah, Westboro again, showing the world the stuff fundies are made of. nt

[Deep13]

2. It's reassuring to know that I am better than some people.

Thanks, Phelps. On my worst day I can still hold my head high and say, "I am better than Fred Phelps."

But then, who isn't.

[brooklynite]

3. Ignore them, and they'll go away...

They're like the guy with the "The world is ending" sandwich board. Engaging them will never be productive; just step around them and keep walking.

[HopeHoops]

4. Moon them.

[ProgressiveProfessor]

5. Any flat tires yet?

[denverbill]

6. Head over there with a big 'GOP Loves Fred' poster. n/t

[sinkingfeeling]

7. My old college roommate was from Hilliard. I was raised on a farm near London.

[damntexdem]

8. If you do see them, ask them about their zip code: why DOES it start 666?

;-)