05-10-2003 20:45									#1
	phelps is at it again. Support Apolyton

http://www.365gay.com/newscontent/1...lpsMemorial.htm

Phelps To Erect Matthew Shepard Monument
by 365Gay.com Newscenter Staff

(Casper, Wyoming) Anti-gay preacher Fred Phelps has announced intentions to erect a monument to Matthew Shepard the gay college student brutally murdered five years ago near Laramie.

But, the monument will be no memorial. Phelps says the monument would be 5 to 6 feet tall and made of marble or granite. It would bear a bronze plaque bearing the image of Shepard and have an inscription reading "MATTHEW SHEPARD, Entered Hell October 12, 1998, in Defiance of God's Warning: 'Thou shalt not lie with mankind as with womankind; it is abomination.' Leviticus 18:22."

The monument would be erected in downtown Casper, Shepard's home town.

Phelps has sent details of the monument to the city of Casper city council and there may be nothing the city can do to prevent it.

Phelps said he intends to put up the monument in City Park, already the location of a controversial statue of the Ten Commandments.

The Ten Commandments statue was donated to the city by the Fraternal Order of the Eagles in 1965.

After a court battle over a similar monument in the city of Ogden, the 10th Circuit Court of Appeals ruled that any city that displays a Ten Commandments monument on public property must also allow monuments espousing the views of other religions or political groups on that same property.

Phelps told Casper council in his letter that if it attempts to prevent him from erecting the homophobic monument he's prepared to go to court.

"That is exactly what I said would happen," said Councilwoman Barb Watters. She said she warned the city when it accepted the Ten Commandments statue that the city risked other monuments advocating anti-Semitism and hatred of other minorities.

''I think the hate language will find a very cold reception in this community,'' councilor Paul Bertoglio said. ''I think this community's backbone is going to come up and say 'We are not going to accept it.'''

The city council is looking at several options, one is fighting Phelps in court, another is moving the Ten Commandments out of the park, and yet another proposal would be to sell the land the park is on.

Phelps says he doesn't care what the city decides. If he is unable to put the statue in City Park he said he will find another location in the city.

During Shepard's funeral members of Phelps' Westoboro Baptist Church demonstrated in front of the chapel.

	05-10-2003 20:49									#2
	Enter the AD-FREE zone

(It's really the only way I can react, it's too surreal. Maybe a statue of Stalin would be nice)

	05-10-2003 20:52									#3
	Support Apolyton or Terrorists Win

Jesus, why can't both sides leave the poor dead kid alone?

	05-10-2003 20:58									#4
	Lose 30 kilos (of popups)

Phelps is just a twisted individual...but I guess that that's OK if it is done in God's name.

	05-10-2003 21:03									#5
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Please leave God out of this.

	05-10-2003 21:03									#6
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That's sick. How is this even illegal? Can't the relatives of this guy just say it can't be done, since it clearly trashers the guys honour, and even their families?

Someone should beat this guy senseless.

	05-10-2003 21:07									#7
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I have a plan to counter this fellow. Every gay man should now buy a dildo that is like a small statue of this man. Then they should stick it where it belongs .

	05-10-2003 21:08									#8
	Got spare money?

In fact, I BET I could make huge bunches of money now making this dildo. I bet there would be thousands of gay guys wanting this one. Who's with me? Who wants to make some dildos?

	05-10-2003 21:10									#9
	Increase Your PM Length

can't you guys arrest him or something? or is hate-mongering accepted behaviour in the US? (and don't give me freedom of speech bullshit, cause he's clearly crossing the line)

	05-10-2003 21:36									#10
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He's both moronic and rabid.

	05-10-2003 21:41									#11
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Don't you have to get a permit to alter city land?

Phelps is an ******* of the greatest magnitude.

	05-10-2003 21:45									#12
	Got spare money?

What kind of sick and twisted person would ever do such a thing

	05-10-2003 21:51									#13
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quote: Phelps has sent details of the monument to the city of Casper city council and there may be nothing the city can do to prevent it.

Why on earth can't they do something about it? What is the point of the city council otherwise?

	05-10-2003 21:52									#14
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quote: or is hate-mongering accepted behaviour in the US?

No, but it's legal.

	05-10-2003 22:28									#15
	Tired of ads?

Someone really outta shoot their entire family.

	05-10-2003 22:44									#16
	Tired of ads?

Too shocked and digusted to think of anything useful to say. Stone the bastard to death.

	05-10-2003 23:04									#17
	Put an end to popups!

Someone could turn the situation around and flood the park with sculptures that give a positive / tolerant message.

The Phelps dildo is a good idea, too. I think a butt plug would be more appropriate, however.

	05-10-2003 23:05									#18
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complete disrespect for human dignity

	05-10-2003 23:13									#19
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I fail to see how this is a first amendment issue- he's essentially slandering someone who's dead and can't defend themselves. That's not a religious expression.

The town should invoke eminent domain and tell them to piss off.

	05-10-2003 23:15									#20
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What a *****.

	05-10-2003 23:20									#21
	Remove this text

quote: Originally posted by Pekka That's sick. How is this even illegal? Can't the relatives of this guy just say it can't be done, since it clearly trashers the guys honour, and even their families? Someone should beat this guy senseless.

blow up doll of phelps bending over would sell better IMO.

	05-10-2003 23:26									#22
	Inflate your Upload Space

The family of Matthew Shepard should have some legal recourse, at least in civil court

	05-10-2003 23:30									#23
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Why can't somebody accidentally hit Phelps with a cruise missile or something? Y'know, he has to wander by a military testing range now and then, right? I mean, no one would be none the wiser. Just a big ol' crater left where Phelps and friends once were.

Gatekeeper

P.S. The devil made me say it! It did! It did, I tell ya!

	05-10-2003 23:32									#24
	Full PM-box? Change here!

This guy goes against the Christian principles of Tolerence and brotherly love.

This guy should go back to his bible and learn what it is all about.

	06-10-2003 00:14									#25
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quote: Originally posted by Jac de Molay I fail to see how this is a first amendment issue- he's essentially slandering someone who's dead and can't defend themselves. That's not a religious expression. The town should invoke eminent domain and tell them to piss off.

Freedom of expression in all forms is protected by the First Amendment. And you can't slander the dead, because they're dead.

Denying permits due to the content of the "memorial" is a bit of a problem, legally, because most of Phelp's family are lawyers with nothing else to do, and the city really shouldn't have to get tied up in court fights over stuff like this.

I'd be tempted to good ol' boy it, and quietly let the word out that once that thing was installed, if it got "lost" or "stolen" or had a load of ready mix poured on to it, or any other form of "unfortunate circumstance" that didn't kill anyone or destroy city property, then the city wouldn't be too bent out of shape, and local law enforcement might just be a tad too busy to make a priority of investigating such unfortunate acts.

	06-10-2003 00:18									#26
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Could someone please erect a statue in Phelp's hometown of him taking it up the ass from Jesus?

	06-10-2003 00:23									#27
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@ Asher. I like that.

The reason that we don't arrest someone like this is because of "slippery slope" sort of thing. We'd rather err on the side of caution when protecting freedom of expression. And frankly, in the grand scheme of things he's insignificant anyways.

	06-10-2003 00:23									#28
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quote: Originally posted by Gatekeeper Why can't somebody accidentally hit Phelps with a cruise missile or something?

We'd have to dress him up to look like a Chinese Embassy first................

	06-10-2003 00:40									#29
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quote: any other form of "unfortunate circumstance"

I happen to know someone who knows how to make quite a "bang" of it without hurting anyone or doing damage to surrounding property...

	06-10-2003 01:05									#30
	Avatar Enlargement: We've got the solution

quote: Originally posted by The Mad Monk Please leave God out of this.

I agree MM, but since Phelps is a preacher, everything his does and says, Rev. Phelps brings God into it.

I wonder if the Baptist church will excommunicate him. This way he can no longer "speak for God." Of course, I'm not holding my breath for this to happen...