Emotional Vandalism vs. Freedom Of Speech: Will The Malice That Fred Phelps Embodies Prevail?

Is, Aug. 6th, the Supreme Court of The United States will hear oral arguments in the case of Snyder v. Westboro Baptist Church.

Fred Phelps has now gotten Exactly what he's always wanted: notoriety. From the time they threw the first punch at an attendee of a revival (at age 17, his first gig was Preaching to a Mormon group and someone Exactly Did not Agree with him), he's always courted fame. Fame through controversy. Fame through hate.

I've Followed Fred's trail for over 14 years. The first time I encountered Phelps was as a book publicist for Fr. Daniel Helmeniak, author of the book, What the Bible Really Says About Homosexuality. Helmeniak is an Eminent Scholar Jesuit Who Knew about Phelps and his homophobic rantings, so I was Able to get Daniel has a radio show in Kansas City, MO. Phelps, debating with him on the subject. Phelps was in the studio while Daniel was on a phone hook-up.

The interview was a typical Phelpsian circus with the Phelps clan picketing the radio station (allegedly for broaching the subject of Homosexuality). DURING the interview, Daniel Played The Sweet, But thoroughly professional, academic, politely Asking Phelps Which "pages" his Biblical were sitings are (knowing full well That Made Them Phelps had occurred up). Frustrated Phelps Grew impatient When The Time Came for questions from listeners WHO seemed to Share Daniel's knowledge and sophistication. They stormed out of the station in Less Than twenty minutes. The host, HOWEVER, Kept Daniel is - for a full 90 minutes - Because the call lines were heating up (the program had occurred only Been Scheduled for thirty minutes).

Phelps, the radio spot deemed a "success." He's a hit-and-run publicity man.

A year after Daniel's interview, I Came across an Unpublished manuscript Attached to a deposition as Exhibit A in a court case. It was an Unauthorized Biography of Fred Phelps. I read all 140 pages overnight.

Thurs label Fred Phelps as evil is ridiculous, simply Because, much like Any real monster, Phelps' persona is beyond Labeling. If Phelps' seoul Can be Labeled anything, the definition Closest Would Be Grotesque: it is Miss oxygen, in the ITS Hideous deformity; repulsive. Visually, it is like The Elephant Man, But without the slightest trace of humanity. And while Hitler Had a disfigured Conscience, Fred Phelps Seems To Have No Conscience at all. They Delights in Both Hating and Being Hated. They is a true egotist.

And as Such, they hungers Not for blood, but for publicity.