'Who's snuffed it now?'

[Flashheart]

Also, I know no one has articulated this here, but I hate the idea that you shouldn't speak ill of the dead, as if death absolves you of all blame for the actions of your life.

I think that may be a throwback from times where people were more religious/superstitious but I agree, why should death mean we can say no bad about a person? They're dead, what difference does it make what we say?

Of course there is feelings of the deceased's family to take into consideration, but not in this instance.

[Talk Talk]

I think this clip says it all really.

[4D]

There is a touch of hypocrisy creeping into this thread.

[Flashheart]

There is a touch of hypocrisy creeping into this thread.

How so?

[4D]

Wasn't the original grumble about disrespecting the dead?

[Flashheart]

Wasn't the original grumble about disrespecting the dead?

You've completely missed the point.

Do you think picketing the funeral of a soldier and saying good riddance to Fred Phelps are comparable?

[Pax Romana]

Sorry Jan, but that is nonsense.

Phelps was nothing but pure evil who hurt other people that had never done a thing wrong to him. Picketing the funerals of dead soldiers and telling the parents it's their fault, it's difficult to think of much worse.

The world is better off without people like him. I don't mean to say that as a sound-byte people often say when somebody dies: I mean the world is literally better off without the likes of him in it and I am, literally, pleased that he is no longer on this planet because the alternative is that he is still on the planet spreading his hatred.

It's just unfortunate that he has left behind a legacy.

And very good on Russell Brand but why is he attending the funeral at all?

That's not the point being made.  Yes he was an evil hate-filled man and I'd agree that the world is better off without him, but tweeting his family to taunt them over his death is showing the same mindless hatred that characterised his sad little life.  Do that and we end up in a lynch-mob world where we decide that we are entitled to treat people as badly as they try to treat us.  Effectively that it's ok to torture a torturer.  By replicating their actions (in the name of moral outrage, common decency etc etc) you legitimise their actions.

[4D]

I saw the Louis Theroux program and it did anger me.

[Flashheart]

That's not the point being made.  Yes he was an evil hate-filled man and I'd agree that the world is better off without him, but tweeting his family to taunt them over his death is showing the same mindless hatred that characterised his sad little life.  Do that and we end up in a lynch-mob world where we decide that we are entitled to treat people as badly as they try to treat us.  Effectively that it's ok to torture a torturer.  By replicating their actions (in the name of moral outrage, common decency etc etc) you legitimise their actions.

The fallen soldiers and their families are, as far as we know, innocent.

Fred Phelps' son is not. Fuck him.

[pauld]

Fred Phelps' son is not. Fuck him.

Eeeuurrgggghhh, no thanks. Each to their own and all that ....

[Flashheart]

Anyway... the Westboro Baptist Church preach that every single thing, including death, is an act of god and should therefore be rejoiced.

I wonder if they are rejoicing now.

[fuzzy]

Apparently Pastor fred was excomunicated by his church........

[Batch]

 Yes he was an evil hate-filled man and I'd agree that the world is better off without him, but tweeting his family to taunt them over his death is showing the same mindless hatred that characterised his sad little life.  

Isn't that the entire point, for want of a better expression giving a taste of his own medicine. Fuck 'rising above it'.

I've not actually checked the son was involved, but equally I've not tweeted him. yet.

[janaage]

That's not the point being made.  Yes he was an evil hate-filled man and I'd agree that the world is better off without him, but tweeting his family to taunt them over his death is showing the same mindless hatred that characterised his sad little life.  Do that and we end up in a lynch-mob world where we decide that we are entitled to treat people as badly as they try to treat us.  Effectively that it's ok to torture a torturer.  By replicating their actions (in the name of moral outrage, common decency etc etc) you legitimise their actions.

Agreed, not for one minute am I backing up a single thing the stupid prick said during his life. But, personally, I couldn't bring myself to take the piss out of someone who's just lost their dad. You can't choose your relatives and this fuckers son had no chance in life.

I don't mind speaking ill of the dead, just find a time of passing not the time to lower yourself to the 'standards' not set by others. I prefer some dignity.

[janaage]

The fallen soldiers and their families are, as far as we know, innocent.

Fred Phelps' son is not. Fuck him.

Come off it, Fred Phelps' son didn't stand any chance of turning out in any other way. Imagine having a father like that. I'm no airy fairy liberal, but that lad had a zero percent chance of being 'normal'. Brainwashed from an early age, I actually pity the lad. No shit.