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Post details: The Good, The Bad, and the Ugly

03/12/08

03:38:28 pm, Categories: Announcements [A], 111 words

The Good, The Bad, and the Ugly

GOOD: The American Family Association has ended its boycott of Ford Motor Company. They were protesting Ford's donations to gay friendly associations. In the end, Ford didn't change any policies, but reduced all donations due to financial pressure. Ford is STILL earning the highest gay-friendly ratings by the Human Rights Campaign. In other words, the AFA completely buckled -- thereby showing how weak they really are.

BAD: The walking dung at GodHatesFags.com won a lawsuit in Kansas and is once again allowed to protest military funerals.

Ugly: A gay teen has been denied asylum and will likely be deported to iran, where the bloodthirsty barbarians already executed his lover for sodomy.

73 comments

Comments:

Comment from: FlyingWeasel [Member]

ouch... is there any sort of appeal for the asylum that would benefit from some public support?

03/12/08 @ 16:01

Comment from: mxracer652 [Member]

Why is protesting bad?

Every time these jackoffs get attention, it just drives more people away from teh stupid.

03/12/08 @ 16:01

Comment from: What [Member]

Gotta agree with Mxracer. We couldn't wish for a better PR campaign against the religiously insane.

03/12/08 @ 16:24

Comment from: What [Member]

The Ugly is really ugly.

03/12/08 @ 16:26

Comment from: alexatheist [Member]

The southern baptists ended their boycott of Disney too because it was totally ineffective and Disney is more gay friendly than ever. I'll be at Gay Days in Orlando again this summer along with my 1esbian friend, her wife, and their two kids who adore me. Wonder if pat robertson will again wrongly predict god hurling a meteorite at Florida for flaunting our faggotry in god's face? Bwahahaha!

Westboros baptist church's right to free speech is way more important than silencing their funeral protests no matter how disgusting they are. They were in Athens, GA protesting Eve Carson's death because they think that UNC is a faggot school which, of course, it is. Why else do you think I live here?

Can't the gay Iranian teen get asylum in Canada? or Europe? they take everbody.

03/12/08 @ 16:47

Comment from: karen [Member]

Whoa. WE denied the gay teen asylum? On what grounds? Because he's Iranian?
Is there more to the story? Can we raise our voices in his defense? Who do we contact?

03/12/08 @ 17:48

Comment from: Ren [Member]

I am in total agreement with Alex's sentiments about Westboro baptist church's right to free speech. When you have free speech, you must take the good with the bad, or you don't really have free speech.

I'll go one further, and state that Iraqis, and any other country that is illegally invaded, have the right to defend themselves, even if that includes killing American soldiers. All the more reason we need to get the hell out of Iraq, and if need be, send them all to Afghanistan where the real fight is.

No, I am NOT in favor of killing American soldiers, so please take that statement at face value and don't overanalyze it.

03/12/08 @ 18:05

Comment from: karen [Member]

Um. So Britain and then the Netherlands denied him asylum. Not us. He's going to appeal in the Netherlands. Apparently, the Netherlands deal is because of red tape: they can't grant him asylum because it was already denied in England, another EU country. SNAFU. Jeez, you'd think someone would have the sense to know they're putting a noose around this kid's neck if they send him back to Iran.

03/12/08 @ 18:11

Comment from: karen [Member]

I sent a plea to the Dutch Ministry of Foreign Affairs asking them to reconsider favorably the case of Mehdi Kazemi. If anyone else want to do the same, here is a direct link to their email:

http://tinyurl.com/yuyudc

03/12/08 @ 18:35

Comment from: thx1138 [Member]

BAD: The walking dung at GodHatesFags.com won a lawsuit in Kansas and is once again allowed to protest military funerals.

I don't see it as bad. He serves two good purposes:

1) It demonstrates that America doesn't just pay lip service to the 1st Amendment.

2) The 'God Hates Fags' piece of feces makes his 'point' look really stupid, even to the most benighted.

03/12/08 @ 18:38

Comment from: wafflesatnoon [Member] · http://www.wafflesatnoon.com

Funny how Christian-based hate sites like that are somehow ok to them, but atheist sites are "persecution."

03/12/08 @ 18:42

Comment from: Ren [Member]

Karen,

I also just sent a plea to the Dutch Ministry of Foreign Affairs asking them to reconsider favorably the case of Mehdi Kazemi.

Don't know what good it will do, but it certainly can't hurt. Thank you for providing the contact information to the Dutch Government.

03/12/08 @ 18:55

Comment from: ☺ Seeker ☺ [Member] · http://www.peteseeker.com

I'm frustrated when gays demand individual rights, then demand "hate crime" legislation that would temper the free speech of their opponents.

"Live and let live" applies to gays as well as their opposition.

Concerning refusing asylum to Iranian gay teen: Was he HIV infected?

The USA bans HIV infected immigrants.

"Gay rights and AIDS activists have called on Congress to repeal the ban, calling it a violation of human rights. Opponents note that the U.S. is one of only 13 countries in the world to have enacted such a ban.

"The other countries are Armenia, Brunei, China, Iraq, Qatar, South Korea, Libya, Moldova, Oman, Russia, Saudi Arabia and Sudan."

[ source ]

03/12/08 @ 19:27

Comment from: ☺ Seeker ☺ [Member] · http://www.peteseeker.com

http://www.expressgaynews.com/thelatest/thelatest.cfm?blog_id=17019

03/12/08 @ 19:28

Comment from: timmy [Member]

It would appear that most contributors to this thread believe that some lives are more valuable than others.

Why isn't there equal outrage amongst you against islamic death penalty for heterosexual fornication and adultery?

I think it would strengthen the validity of your concerns if you weren't quite so overtly discriminatory in which battles you choose when it comes to inequality and injustice.

03/12/08 @ 19:53

Comment from: Augustine [Member]

I thought that westboro was sued for enough money to ruin them. Where did they get more funds?
Also, I'm going to be visiting colleges with my school next week. Can anyone name any questions that would be really good to ask?
Lastly: honestly Phreekdom, "taking the pludge"? So I'm apparently a failure because I have adult interests? I'd like to point out that you've probably "taken the pludge" as well, seeing how you did not name yourself as one of the phantom twelve virgins.

03/12/08 @ 19:58

Comment from: Augustine [Member]

Timmy,
I don't know a lot about islamic law in Iran. Can you tell me where to check up for information?

03/12/08 @ 20:00

Comment from: alatham [Member]

timmy,

That outrage has been expressed plenty of times in the past, for we atheists it goes without saying I think.

If we were to express outrage at every injustice there would be no space left for discussion. Just because some outrage goes unstated doesn't mean that it doesn't exist.

Why would you come to the conclusion that we care more about the lives of gay people than heterosexual people?

03/12/08 @ 20:20

Comment from: quantum_flux [Member]

I'm pretty sure most of the Middle Easterners have no idea what naked bodies look like either. They just know that "sodomy" means "kill this person". It's in their religion.

Hold on, a plan to subvert the enemy is at hand here .... what if we dropped payloads of p#rn#gr#ph#c materials all over the Middle East?

Would they all kill each other because of breaking their religion? Or would they be so deluded that they thought they were in heaven seeing "virgins" and that is what the gods had promised them, so they stop fighting?

03/12/08 @ 21:05

Comment from: DD Dropout [Member]

Free speech legislation is not needed for the protection of popular ideas, therefore its only use must be to protect unpopular expression of opinions.

Versions of hate speech laws that add penalties to existing crimes don't do anything very useful, except allow some legislators to take credit as white knights fighting the good fight.

This Canadian votes that canada1989 gets the boot for spamming long brainless cut-and-paste comments in multiple postings.

Unless that violates his or her constitutional rights, of course.

03/12/08 @ 22:29

Comment from: kosher dilemma [Member]

Are there any internet petition sites for the ugly?
Can he be deported to any other country in the Americas or Europe like alexatheist says?
It is real disturbing.
Anything we can do other than comment?

03/12/08 @ 23:25

Comment from: kosher dilemma [Member]

I forgot... my condolences for his friend.
A really disgusting situation.

03/12/08 @ 23:27

Comment from: flashbazzzbo [Member]

Please ,Canada,keep your dishonest bullshit for the x-ian blogs.Thats where they belong.Did you really think you were going to come in here with your"I dont care for god"rhetoric,and then,proceed to capitilize,"him",and "god",and think we were going to buy your imbecelic bullshit?Really? But,I suppose this will mark me as weak,as per your last sentence,because,of course,YOU SAID IT YOURSELF!!!!That makes it true,beyond all doubt.You are a typical troll,who thinks that with a little misdirection,you can divert the issue to your god love,and we will all come to see the failure in our thought process,and fall down on our knees and worship your individual brand of invisible magic man.Seriously,Canada,that has been tried before,by individuals much more intelligent than yourself.Are you new to the False God biz,or have you been,(and I say this with all due contempt)born again??Get on with your own personal rapture and do everybody a huge favor,nutsack.Oh wait,I meant Nutsack.(I can capitilize,too)

03/12/08 @ 23:35

Comment from: karen [Member]

timmy
If there was an incident involving anyone being refused asylum because they were threatened with death in Iran for heterosexual fornication or adultery, I would be just as concerned as I am about this young gay man. It just so happens that his case is the one that is making the news. Maybe you missed it, but we were outraged over the young girl who was raped, then sentenced to prison and lashings for having gotten raped. We were outraged over the man who killed his daughter for seeing a boy outside her faith. In those cases we could do nothing. For this boy, we can at least contact the Dutch Foreign Affairs Office and let them know the world is watching and hoping they will cut through the red tape and act to save a life. Our actions may be fruitless, but at least we can make the effort.

03/12/08 @ 23:45

Comment from: phreedm [Member]

Comment from: Augustine

Also, I'm going to be visiting colleges with my school next week.

Well that explains a lot...

So I'm apparently a failure because I have adult interests?

Ah...now did I call you a failure? You're the only one that can tell if you're a failure or not...

I'd like to point out that you've probably "taken the pludge" as well, seeing how you did not name yourself as one of the phantom twelve virgins.

Of course I took the plunge...I'm a 54 year old happily married individual...and the rest of the time I'm awake...

As for college and questions. What are your interests? Where do you want to be in life in 10 years? How are you planning on paying for school?

In all seriousness, I've worked with teens for over 15 years and have had this discussion many times. Please feel free to email me and I'll be glad to share any facts or knowledge I've discovered over the years in looking for a school. Are you familiar with FAFSA yet?

phreedm@yahoo.com

03/12/08 @ 23:51

Comment from: kosher dilemma [Member]

Thank you Karen. A good starting point.

03/13/08 @ 00:15

Comment from: karen [Member]

kosher dilemma

Don't know if you saw it, but I posted a link farther up in this post to the email page for the Dutch FAO. If you want to send them a message, that makes it easy for you. I got an email confirmation almost immediately from them that they'd received my message. It said I'd receive a reply in about 2 days, but I don't know if that will really happen. I may send another message tomorrow.

03/13/08 @ 00:37

Comment from: Tarma [Member]

DD Dropout,

This Canadian votes that canada1989 gets the boot for spamming long brainless cut-and-paste comments in multiple postings.

This Canadian-born (but naturalized American) agrees wholeheartedly!

1989... Ha! I've got socks older than that :)

03/13/08 @ 00:42

Comment from: What [Member]

Candidiasis1989

You're like a nasty fungal infection - superficial, persistent and self-limited. Don't make me go miconazole on you.

03/13/08 @ 00:52

Comment from: What [Member]

In all seriousness, I've worked with teens for over 15 years and have had this discussion many times. Please feel free to email me and I'll be glad to share any facts or knowledge I've discovered over the years in looking for a school.

Listen up pervert! You can take your trolling for minors to another blog. Dave, how can you permit this?

03/13/08 @ 00:58

Comment from: flashbazzzbo [Member]

Karen,I dont think you need to explain.The subject matter is what it is,and I have no doubt that injustice and prejudice would outrage all of us,all of the time.No matter as to whether this man is gay,hetero,canadian,or otherwise,the fact that he could face death because of sexual orientation is reason enough for all right thinking people to stand up .(No canadians were meant to be harmed in this post).

03/13/08 @ 00:58

Comment from: karen [Member]

Here is an online petition you can sign about Mehdi Kazemi. This one is to go to the British government:

http://www.ipetitions.com/petition/UKMADHI/

03/13/08 @ 01:22

Comment from: What [Member]

Karen

Thanks for digging up those addresses.

03/13/08 @ 02:25

Comment from: TXatheist [Member] · http://txatheist.blogspot.com

Thanks for the link Karen. As much as I hate Fred Phelps actions I agree with free speech and he has that right.

Augustine,
I do not recommend Phreedm as a source to talk to about life goals.

Murdered for being gay? Just barbaric.

03/13/08 @ 09:11

Comment from: kosher dilemma [Member]

karen:
Yes, I do thank you for your efforts. I signed the petition and got a confirmation.
Thank you, again.

03/13/08 @ 09:52

Comment from: GodFree&Glad [Member]

Thanks for the addresses KAREN.

Canada (and Phreedy):

I don't know about anybody else, but I don't waste my time on your posts. Yawn . . .

03/13/08 @ 10:09

Comment from: alexatheist [Member]

OT

Unbelievable! One of the animals that was caught for Eve Carson's murder was also charged with the unsolved Januaray murder of a Duke grad student.
Hope he enjoys spending the rest of his wretched life as somebody's "bitch".

http://abclocal.go.com/wtvd/story?section=news/local&id=6017372

03/13/08 @ 11:47

Comment from: karen [Member]

More information on Mahdi Kazemi. There is now a website dedicated to helping him. It has more of his story, the online petition is there, and there are email addresses of British officials to write to concerning the situation.

http://www.madhikazemi.com/

03/13/08 @ 12:25

Comment from: Canadian BC [Member]

Canada 1989

I get the sense you think you are a lot smarter than the rest of us. Maybe you are, butyour "text" is hard to read. I sence you don't like us atheists. You think we don't know much about history, au contre.

I thank Karen and others for straight, clear and to the point rebuttels to Canada1989/

03/13/08 @ 12:37

Comment from: Canadian BC [Member]

Sorry for spelling errors

03/13/08 @ 12:44

Comment from: alatham [Member]

Some good news about Mahdi Kazemi from the BBC:

The UK rejected his first asylum plea, but Jacqui Smith has now granted him a temporary reprieve from deportation while she reconsiders his case.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/7294908.stm

Good luck to that guy, I'll hope for the best.

03/13/08 @ 13:15

Comment from: karen [Member]

alatham

That is good news! And folks can email Jacqui Smith from that website for which I just put up a link.

03/13/08 @ 13:35

Comment from: rna2dna [Member]

I don't think Mehdi Kazemi will be sent to Iran but, it is disgusting that he need even wonder if it might happen. Thanks for the action information, karen.

Also, you christians are pointing out, AGAIN, with your words (and lack thereof) and actions (and lack thereof) why, with a clear conscience I can write:

SUCK IT Jesus Christ, and your disgusting little God-idea fantasy too!

03/13/08 @ 14:39

Comment from: DeepDiver [Member]

I am for responsible free speech.

You yell fire in a theater, that is your right, but you better be ready to pay for it. Anyone hurt, you will pay for medical coverage. Everyone’s time wasted, you will pay for their time. Everyone’s tickets that were wasted, you will pay for it. And any other costs accrued, you will pay for it.

If you go to a funeral and disrupt it with slander, you should be sued for defamation of character.

If I am at the funeral and I see you disrupting it, you will pay for the stitches on my knuckles from your missing teeth.

People have the right not to hear other peoples crap too.

03/13/08 @ 15:10

Comment from: alexatheist [Member]

People have the right not to hear other peoples crap too.

Not in public accomodations they don't. As much as I hate fed phelps he has ever right to stand on a public sidewalk and picket funerals just as I have the right to stand on a public sidewalk in front of westboro baptist church and protest.

03/13/08 @ 15:58

Comment from: What [Member]

SUCK IT Jesus Christ, and your disgusting little God-idea fantasy too!

I second that emotion.

... and what DD said!

03/13/08 @ 16:19

Comment from: DD Dropout [Member]

DeepDiver,

I have seen several times now that one of the tactics used by Phred Phelps and family is to provoke physical retaliation so they can sue.

They may be religious idiots, but they are apparently cunning as well as despicable.

03/13/08 @ 16:36

Comment from: karen [Member]

Phelps et al are planning to protest at the memorial service for Eve Carson, at UNC Chapel Hill. The students are organizing and will all be wearing their Carolina Blue for the occasion. A number of them plan to surround the Phelps marchers with a wall of blue and shield the rest of the parties who are going to the memorial from the Westboro group.

03/13/08 @ 16:42

Comment from: alexatheist [Member]

Karen,
I have already made my plans to be there and have been wearing Carolina blue all week.

03/13/08 @ 17:53

Comment from: karen [Member]

Alex
My son says the phelps crowd is supposed to be between Hinton James and Craig Dorms on Bowles(?)Dr.

Glad you'll be there. Remember, don't give them any reason to sue ya!

03/13/08 @ 18:40

Comment from: alexatheist [Member]

According to godhatesfags.com they will be in the general area of the Smith Center along with the rest of the crowd. I'm not stupid enough to physically attack these troglodytes but I do plan to invite a new friend of mine and to french kiss him in front of phelps.

03/13/08 @ 20:46

Comment from: karen [Member]

Alex

HEEHEEHEEHEE!!!!

My son says their permit is for the area I told you about. I did see a WBC posting that said they'd be at the DeanDome though. Scott's getting his info from one of the campus organizers.

03/13/08 @ 21:07

Comment from: karen [Member]

Oy weh!

Has anyone heard the anti-gay screed mouthed by Oklahoma State Rep. Sally Kern (sallykern@okhouse.gov) and caught on tape without her knowledge?

I left her email up there because I sent her a little love letter too.

It's probably on Youtube, but I was directed to it at Pandagon, so I give you the tiny url for that site:

http://tinyurl.com/2ryqvx

03/13/08 @ 22:04

Comment from: Boise Jim [Member]

Alex-
That's great! You might just make Phelps have a heart attack.

I can't wait to see a picture of the wall of 'Carolina Blue' surrounding that idiot and his sheep.
If I lived there, I would be one of the first to show up.

03/13/08 @ 22:38

Comment from: phreedm [Member]

Augustine...

Yeah...don't take any advice from those who haven't a clue as to what they're discussing...

So...let's here it "What". What pearls of wisdom do you have for a freshman going off to college?

You also TXatheist...

What do you think is the most important issue a new college student will face?

What is the best advice any of you can give...?

How many of you have ever been through the maze of tuition? Grants? FAFSA?

03/13/08 @ 22:49

Comment from: phreedm [Member]

Hey Ren....

Is this the guy you're placing your hopes for tomorrow on...?

http://wnd.com/index.php?fa=PAGE.view&pageId=58858

Be sure to watch the video. You know the "messiah" attended church with this guy for over 20 years!

I told you the longer this goes on the more is going to be revealed about Obama...

03/13/08 @ 23:15

Comment from: tuxpad [Member]

I think people should give Phelps a dose of his own medicine. Like God Loves Fags. People should turn up at freds protests with caricatures of Jesus banging the apostles. Maybe Paul giving a little oral. The best proof that JC is gay is himself. After all, he came down to Earth so he could get nailed, right? That would get freds goat. Or sheep. No wait, his lamb. A skit or two would be very effective. The BJ of the christ. Sucking Up, Going Down. The secret diaries of Paul. Who would Jesus do? Judas & Jesus - The BreakUp & the Betrayal.
I wonder how ol' fred would take it. Hell, you can't get sued for libel by jesus. He can't even do that and he's supposed to save the world?

03/14/08 @ 04:14

Comment from: tuxpad [Member]

03/14/08 @ 04:15

Comment from: (: tom :) [Member] · http://www.funnyfarmonline.org/

Irony alert:

Comment from: phreedm

Yeah...don't take any advice from those who haven't a clue as to what they're discussing...

...like religiously insane idiots who think they're qualified to pontificate about things they have no knowledge of. And then have the unmitigated gall to tell others who they should take advice from. And then be rude and ignorant enough to continue to spew your cultish swill at a web site devoted to rationality.

So - let's here it, phreakshow: why do you think anyone should listen to anything you have to say, when you have no clue as to what you're talking about?

Why do you think anyone should consider answering any of your questions, when you ignore anything they ask of you?

Why do you think any sort of WorldNutDaily article would have any meaning or factual accuracy?

And why do you think anyone will pay any attention to your slanderous falsehoods about Obama, when you can't even be honest about your own 'messiah'?

03/14/08 @ 05:05

Comment from: Charlie [Member]

Dave....you must have deleted Canada 1989 post(s)....now the responseness to this mentally challenged person makes no sense...

It seems the god hates fags club and the Iranian Government have something in common...

03/14/08 @ 07:13

Comment from: cry4turtles [Member]

Go Alex! Got a videophone? You should capture "The Kiss". I sense your 15 minutes of fame calling!

03/14/08 @ 07:47

Comment from: pha [Member]

Augustine

Try to find out what kind of study abroad programs the school has. Leaving the country for a little while will give you a new perspective on things and open your mind.

03/14/08 @ 10:02

Comment from: Rusty Shackleford [Member]

DD,

Actually you don't have the right to yell "fire!" in a crowded theater (unless, of course, there really is a fire). That's one of the exceptions to free speech.

As loathsome as they are, the Phelps crowd has a constitutional right to peaceably assemble and express their views. They can't be singled out for special treatment just because their message is unpopular. Atheists, who are probably almost as unpopular among the general public as the Phelps clan, should be particularly sensitive to that fact.

03/14/08 @ 11:15

Comment from: RiftPoint [Member]

Augustine,
I just graduated from college last year, I don't know much about FASFA, but I can help you with any transitional questions you might have!

03/14/08 @ 11:18

Comment from: alexatheist [Member]

Apparently the gay kissing thing is a tactic which is often used to counter protest phelps so I doubt he will be shocked. Still, it will be funny.

03/14/08 @ 11:34

Comment from: karen [Member]

Charlie
It was actually Mrs. Dave who deleted canada1989 for us. She wrote me that Dave is out of town. All Hail the blog Goddess!

03/14/08 @ 12:42

Comment from: (: tom :) [Member] · http://www.funnyfarmonline.org/

Thanks Mrs. Dave for the assist with canada1989...

03/14/08 @ 14:12

Comment from: mxracer652 [Member]

Alex,
instead of making out, why not blow up some porn shots and make posters/signs out of them. Like maybe a good ass to mouth sequence?

03/14/08 @ 16:00

Comment from: karen [Member]

mxracer

And photoshop the phelps gangs' heads on the people in the porn shots!!!!
BWAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!

03/14/08 @ 16:19

Comment from: alexatheist [Member]

And photoshop the phelps gangs' heads on the people in the porn shots!!!!

Maybe jeebus snogging a disciple or two?

03/14/08 @ 17:51

Comment from: (: tom :) [Member] · http://www.funnyfarmonline.org/

Comment from: mxracer652

Alex,
instead of making out, why not blow up some porn shots and make posters/signs out of them. Like maybe a good ass to mouth sequence?

I'd be careful of that - I think the gawd squad has made it so that p0rnography in public view is banned in much the same way that yelling 'fire' in a theater is.

I am of the opinion that religiously insane idiots telling their religiously insane followers to 'kill the fags' in a crowd should be considered to be a similar type of action.

Unfortunately I don't make the laws so I am not in a position to make the case that my beliefs should be discussed in a public forum and possibly enforced as law if enough people agree with me.

03/15/08 @ 07:32

Comment from: mxracer652 [Member]

LOLOL karen,
The old man on the daughter would be hilarious.

Jesus with a face covered with love would be hilarious too.

03/15/08 @ 10:36

Comment from: Mad Skeptic [Member]

Why not counter protest? I'd like to see a group of Atheists follow Phelps and his inbreds around and moon them at their protests.

Yes, it's cheap, but effective. Nothing disarms a bunch of religious nuts like a bare a**. A wall of bare buttocks will send those people into hysterics and back under the rocks. If I'm not mistaken, mooning someone is considered freedom of expression.

03/18/08 @ 12:52

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