Counter-Protesting the WBC, Wingnuts Extraordinaire

Saturday, April 10, 2010
I've never protested anything before. Yes, I know - I'm a big slacker.

But the Westboro Baptist Church will be sullying my fair city on April 22-24th, and if there's a group that's capable of incenting me to actually leave my house and be around other people, they're it. Unfortunately, I have professional obligations on the 22nd and 23rd, so I won't be able to counter protest on those days, but on the 24th, there are ample opportunities to stand up and be counted at one or more of these locations:

- 8:30 to 9:00 AM ~ Temple Sinai, 3509 S. Glencoe St. Denver
- 10:00to 10:30AM ~ Temple Emmanuel, 51 Grape St. Denver
- 1:00 to 1:30 PM ~ Jewish Community Center, 350 S. Dahlia St. Denver
- 5:00 to 6:00 PM ~ EXDO Event Center, 1399 35th St. Denver


I am seriously considering this event, but I do have some doubts. There's a part of me that thinks a counter-demonstration is legitimizing these fucknuts, and if there's anything in the world I'm not interested in, it's legitimizing Fred Phelps and his merry band of whackadoos. And yet, the members of the Jewish communities who have been targeted for the 24th deserve to know the larger community supports them against the likes of the WBC. So I'm fence-sitting in true dithering style.

There's also the issue of my temper. I truly despise these motherfuckers, and although I'll be leaving the Shovel of Doom™ at home, I know myself well enough to know I'll be tempted to punch them in the throat just on general principle. Which would be problematic.

There's a Facebook Group dedicated to help organize people for the WBC's visit to Denver, and additional information may be found there, if any of my local readers are interested in participating.

But I'm still dithering. Is there value in counter-demonstration, when the demonstrators are so clearly off the rails?

15 comments:

Eric said...

I guess the first question is: what is the objective of the protest? If the objective is to convince WBC members of their wrongdoing, I think it's safe to say it's pointless. If the point is to send a message that some citizens of Denver oppose WBC bigotry, the protest might be successful--except, based on Nathan's experiences (seven idiots showing up late and mostly getting ignored or laughed at), a protest may be sending a message that may be taken for granted.

The second question is: is the protest the most effective way to achieve the objective? One thing I'd have to point out in this context is that the WBCers have a martyr complex, and are therefore encouraged in direct proportion to the degree and intensity of the protest; this is why protests are generally more effective when used against corporations and politicians who are actually concerned that a bad perception will spread and endanger future profits or votes (or, sadly, both). A politician, a corporation and WBC all care what you think about them--the crucial difference that sets one of these apart from the others is that it clearly wants you to think badly of them, as it perversely proves their righteousness.

(Ask yourself this amusing and entertaining thought question: what would happen if the WBC went somewhere and everybody they were picketing converted on the spot--everybody became a straight, conservative, Christian, Protestant, WBC member? Do you think the WBC protesters would celebrate or do you think they'd stand there in numb shock with their now-useless signs staring at each other, wondering what to do now? I know what I picture....)

Please note that I'm not saying not to go. Among other things, you know better than I do the degree to which Denver will embrace or rebuke the protesters and whether the good of sending a message outweighs the possible harm of encouraging the WBC. Either way, good luck!

P.S.

I don't think I've ever been to an actual sign-carrying protest, either. :)

Random Michelle K said...

Do it.

I just missed the fuckers in WV.

Just don't think about THEM, think happy thoughts--seriously. Think and talk about how much you love your gay friends, how much you love being a liberal, how much you love being able to vote and wear pants and all that.

See them as a cause for celebrating that sanity and righteous have won over hatred and ignorance.

Also, sing happy songs. And maybe take a purple tele-tubby.

Steve Buchheit said...

MLK said something about, "In the end, we will remember not the words of our enemies, but the silence of our friends." If you have the opportunity to counter-protest, I say go for it. You'll be representing the hundreds who would like to but can't get the time off, or don't have the courage to.

And I agree that it shouldn't be a hate on of the WBC, however easy that may be. Instead it should be a showing of the WBC doesn't speak for anybody but themselves.

Think of the WBC as apprentice seamen who don't know better than to pee over the rails. Part of your job was to show through demonstration how to behave as a part of a professional Navy.

And I like the purple tele-tubbie idea.

Anne C. said...

In my mind, showing support for something you care about is never regrettable. You (and possibly me, since I'm tempted to go) wouldn't be standing there to tell the WBC anything (since they're not listening), you'd be there to tell the rest of the world something. That is not something I think should it be taken for granted. I think it's terribly obvious that gays are normal people who should have the same rights and freedoms that everyone else does, but apparently that can't be taken for granted. I think the messages in the Bible about caring for everyone, not just yourself and your family, ought to be a huge argument FOR health care reform, but apparently that can't be taken for granted either. What comes to my mind is the saying, "All that is needed for evil to triumph is that good men do nothing."

The real target of such a counter-protest is not the WBC, who are so insignificant as to be laughable, but the silent (in public) bigots who live among us.

David said...

People rarely regret what they do - mostly they regret what they didn't do. I say go.

But my two cents? Don't make it a "Down With The Whackaloons" protest. Make it an "Up With The Rest of Us" celebration. You'll feel better, the targets of those loons will appreciate it more, and my guess is that the WBC will be more aggravated to boot.

Win.

Juan Federico said...

I attended my first protest (at the age of 5) was against the Vietnam War. some has potentially embarrassing photos of me wearing hippie beads and sporting a face painted with a flower on one cheek and a Peace symbol on the other. My second was two weeks later hanging out with my uncles and a bunch of 'veteranos' counter protesting the peaceniks.

I've been to other protests and counter-protests since and haven't come to regret any of them.

Janiece, go. Just mind your temper when you speak your piece. Enjoy it, revel in the experience. it's terrifying, exhilarating and, well, cleansing. Yeah that's the word, cleansing.
If you get too wound up call me. I promise to make jokes until you calm down. :)

nzforme said...

I'd go.

I think any time you have the opportunity to show (a) the targets of the WBC and (b) the rest of the world that the WBC does NOT speak for most of us, you should take it.

I've often been impressed by the many creative ways people have used to counter-protest and/or silence WBC.

Janiece said...

I think I've decided to go, and make it a positive experience. Anne, let me know if you'd like to go together - we have tickets to the Rockies that evening, but I'm down for the first three events. I have a Jewish friend who's going to meet me there, as he's more than a little offended that his community has been targeted.

I've also decided on the sign I want to carry. It's a positive message, but I need something to blog about next week, so I'll keep it under wraps for right now.

Fathergoose said...

We may be there, either Temple Emmanuel or the Jewish Community Center, or both, not sure yet.

Tom said...

Have a second sign ready.

W hack-a-loon
B igoted
C humps

Maybe you can think of a better set. :)

Kurt said...

Janiece first off- your blog is great. And thanks to yours and my buddy that "Mechanicky Gal" that brought me to your site.
OK I think you should counter-protest. Screw 'em I've had it with these idiot-far-right-fucks (IFRFs). I was no fan of Bush. I consider him on par with President Hoover as far as ineptness and negligence go. But I don't hate him -I want him to go back to work at the local Circle K. But these IFRFs they HATE Obama. Don't bother discussing Health care's pros and cons. Because Obama's a Socialist, wasn't born in the US, and even his mom and dad were Commies (just ask Glen B). These WBC IFRFs are in the same league as the Teabaggers and anyone else who thinks Sarah Palin can actually think.
So Go give 'em hell! Because their pointed there anyway.

Janiece said...

Welcome, Kurt. Any friend of the Mechanicky Gal is a friend of mine.

Anne C. said...

As a point of interest (not changing my mind or anything):
the Anti-defamation League recommends as Eric does.

Janiece said...

Anne, that's why I was dithering. But I think the idea of making the event one of tolerance and inclusiveness (while studiously ignoring the wingnuts) is a reasonable compromise.

Anne C. said...

I totally agree, particularly as I think the ADL's stance is partly based on keeping volatile elements separated to avoid confrontation.

As I have great faith in my and your willpower, I don't think that'll be a problem.