Comments on: The godhatesfags people are coming to town, what should we do?

By: jim

jim — Tue, 30 Mar 2010 20:14:42 +0000

Liz, very good idea and I will post that in my next post as well! I will edit my first one right now!

By: jim

jim — Tue, 30 Mar 2010 20:13:00 +0000

Thanks for all the ideas! We decided that as a church, [nlcf] would participate in the counter-protest that is highlighted in the CT article that anonymous just linked to. It is a great way to raise money that can always be used as well as infuse some levity into something that can feel very offensive (and is very offensive). I will be posting in the next couple of days some other thoughts that it would be good for us to be reflecting on as we prepare to have Westboro Baptist Church come.

By: Anonymous

Anonymous — Tue, 30 Mar 2010 19:07:50 +0000

Virginia Tech students are already organizing a positive counter-protest that will raise funds for charities against Westboro Baptist Church’s interests:
http://www.collegiatetimes.com/stories/15285/students-vote-on-westboro-protest-response

You can find out more at http://www.hokiepride.com.

By: Kevin

Kevin — Tue, 30 Mar 2010 00:34:29 +0000

This is the best response to WBC I’ve seen yet:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j7Of_2ykZpQ

The idea is to collect donations and contribute them directly to the charities that WBC is opposed to (in WBC’s name, even). Thus the more protests WBC stages, the more funding is given to the organizations they oppose. That causes their protest to be entirely counterproductive, and their best course of action would be to stop the protest in the first place.

By: Todd

Todd — Mon, 29 Mar 2010 16:01:36 +0000

Maybe [nlcf] can stand in-between those who are being protested against to take the accusations upon yourselves. so for example, if they are protesting at a high school. Just go and stand there in between them and the school and take the accusations on yourselves, in a sense shielding the kids in the school. if they are protesting the jewish group, go stand in between them and the building and take the accusations and insults. somehow i think that’s a pretty good metaphor for what Jesus would do / has done.

By: Charlie

Charlie — Mon, 29 Mar 2010 15:01:01 +0000

http://www.postandcourier.com/news/2010/mar/21/perhaps-creator-ought-control-use-his-brand/

I think this guy has a point. We need to encourage people to look at the real life of Jesus to see whether or not what WBC says about God is actually true. Not quite sure how that execution would look, but I think that needs to be the goal.

By: Rob

Rob — Sat, 27 Mar 2010 02:41:49 +0000

And I would guess, these guys draw more traditional media sources to cover their antics. Being there might give a chance to plug for truth to a media person; highlight what the local church thinks. Comments and response to the media for truth might reach someone that’s reading a newspaper or watching a news show — and THAT person might be the one God is tugging on.

I would not expect the Westboro crew themselves are really seeking for any kind of truth or anything beyond their immediate message.

Or… a few comments might even sell a few books!

By: Rob

Rob — Sat, 27 Mar 2010 01:40:36 +0000

seeing that they’re making their way to protest the Jewish organizations around Blacksburg as well (3pm I think it is), then perhaps it’s a good chance to reach out and meet some of the Jewish community there and at least show them some real commaraderie and love…

Just maybe a way to share a little love in the midst of this event. The comments on their iterinary is rather whacky in their response to Jews.

If this group would read the end of the gospels they’ll realize it’s all cool… Jesus comes back to life… He’s God Son so it’s ALL cool!!

But yeah, no doubt they are not into reason… something about arguing with a fool. All you can do is represent the truth and hope a “seeker” might be more interested in your message. I figure God can use ridiculous dissention to move people toward Him also… right?

We’ll look for your blog post about it next month, bro!

By: Liz Mc

Liz Mc — Fri, 26 Mar 2010 19:54:13 +0000

First of all, I’d have to say that no one should link to their website anymore.

Take out that anchor text and maybe just list their itinerary somewhere else? Or maybe even just no-follow those links. You’ve got follow links on your blog and it kills me to think that link-power is being sent to their website, which will help to optimize it. Their site is down right now (thank goodness) or my computer just won’t connect, so I can’t tell if they have ads, but it’s a nightmare to think that if they have adsense that they could be making money from that website.

Hi, by the way Jim. I work at an internet marketing/search engine optimization firm now so these things are on the brain!

By: Bill Woodward

Bill Woodward — Fri, 26 Mar 2010 19:53:17 +0000

So, I’m guessing that slapping the crap out of them would not be the appropriate response? Tempting, though!

Checking their itinerary, it appears that they’ll be picketing the Blacksburg High School from 2:15 – 2:45. And won’t they be surprised that no one is there! We should take pictures as they stand around looking stupid(er).

Jim, have you seen the http://www.godhatesshrimp.com/ parody site?