Poll: I was just thinking about the Westboro Baptist Church...

[Hive Mind]

Their religion isn't the problem.

Their hatred is.

 

[2xDouble]

Yes, absolutely. Assholery knows no religion.

 

[manythings]

There is this guy in school who happens to be black. I hate him.
Not because of what he is, but because of how he acts.

But there are people who will leap straight to "You hate black people" rather than "You think that guy is an asshole".

 

[rokkolpo]

There is this guy in school who happens to be black. I hate him.
Not because of what he is, but because of how he acts.

But there are people who will leap straight to "You hate black people" rather than "You think that guy is an asshole".

I've tried, but no matter how hard I try.
I just can't bring myself to care about those people's opinions.

They probably won't even get my explanation.
Luckily I have a whole load of friends who know exactly what I mean. And I do care what they think of me. (mainly because they have the ability to think)

Still in my experiences no one really cares about race much (in the Netherlands).
Like the term ''hatecrime'' practically doesn't exist here. It's just a crime.

 

[Denamic]

They are obnoxious religious morons.
Don't give a shit which religion; it doesn't matter.

 

[gibboss28]

Yes, absolutely. Assholery knows no religion.

this, quite frankly.

 

[C2Ultima]

The Westboro Baptist Church is so stupid that if they were jewish, they'd probably still support Hitler because he murdered homosexuals during WWII as well.

 

[Guitarmasterx7]

Personally, I think I would be philosophically just as opposed to them, though identifying with Christians does give the WBC does a certain extra layer of condescending douchebaggery. Christians are a vast majority and the WBC takes the already somewhat bigoted concept of "traditional christian values" and amplifies and contorts it to an extreme. In other words, methods aside, they represent a real widely held viewpoint amongst Christian zealots, whom I would almost think they were mocking if they didn't brainwash their children and do extremely tasteless shit, but I digress. Jews, on the other hand, are much more of a minority; one that's been persecuted against relentlessly no less. I would be lying if I said they would be just as frustrating if they identified as Judaism. Not far off though.

However I can't speak for the rest of society. I would assume those concerned about politically correctness would be much more hesitant to talk shit about them if they identified with a minority.

 

[Jonluw]

I certainly know with myself that I would hate them as much. I don't know about other people though. People can be quite the hypocrites some times.

 

[Kathinka]

first of all: i'm jewish myself (allthouh only by heritage, i don't practice the religion in any way). that being said i'm immune to all accusations of antisemitsm and racism now^^

there should be a distinction between attacking the jewish people ("all jews are greedy parasites") and jewish religion ("i don't think its right to chop of boys foreskins"). unfortunately many jews cleverly combine these two and try to brand anyone who criticizes the religion antisemitist. i call that the 'israel-aproach'^^
it is a powerfull instrument indeed, as proven by the mere existence of this thread. but you shouldnt be intimidated by that and be allowed to clearly state that you are fine with jewish people, but dickhead religions zealots of ANY believe are a pain in the ass and the world would be a better place if they went to die in a fire.

 

[The_Yeti]

Its not who they are, its how they act, they deserve death for their criminally insanely offensive harassment of just about anyone or anything. If I had the equipment, and money to hide&flee, you can bet I'd have shot down any of their asses that participated in volatile protests of peoples funerals, if not other things as well. What happened to having the freedom to maliciously shoot down your neighbors in a feud-style manor? D:

Alright I know, that freedom could only bring trouble...


But honestly the government should allow some form of very selective Douche Hunting Season.

 

[McPulse]

i call that the 'israel-aproach'

Hmm... Good term, good term...

 

[Vault Girl]

its not about the content they are using, more of the way Westboro are hiding behind the mantle of "religion" to do what they do.

I don't think it would matter to anyone what religion they are, or if that should ever be taken in to consideration at all. The way they do it, even though they are entitled to do so is the problem.

 

[Ogargd]

It would be the same as before, it's even under the same bloody god.

I meant from the outside looking in. Hence my "Hitlery" point.

It really wouldn't matter who what they were. It has nothing to do with there religion, it is there views and the way they make themselves heard is why everyone hates them.

But would you be as likely to say "I hate those bastards" publicly if they were jewish? Do you think the media would be so heavily focussed on them in a negative way? They are a negative group but I can't help getting the feeling that the Anti-semetism thing would prevent them being viewed in the same kind of light.

I would defiantly hate them just as much, no religion is an excuse to justify any form of bad behavior, this includes picketing funerals and publicly hating of groups in society.

 

[Projo]

EDIT: oh, you mean "Jewish religion", not "Jewish racially". Answer's still no, for basically the same reason.

It's cool that you don't know what you're talking about. The Jewish "race" is not a race by normal standards, and it is an ethnic group characterized completely by its religion - not region. For someone to be "of Jewish race", then they have to be of Judaism. That's just how it works. There's no possible way for any of Westboro to "probably be Jewish anyway", because the only way to be a part of that ethnic group is to be Jewish in your religious beliefs.

Plenty of countries have shady laws about this sort of ethnic group and how anyone from anywhere can identify with it, it's called an "ethnoreligious group".

 

[BonsaiK]

EDIT: oh, you mean "Jewish religion", not "Jewish racially". Answer's still no, for basically the same reason.

It's cool that you don't know what you're talking about. The Jewish "race" is not a race by normal standards, and it is an ethnic group characterized completely by its religion - not region. For someone to be "of Jewish race", then they have to be of Judaism. That's just how it works. There's no possible way for any of Westboro to "probably be Jewish anyway", because the only way to be a part of that ethnic group is to be Jewish in your religious beliefs.

Plenty of countries have shady laws about this sort of ethnic group and how anyone from anywhere can identify with it, it's called an "ethnoreligious group".

Plenty of people identify as Jewish without actually believing in the faith, simply because they have ancestry in traditionally Jewish lands (or they actually live in those lands, i.e a person from Israel might identify as a jew without actually being religious). What do you say to those people - that they're wrong?

Actually it doesn't even matter if they ARE wrong, they still do it. That type of identification, whether right or wrong, does exist. So therefore, one has to be mindful when hearing the word "jew" that it may not mean just one thing, it may in fact mean something else. That's my point.

 

[Projo]

What do you say to those people - that they're wrong?

Yes.

Actually it doesn't even matter if they ARE wrong, they still do it. That type of identification, whether right or wrong, does exist. So therefore, one has to be mindful when hearing the word "jew" that it may not mean just one thing, it may in fact mean something else. That's my point.

No. It doesn't exist. Just like if I say I can fly, that doesn't make so in any sense of the word. It just makes me wrong.

They're misrepresenting themselves and the culture they believe they're a part of. And honestly, not that many people do that anyway - the ones that do are idiots. Plenty of people identify as having Jewish ancestry, which is completely different than being Jewish.

 

[emeraldrafael]

... And they should be cleansed with fire? I COMPLETELY AGREE! XD oka, joking (sickly)

The WBC arent strikely anti-christian. They're a troll group that got started based on a lawyer's homophobia. SO no, i dont thik it would matter if they were jewish.

It actually might make it worse for them.

 

[BonsaiK]

What do you say to those people - that they're wrong?

Yes.

Actually it doesn't even matter if they ARE wrong, they still do it. That type of identification, whether right or wrong, does exist. So therefore, one has to be mindful when hearing the word "jew" that it may not mean just one thing, it may in fact mean something else. That's my point.

No. It doesn't exist. Just like if I say I can fly, that doesn't make so in any sense of the word. It just makes me wrong.

They're misrepresenting themselves and the culture they believe they're a part of. And honestly, not that many people do that anyway - the ones that do are idiots. Plenty of people identify as having Jewish ancestry, which is completely different than being Jewish.

It may not in fact exist, but the perception exists, whether right or wrong. Therefore when seeing the word "jew", that is one possible meaning. I'm not saying you're wrong, in fact I'm quite sure you're correct, I'm just saying that the fact others may be wrong doesn't stop them from using the word in that way anyway, so when you read it, you have to be mindful of the fact that "jew" means different things to different people rightly or wrongly. Hence my original comment.