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Kathryn's Journal

kathryn
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02/19/2009 09:16 #47806

Fred Phelps in Buffalo
So, I was woken up with a shock when my girlfriend said Fred Phelps was coming to Buffalo, for real.

Fred Phelps is the "God Hates F**s" Westboro Baptist Church. He and his hatemongers are coming to protest the prayer service for the Clarence Flight victims.

I want to protest and yell and make signs at these people, but I also don't. I also think that just leaving it alone and allowing people to see who these people are would be better.

It makes me feel sick to my stomach so I am having trouble forming thoughts about this because I am so upset.

It is a scary world, man.
dcoffee - 02/20/09 13:38
Fred banned from UK :)
:::link:::
drew - 02/20/09 08:12
I'm thinking about it, but right now I'm guessing that there will be lots of counter-protesters. I don't want to add to the circus.
paul - 02/19/09 19:19
I changed my mind. I think I am going to go be an angel after reading Libertars comment. Drew will you go? I think having other Christian non haters there would be so valuable for the families.
metalpeter - 02/19/09 19:07
I can understand if you think something is wrong to protest it, I think protest can be a great thing. But from the comment I just read that is just taking it to far and doesn't make sense. If I was someone who lost a Family Member on a plane crash and there was someone who was protesting it and saying it was because someone was gay that everyone died it would be time to be a leader and get everyone over to that group and show the protesters what being disrespected really means. I'm not saying it is ok to go to the car and get a Baseball bat but they disrespect a loved one who is dead they aren't going to get away with standing there, and judging me and messing up a nice service. Hey if that is what you really think then come out with signs before things start and then leave and go to some rally spot near by so people see the signs after they leave and do it with respect.

In Terms of Alison I'm not sure if she is someone I knew or not. I went to school with someone who might have been her daughter and she came to school some times and gave presentations one of them was about a Trip to China. I'm not sure how her name was spelled so not sure if it the same lady or not. Even if I was someone who knew her and didn't like her and didn't approve of stuff she did there is a right and wrong way to protest things she stood for. See these people think that everything is politcal. Just because you know someone doesn't mean you agree with everything they do. You might even hate some of the causes they stick up for, but you still like them. It isn't like if someone stands up for gay rights as an example that everyone at the memorial is going to gay. It doesn't mean that everyone there supports gay rights. Some people could even be against them. They reason they are there is for the person.

I have not seen the protests in person. I will try not to judge them, but the protesters sound sick and like something is really wrong with them.

drew - 02/19/09 14:53
They make me very mad. I consider what they are doing even more despicable because they are doing it in God's name, and yes, they make me and my faith look bad. But I have to respond in such a way that keeps me from becoming like them.
libertad - 02/19/09 14:12
The below message I received from Kitty Lambert:



We need, in every community, a few angelic troublemakers - Bayard Rustin

We desparately need your help.

When Matthew Shepard was murdered Fred "Dispicable" Phelps showed up and stood across the street from the funeral with signs stating "God Hates Fags" and "Matt Got What He Deserved" and "Matt Is Burning In Hell Right Now". I hope this turns your stomach. It still does mine. Matts family was sheilded from this by a group of angels.... literally.

This Sunday, this same idiot is coming to Buffalo. He is coming to do the SAME thing at a Memorial Service in Clarence for the passengers of Flight 3407 and then a few hours later at the Memorial Service for Human Rights Activist Alison Des Forges (he is titling this project "God Hates Silly Women).

So this is what I need... 50 angels.

We desparately need your help. We need YOU to volunteer to be one of the angels. The "costumes" will cost $12.00 and must be paid for by each individual angel. You will need to agree to take a "shift" start to finish; either the one in Clarence beginning at 9am, or the one for Alison in Downtown Buffalo at 12:45pm.

If you wish to see what the angels look like go to :::link:::

A member of the gay community was on the flight. I have no doubt that he will focus on that too... his parents don't need to see this ass. Please help us block his view.

This is OUR home, OUR city, and these are OUR families.

Want to be an angel but can't come up with the money? Can not be there but would like to help by funding the cost of an angel costume for a someone? Please call me directly 716-578-3782 and I will get it arranged.


Kitty Lambert
President,
OUTspoken For Equality
716-578-3782
www.OUTspokenForEquality.org
paul - 02/19/09 13:40
Wow, I am totally okay with dehumanizing them. I guess thats what makes drew Christian and me a dehumanist, lol.

Drew are you sure you know enough about these people? I have to wonder if you would feel the same if they were a band of satan worshipping, nazi skin heads or if you are just sympathetic because they pretend to be the same religion as you. I would actually think you out of all people would be the most angered as they make christianity look so bad.

I would not go to the event because there is a good chance I would end up in jail, and they are just not worth it. However, I still am "praying" that someone kills him.
drew - 02/19/09 13:28
PS. As horrible as their actions are, calling them "scum" is further than I go. De-humanizing people, even people that make dehumanizing choices, is never ok with me.

They do horrible stupid things, but that doesn't change who the fact that they are people.
drew - 02/19/09 13:26
I wonder how many protesters will show up at their funerals?
joshua - 02/19/09 11:35
Agreed w/Drew. IMO anyway, it is best to let their words and actions speak for themselves and let the craziness and bigotry lay bare. They ARE scum. They've even protested at a soldier's funeral. Basically, any time people die, as far as they're concerned it is because God is punishing society for being "fag lovers." Thoroughly disgusting and hateful souls with no sense of decency.

I read this on another site from a commenter yesterday -

"What a vulgar little world we live in - the economy can't collapse fast enough."
drew - 02/19/09 10:06
Best to ignore them. They are a small group, mostly related to Fred, and get their funding by suing counter-protesters.

If people start ignoring them, the money will dry up, the attention will dry up, and hopefully, they will fade away.
dcoffee - 02/19/09 09:54
what a prick.
jbeatty - 02/19/09 09:35
That guy and his family are so fucked up. I can't believe they are coming here to protest a prayer service. They are such scum.

01/12/2009 20:16 #47385

HAHA! This made me giggle!
http://failblog.org/2008/08/26/funeral-home-fail/
jenks - 01/13/09 14:51
the funny thing is, that's totally real, and is here in buffalo.

01/12/2009 00:42 #47374

The Omnivore's Dilemma
So, here I am. It is midnight on a lovely Sunday evening and I am up reading.

My lovely girlfriend is sleeping and I am sitting on the couch in our living room reading with fascination (and a bit of horror) The Omnivore's Dilemma by Michael Pollan.

I made the "Pledge to go Veg for 30 days" in October on the PETA website. I just kept eating veg. I like the way I feel and the health benefits are there, so I have been meat free for 3.5 months. I often get chided by my lady because she said that PETA got me to drink the "kool-aide" so to speak. Well, they may have but I can honestly say I am happier than before. I was a horrible vegetarian on High School. I am a bit better at things now:)

So, this book in just simply incredible. I have never been so enthralled with food!! I check his book "The Botany of Desire" out of the library and devoured it in one night! I had wanted to read this but it was ALWAYS checked out! So, I sucked it up and bought it (even though was trying to cut back on buying books due to my over indulgence in that area due to having worked in bookstores during college). It is really great in a relatively nerdy sort of way.

I am more and more interested in the locavore movement. I am a Co-Op shopper and a weekly regular at the farmers market (when it is open obv). My girlfriend had lived in Ithaca for 6 years prior to moving here 2 years ago. Ithaca is a wonderful area and very progressive in terms of their co-op and whatnot. She has made our home even more organic-y friendly with her food choices and such.

This book has made me look at the produce a little closer. For example, I was in the mood for corn on the cob and I saw some organic ones at the co-op. I was excited, then I saw they were from a farm in California. I stopped and thought about the amount of time and waste that came from getting the corn from Cali to the Buff. I was just interested if anyone has experimented with the locavore thing here in buffalo? Has anyone had much success? I have a good friend who is lived in Portland, OR and she primarily (70% of the time she says) eats local. That is very easy to do there because of the amount of farms and the climate of the area. Oh Portland, is there anything progressive you can't do?

That is all! On a side note: the Tea-vana store in the mall is very prtty but the sales people are so incredibly pushy and intense! I did fall in love with the Happy Buddha tea pot! It was so cute I rubbed the Buddha's belly like a million times before my friend ushered me out of the store.

I also received for my own anniversary gift the COOLEST thing for the coffee and tea drinker on the go! It is a Joemo Coffee and Teabrew togo mug! I am so madly in love with it! It stays hot for 6 hours!

I will now finish the book or try to sleep. Best to all!
james - 01/12/09 18:57
A blog I have been enjoying is Buffalo Locavore :::link:::


pmrk - 01/12/09 12:27
If already haven't might want to read copy of Animal, Vegetable, Miracle by Barbara Kingslover. It details her year of local eating.

In my house, we eat local as much as possible. I find it much easier in the summer when the farmers markets are in full swing. I am going to make an attempt to can more things summer so we can enjoy them all winter long.
tinypliny - 01/12/09 10:04
I just re-read my comment and thought of something else. It's interesting that I have migrated from a tropical country but my food habits haven't changed all that much. I am still eating pretty much "local" to my place of origin.

Crazy, but true.
tinypliny - 01/12/09 09:59
For a while I tried eating exclusively local but it became increasingly tough to eat in a balanced way. I had to drop citrus fruits from my diet and my cooking gradually became more and more uninspired. In the end, I gave up in favour of better mental health and balanced eating. I think its an attractive idea but very tough to see through if you are used to cooking and eating with abandon (like I, unfortunately am). A lot of what I cook with can never be even produced locally (and comes all the way from the Caribbean or India). :(
matthew - 01/12/09 09:40
Happy anniversary!

01/06/2009 20:29 #47313

Tea Pot-gate 2009
WELL! I did it!

Thank you so much to everyone's help! I got a cute one at Tru Teas (and some AMAZING Pommegrante Green Tea!) for a nice price. It was by a local artist, as well! YAY!!!!
I also got the most adorable cow milk container! All is well and I hope she likes it very much.

On a side note: OMG Jon Stewart is actually talking about the Gaza Strip problem as something that is more complex than Palestine Bad:Isreal Good. Wow. Why is he the only one talking about it like that? I swear, if it weren't for Rachel Maddow or Mr Stewart I would cry a lot more:)
metalpeter - 01/07/09 19:25
I haven't heard what Stewart said. But the thing you have to understand is that most news isn't about the news anymore, it is about money and ratings. So often they have talking points and people might give there view but no one goes into any depth anymore (that is why I don't watch national news).
heidi - 01/06/09 23:27
Teapot pix, please??? :-)
kathryn - 01/06/09 20:59
I had the HARDEST time remembering what it was...enter wikipedia! :)
james - 01/06/09 20:55
Is that a pun on tea pot dome?

<3

01/06/2009 08:05 #47302

Quest for Teapot Day #2
Thanks so much for the advice! I think those beehouse ones are soooo adorable! I am going to see what I can get in town but I will definately buy one in the future!

I am going to check out Peir 1 and that Cafe on Elmwood. Thanks so much!
jenks - 01/06/09 16:03
Oh yeah, and there's a tea store on elmwood... sort of across from the coop? Tru-teas I think it's called? I think they have stuff (ceramics etc) made by local artists etc. but again probably not <$10.
jenks - 01/06/09 16:00
Not super cheap, but there's a Teavana store in the galleria that has about a gazillion teapots (and some really yummy tea)...
joshua - 01/06/09 15:26
Today I'm going w/my brother to TJ Maxx - if we happen to see one there I'll speak up. I'm sorry that I don't know where you can find one locally right away - the ceramic dripper they make is super hard to find. I thought for a while it was a rumor that they even made one.