Not Today, Fred. Not Evar.
Friday, March 21, 2008
There are only a few perfect turns of phrase out there. Things that bring an idea home so perfectly in just a few syllables, that you can't help but absorb the idea contained within. Nice descriptive things things like; "the Queen's English", or "Key Lime Pie", wrapping up the delight of the described thing. Political rally points that work, as ridiculous as they are, like; "Islamo-fascist", "Yes We Can", or (sigh) Surge. Succinct artistic statements like; "A Love Beyond", "Sticky Fingers", or "Smart Went Crazy". Okay, that last one was just mine.
But holy shit. Chris Love and Bethany Rowell have come up with one that simply does not fuck around. Finally, the Gay (and frankly, Human) community is stepping up to the Fred Phelps-sponsored Westboro Baptist Church in Topeka. This, coming on the heels of the Snyder settlement, which effectively breaks the financial spine of the church, when the media has begun covering this... filth as national news. This, as they have been uncovered, stripped naked of all defense, like Chamberlain of the Skesis. Pushed from their homes. The bullshit, it has been called.
The march is on. "What march?", you may ask. Well, I'll tell you.
Now, I know that the word "fag", just as "nigger" are hot spots in any argument, as though you are supposed to fight until someone says one of the two. Whoever slips first, loses. But give me some clearance here. Under that logic, Phelps has lost, BIG TIME.
The beauty of this protest is how it captures and reverses the language of the offenders. The troglodytes at Westboro have taken the kosher word of Leviticus (Faggot's not actually in there) and perverted it into a protest against lower class children that have fallen victim to a grossly miscalculated war against a mostly uninvolved populace, and they deserve every fucking scrap of pain coming to them.
From my straight white guy view point, the Million Fag March is beautiful. You take something awe inspiring like a crowd of people proudly proclaiming "Fag" at the people who spend their lives proclaiming that they and their God hate "Fags", and it's gorgeously reversed.
The problem is that I worry that they, the church people that is, will still think that there isn't any righteousness coming from the people coming down the street on Sunday. Out of the clads of loving same sex couples and pissed off marchers, I worry that those demonic hate mongers will just see a bunch of fags coming down the street and think, "Shields Up!"
What do you think? Can protesting the protesters make a difference? I remember in the build up to Iraq, there was always a pro-war group at the protests.
-m@
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Posted by OtherJoel (anonymous) on March 21, 2008 at 11:29 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Smart Went Crazy was a great band. You should check them out:
http://www.dischord.com/band/smartwentcr...
Posted by matt (Matt Armstrong) on March 21, 2008 at 11:54 a.m. (Suggest removal)
I assume you're addressing the audience? Seeing as how I made the statement, one figures that I know their work.
But Gawd, what work it is. Best. Lyrics. Ever. Period. No one can decribe the writing of a suicide note with such humor, or make falling in love seem so disastrous.
Posted by matt (Matt Armstrong) on March 21, 2008 at 11:55 a.m. (Suggest removal)
I assume you're addressing the audience? Seeing as how I made the statement, one figures that I know their work.
But Gawd, what work it is. Best. Lyrics. Ever. Period. No one can decribe the writing of a suicide note with such humor, or make falling in love seem so disastrous.
Now, I wonder if anyone will figure out what the turn of phrase I'm referring to in the bear story. Gavon and I were talking about it the other day, and it may be the best collection of words ever unleashed.
Posted by pistachio (anonymous) on March 21, 2008 at 12:57 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Must you be a fag to march?
Posted by matt (Matt Armstrong) on March 21, 2008 at 1:21 p.m. (Suggest removal)
All are welcome, from what I've read. The meet up site has the information.
Posted by wbabbit (Will Babbit) on March 21, 2008 at 1:24 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Saly, It will not work. Anyone that has spoken with any of the Westboro people know that there is nothing logical about their protests/statements. It's just the fanatical way they are.
Shields up indeed...
Posted by crlove (anonymous) on March 21, 2008 at 1:57 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Hi, it's me, Chris Love... yes, I stalk people who write about the upcoming event.
Glad you like the name!
Just wanted to address the comments here.
- We're not trying to "take back" the word or anything. We're just using it because Fred loves it so much. He uses it so often that basically everyone outside of the church is now a "fag." I'm a straight, white guy, too (don't get upset, I've been open about that and everyone's moved past it). But in Fred's mind, I'm still a fag. He's a fag, she's a fag. We're a fag. Wouldn't you like to be a fag, too?
Then come to our March (everyone is invited).
That's the use of the word in this context.
Deal.
- We're not trying to change the WBC's mind about anything. It just won't happen. The March is over a week away and they're already gone "shields up."
Especially after I asked them to come and speak to the crowd.
But so what? As long as they're hiding out or running away for one day, I call our little March a success.
We're not trying to change the world. Just trying to show what cowards these people really are when someone stands up to them. We're also hoping to show people that sometimes saying out loud what you assume everyone is thinking can be a good thing.
- Smart Gone Crazy is awesome.
See you'se on the 30th.
Posted by crlove (anonymous) on March 21, 2008 at 2:07 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Obviously... I meant Smart Went Crazy. I went braindead during that last bullet.
Posted by OtherJoel (anonymous) on March 21, 2008 at 3:39 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Wasn't sure if the remark was related to the band or not; so whichever works.
And yes, completely agreed on Chad Clark's lyrical abilities:
"Aside from walking into walls it's a good excuse to learn some braille."
Posted by DOTDOT (anonymous) on March 21, 2008 at 3:43 p.m. (Suggest removal)
If that bear story is true, then you people are as fucked up as the Westboro shite for thinking it's funny. If it's not, then still.
Self Righteously and Indignantly Yours,
DOTjesuschristwhatsthematterwithyouDOT
Posted by matt (Matt Armstrong) on March 21, 2008 at 3:43 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Yeah! I got the subject of the blog post to write in! I win something for that, right?
Or at least for pulling off a Dark Crystal reference, right?
Right?
Damn. I done gone crazy.
Posted by matt (Matt Armstrong) on March 21, 2008 at 4:54 p.m. (Suggest removal)
That's an old story from The Onion. It's one of their most popular pieces.
Posted by Shinta (anonymous) on March 21, 2008 at 8:47 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Let's try try to put a little pep in our step plz. Under the gun right now, and it's pointing straight into my ass.
Posted by billy (Billy Keefe) on March 23, 2008 at 7:10 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Phelps is nuts. If you have never encountered him in person it is worth checking out the movie called Small Town Gay Bar. It is available through Netflix and it is also airing on the Logo channel this month.
Posted by ladylaw (Terry Bush) on March 24, 2008 at 9:44 a.m. (Suggest removal)
When I first heard of this event I thought it was a great and funny idea. But then I remembered a fact - the more attention you give this group, the better they like it. So anything that gets them in the news (again and again) is playing right into their hands. Ignoring them is what they hate. Not people who diagree with them and give them attention. They love confrontation. So give them what they want, and march. Or continue the isolation treatment.
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