We've banned Freddy!

[Matt Black]

Yes, Phreaky Phred Phelps and his cultish clan have been banned from the UK

Now, I have no brief for WBC - I consider them to be an inbred (eyes too close together, webbed fingers etc) load of malodorous pondlife - but I don't think they should have been banned. Let them come, let them picket, and let us Brits take the mickey out of them bigtime. My county (for that is where they were headed) could do with some light entertainment. I think Basingstoke still has a set of stocks to hand....

 

[blackbird]

Matt

How'd you guys manage to gag Phelps' mouth?? --any pointers??? The guy is an idiot

 

[Matt Black]

In this case, we would just stop him from entering the UK ie: he'd be turned round and put on the next plane back to the US the moment he touched down at Heathrow. That's easy enough for us to do, because he's coming from outside; quite what you're meant to do when he's homegrown is another matter. Perhaps take a leaf out of our book and turn him into an object of humour...he'll hate that even more than he hates America and...er...apparently now the UK too; oh well, we've been called worse. (I just love the two kissing policemen!)

 

[matt wade]

First, Phelps is a complete fool...I don't like the guy at all.

With that said, this is a slippery slope. When you start banning people for what they think, where do you stop? Will the UK next ban any preachers that believe homosexuality is a sin? Any preachers that think Islam is a religion of hate?

 

[Matt Black]

I'm concerned about this too, which is another reason I'm bothered that he's banned. The usual remedy for abuse of the right to free speech is, IMO, more free speech, not less.

 

[Ulsterman]

I agree with everything said about the Phelps clan, but I have grave concerns about the reason used to turn him back... "anti-gay". That would put a stop to every Bible-believing preacher and not just these looney tunes.

The new Border Agency laws are draconian and are proving a real hurdle to any Independent Baptist Church Planters wishing to enter the country.

 

[mcdirector]

Those are reasons to be concerned - the anti-gay ones.

However - NNE should have to be subjected to the Phelps clan. The man is despicable.

 

[Jim1999]

In Canada, he was banned as a security risk...............some of his group, however, did manage to picket our parliament for about ten minutes, before they were sent packing.

I have no fear about decent people being banned because he gets banned. Free speech goes both ways.

Cheers,

Jim

 

[Gina B]

It's not a true free speech issue. Harassing someone, whether you do it physically or verbally, is wrong.

 

[tinytim]

Ah come on.. .let him in...

Please...

Then don't let him out!!!
KEEP HIM THERE!

Or send him to FRANCE!!!

 

[Aaron]

God bless Fred Phelps, and keep him here . As long as he is free I know I will be.

Let's not fool ourselves. He was turned away from the U.K. and Canada not because of his activism, but because he's anti-homosexuality.

Google Chris Kempling and you'll see.

 

[Magnetic Poles]

In its post 9/11 hysteria, the US did the same thing to Cat Stevens, and I'll take Cat over Phelps any day. Maybe we can work out a trade with the UK.

Oooh, baby, baby, it's a wild world!

 

[Aaron]

You're saying a group of militant heterosexuals flew planes into Canada's buildings killing thousands, and they considered Phelps a national security risk?

Wow.

I can see how you would think a man who came out in support of the Fatwa against Soloman Rushdie and supports Hamas should have been allowed into the U.S.