Rev. Phelps comes to Plattsburgh.

[Elmer Fishpaw]

The "God Hates Fags" people showed up not more than 3 blocks from my apartment.
The natural thing was to grab the Bessa L and 25mm Skopar and head on down. I debated taking a 50mm lens, but I wanted to show the general area for people who've never seen Plattsburgh.
The protest was odd. There were maybe 100 people and maybe 3 from each side were serious. Both sides laughed at each others insults. The Church then started peeling the bells pretty much drowning everyone. I got in fairly close as I could it being I had the 25. In fact a camera video guy from the TV station dropped his glasses and one of the Phelps people leaned over and said "they're in the mulch".
The photos are at http://www.flickr.com/photos/elmerfishpaw

I really need to get that 15 Heliar!
I wore my Batman trousers with the pockets and did bring the Jupiter, but only one shot.

 

[Nikon Bob]

Always interesting things happening during a protest. I was under the mistaken idea that God did not hate anyone but you live and learn.

Bob

 

[cp_ste.croix]

oh my..."thank god for 9/11"???????

WTF?

no matter what political stripe you wear, I'm pretty sure it is obvious that 9/11 is a tragedy. how can people think that? And shouldn't they be looked into as a terrorist org?

wow.

wow wow wow.

 

[dmr]

oh my..."thank god for 9/11"???????

WTF?

I noticed that too. I think the creep just wants attention! 🙁

Those clowns had a "Thank God for AIDS" sign when they picketed a church here. I thought that was bad enough. 🙁


("My God is not an abusive father. Sorry about yours!") 🙁

 

[Scarpia]

Heard about this on Vermont TV and North Country Public Radio. These Phelps people are total nuts. The cause of the demonstration is that the mayor of Plattsburg, Dan Stewart is gay. Its no secret and the people of Plattsburg knew it when they elected him, so why are these creeps coming from Kansas to make a big stink? They should rot in hell.
Kurt M.

 

[Scarpia]

To paraphrase Lincoln: If God hates gays why did he make so many of them? Think about it Phelps!
Kurt M.
P.S. Liked your pictures Elmer, especially the ones from Lake George which I am five miles from right now.

 

[Chuck A]

("My God is not an abusive father. Sorry about yours!") 🙁

I agree with you.

I am a Christian and I gotta say that I am embarrassed and offended by such displays. It gives people a totally wrong idea of what Christianity is all about. :bang:

 

[dmr]

I am a Christian and I gotta say that I am embarrassed and offended by such displays. It gives people a totally wrong idea of what Christianity is all about. :bang:

I just don't understand the whole hate and intolerance thing. 🙁

I really think this guy is just a poor wannabe who is very needy for attention, and by doing this he gets all the attention he wants. 🙁

Although he and his few followers (there really aren't that many of them) are regarded around here as total flakes, whenever they show up anywhere every TV crew from the area does too, and reinforces his behavior. 🙁

I was on "the other side of the street" when he was picketing a local church here once. I was not carrying a sign or anything, and I didn't have a camera with me. I wish I had. Unfortunately if I did have one, I would be giving them the attention they crave.

Oh, and if you've ever seen them in person, they do not come off very well. They make a very poor public impression.

 

[captainslack]

I just don't understand the whole hate and intolerance thing. 🙁

Some people obviously weren't paying attention when they taught that whole "Love they neighbor" and "Do unto others as you would have them do unto you" bit in Sunday School. 🙄

Idiots.

 

[peter_n]

These people are really sad. They were here in Massachusetts last week demonstrating at the funeral of a local soldier who was killed in Iraq. They claimed that the death (and all US losses in Iraq) was just punishment for America's "tolerance" of gays. Luckily the police kept them away from the grieving family & townspeople. Whatever one thinks of this war, the unfortunate people who have suffered losses in the conflict should be allowed to mourn in peace.

 

[Elmer Fishpaw]

Thank you fo the Kudos Scarpia! The Phelps people were mainly treated as a carnival sideshow. The insults back and forth were very funny. Some Churches took a WAY too serious stance, I mean come on, how can someone take these folks seriously? Oh yeah, what I would have given for 3 or 4 cherry bombs!! 😀

 

[rbiemer]

Umm, which way were they headed after Plattsburg? I never can quite decide how to take this kind of extremest group. My initial reaction is to laugh at them but then I think I should take them a bit more seriously--NOT their stance but their existence. The people in these groups have no doubts that they are right and that kind of certainty is pretty scary, I think, regardless of the ideology.
Good pictures, BTW!
Rob