The odds are high that the Westboro Baptist Church is likely to attend the Reason Rally, the largest Secular event in history, and the National Atheist Party would like to formally invite them to stop by their booth
Its sort of a “pick on someone your own size” offer and we wanted to point out that though we may disagree the NAP will never dish out the hatred and ignorance that the Westboro Church does. They need to know that there is a large group of people actively fighting for people’s secular rights.
Be careful. Westboro Baptist loves to bait people into attacking them so they can play the victim and sue. If you play this right you can easily make them look like the fools they are. I hope you have someone taking videos.
I still think the invitation is a dumb idea. As a Humanist, I won’t back down from confrontation but neither do I invite it needlessly. I think it is telling that @klowanj thought that the invitation was “a lot of fun to write.” A lot better in my opinion would be for a very large group of mature people of all ages to show up and peacefully show their strength in numbers and unity. The Rally to Restore Sanity was such a thing.
[quoteI still think the invitation is a dumb idea. As a Humanist, I won’t back down from confrontation but neither do I invite it needlessly. I think it is telling that @klowanj thought that the invitation was “a lot of fun to write.” A lot better in my opinion would be for a very large group of mature people of all ages to show up and peacefully show their strength in numbers and unity. The Rally to Restore Sanity was such a thing.]
Although it seems to be inviting trouble those functional morons will be there anyway along with the usual howling mob of misguided fundies. I’ve been on the Mall many times (missed the John Stewart rally but a friend and fellow teacher attended), in the past 20 years and everytime i’ve visited there has been a demonstration of some sort. Usually someone approaches with a pamphlet and I wave them away. No one has gotten in my face with their “cause”. BTW the Mall area is very well guarded and the cops mean business. I took my History club there last Spring and they were everywhere, watching. I felt perfectly safe, as I always have when visiting. I think that all you’ll see is a small pack of deluded idiots screaming at the top of their lungs and waving their inflamatory signs. Just pass them by. That pisses them off the most! As I mentioned before, I had to pass through them several times while at Virginia Beach and the locals pretend they’re not there. Besides, there aren’t that many of them. Wish I was going to the rally but can’t make it this time. I hope that there will be another in the future. Definitely be there next time.
Yes, I’ve been to D.C. many times and concur with your observations. My point is not that the NAP is inviting something that would not be there on its own, but that the NAP invitation itself is a needless prod that might prove to be a bad move in the chess game that is politics. As is often the case when kids fight, a strong stance is often, “Well, he started it!”
Yes, I’ve been to D.C. many times and concur with your observations. My point is not that the NAP is inviting something that would not be there on its own, but that the NAP invitation itself is a needless prod that might prove to be a bad move in the chess game that is politics. As is often the case when kids fight, a strong stance is often, “Well, he started it!”
I don’t necessarily think it’s a bad move as anybody who wants to confront them is welcome; it’s an exercise in futility. No one’s going to alter their thinking by reason because they don’t think reasonably. They only respond to emotion. SOOOO, good luck NAP.
While I enjoy counter protesting the insanity of Westboro as much as the next person — hell, my own group has done it on the statehouse grounds in South Carolina — was this really necessary? Did Klawson really think that they needed a personal invite? It seems like he wanted to poke a rattlesnake with a stick. Is he going to be surprised when it bites him?
Yes, I’ve been to D.C. many times and concur with your observations. My point is not that the NAP is inviting something that would not be there on its own, but that the NAP invitation itself is a needless prod that might prove to be a bad move in the chess game that is politics. As is often the case when kids fight, a strong stance is often, “Well, he started it!”
I don’t necessarily think it’s a bad move as anybody who wants to confront them is welcome; it’s an exercise in futility. No one’s going to alter their thinking by reason because they don’t think reasonably. They only respond to emotion. SOOOO, good luck NAP.
Cap’t Jack
No, the invite was a bad idea. @Freeinky has a link to the Friendly Atheist in his post that shares my thoughts on it. Unless you think poking a stick at a rattlesnake is a good idea…
That would be a very unique chance to interact with them.
