After quite a long life, poor Fred Phelps is no longer with us.
Immediately you may be wondering why I would even have the nerve to describe Fred Phelps, the most notorious hatemonger in the U.S., in vaguely sympathetic terms. Please allow me to explain.
The moment you celebrate the death of a villain is the moment you replace him. Think about this for a second: Phelps’ life was one of hate and intolerance. That does not justify reacting with more hate and intolerance. Phelps would have wanted that after all. Why? Because the game can go on, that’s why.
Remember that Phelps would always simplify his enemies into subhuman sin machines. So if we don’t keep in mind that even Phelps himself had fears, goals, hobbies and a family, then we are employing the same dangerous, apathetic mindset that made his hate messages so easy to spew.
No matter which side of the religious spectrum you’re on, you’re probably at least a little relieved that he’s gone. That’s natural, but don’t allow yourself to be happy.
If you consider yourself religious, the death of Phelps should sadden you. Not because you agreed with his message, but because his time on earth was wasted. He never in his 84 years repented for his radical behavior to live a life of love and peace.
If you’re not religious, you still shouldn’t allow yourself to be happy. Do you feel oppressed by religion? Do you think that the quality of mankind’s life is greatly affected by zealotry like Phelps’? Then let his primitive method of dealing with opposition die with him. When you mirror his actions, you allow his game of hate and prejudice to live on.
Death is a very convenient way of dealing with enemies, isn’t it? It’s the reason war is glorified in American media and the reason some people support the death penalty. As difficult as it is to end the life of your enemy, it’s even harder to forgive your enemy. Nonetheless, forgiveness is the only real way to move on.
Are you mad at Phelps? You’re not alone; both the religious and irreligious alike were furious with him. However, for the religious, it is necessary to forgive. For the irreligious, it is necessary to prevent another Phelps from ever being born by ridding this world of intolerance.
Whether you think Phelps is writhing in Hell for his efforts or just rotting quietly in a ditch, the only thing he can do to the human race now is stink. If that’s all you want him to do, then I strongly advise you to let it go.
The death of Phelps can be the death of a pawn or the death of a king; it’s up to us to determine his value. Now he is only as strong as the legacy he has left behind, a fate of which we are all at mercy.
