Mike Gallagher is a known name around here. We've heard of his conservative rants on his radio program. He's done this before, but now he's offering Fred Phelps and Westboro Baptist Church air time on his radio show. I think we should applaud and thank him (just this once).
No. I haven't lost my mind.
After the horrible shootings in the Amish community a while back, Westboro and their merry band of haters made plans to protest the funerals of those involved. It's no secret the level of vile and viscious attacks these people like to level against those who are most vulnerable; those that are greiving the loss of a loved one.
Mike, in a temporary bout of human emotion, knew he couldn't allow Westboro to take their trash to these families. He realized (as we all do) that Fred and Shirley Phelps are not people that can be reasoned with. No amount of discussion will make them stop their protests. The next best thing is to bribe them to stop.
Mike offered Westboro time on his show in exchange for scrapping plans to protest the funerals of those involved in the Amish shootings. They agreed. And he's offered up air time again to stop Westboro from protesting the funerals of those involved in the Virginia Tech shootings.
I know that many people disagree with my decision. I have also received many notes and calls of support. Please allow me to state why I'm doing this: I truly feel called, on a spiritual level, to allow my radio show to be a tool that prevents these angry, hateful people the opportunity to hurt grieving families. I fully comprehend the arguments against doing this ("giving in to 'terrorists', "allowing them a national platform", etc.) but my heart is telling me to do something positive here. If my radio show can prevent a circus atmosphere of protests, counter-protests, police protection, and media coverage from taking place in front of churches where grieving families are trying to say good-bye to their loved ones, then I think that's a good thing. I feel with all of my heart that this is the right thing to do.
Whatever your feelings about the guy's politics, you have to sense that he really is trying to help and do something good here. I personally think that the more we can get Westboro and their jokers in the public spotlight (aside from news clips of their protests), the more people, left and right wingers, will realize just how batshit insane these people really are. Maybe they'll recognize a little tiny bit of themselves in the insane ramblings of a rabidly anti-homo finge element. Maybe not. But I seriously doubt Mike's radio show will help them drum up support for their cause.
What do you think?