FROM THE KANSAS STATE COLLEGIAN
EDITORIAL PAGE
THURSDAY, DECEMBER 8, 1994
REPRINTED WITH PERMISSION
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CHRISTIANS UNITE: ORGANIZE AGAINST FRED PHELPS

By Scott Allan Miller
Collegian



   The Rev. Fred Phelps has catapulted himself back into the headlines
   once again.

   Phelps and his small but vocal entourage protested the sold-out Nov.
   13 speeches given by poet Maya Angelou at the the Topeka Performing
   Arts Center. Phelps and his cohorts were protesting her appearance
   because they say she is a lesbian.

   According to Eric McHenry of the Topeka Capitol-Journal, Phelps and
   company swarmed Angelou's limousine as she twice tried to enter the
   TPAC that day. Witnesses say the yelling left her visibly shaken. In
   the aftermath of the confrontations, Angelou canceled her scheduled
   appearance at Emporia State University.

   Angelou, no matter her sexual practices, is one of the most courageous
   people you could ever hope to meet. She has survived incredible
   tribulations, yet has managed to be an inspiration. But in spite of
   her fortitude and courage, Phelps may be an obstacle Angelou wants to
   avoid.

   The personification of extreme hatred or love attracts and even
   mesmerizes people in the most inexplicable way. This was true of
   Siddhartha, Mohammed, Jesus Christ, Josef Stalin and Adolph Hitler.

   It's also true of Fred Phelps. If you get close enough to the man in
   person, you will see in Phelps' beady eyes, ruddy cheeks, and puckered
   mouth a human incarnation of evil. It's dazzling in much the same way
   the old newsreels of Benito Mussolini are.

   No wonder Angelou is backing down. It's terrifying when you look Satan
   in the face and see he's trying to wear a halo.

   But Angelou isn't a Kansan or a Topekan. This isn't her community of
   which she should be ashamed. Phelps isn't her problem to live with.
   It's ours.

   To answer Cain's ancient question, we all are indeed our brothers'
   keepers. We all are responsible when Phelps and his followers stand
   out on street corners blaspheming the Word of God with their signs and
   there aren't scores more people counter-protesting with the verses of
   the Bible that celebrate God's love for everyone.

   We are all responsible when Phelps is allowed to be the public
   relations outlet for Christianity in Kansas.

   We are all responsible when non-Christians and liberal Christians make
   up the only sizable public opposition to Phelps.

   When so many people claim to dislike what he does, but do nothing
   about it, we are all responsible.

   With the exception of some Episcopalians, Congregationalists and a few
   others, no other Christians are setting up organized opposition to
   Phelps' claims that God hates people.

   Even Paul Hill, the convicted murderer whose targets happened to be
   involved with performing abortions, is disowned by mainstream pro-life
   advocates. Judging by their passivity towards Phelps, mainstream
   conservatives don't mind sharing company with him. Baptists don't mind
   that their denomination is linked to him or that a Baptist church is
   his hate headquarters.

   It is necessary to put Phelps' message back into proper perspective
   within the Christian community. To achieve this end, Christians must
   become as concerned with policing our own as well as protesting
   policies or behaviors with which we peacefully and respectfully
   disagree.

   This means more Christians have to pro-actively take to the streets
   and fax machines in an effort to proclaim to non-Christians and
   Christians alike that Phelps doesn't speak for all or even most of us.

   This means that God's universal and unconditional love can't be
   allowed to continue to be overshadowed by hatemongers and blasphemers
   of Phelps' ilk.

   This means not keeping Phelps at a safe arm's distance by writing him
   off as a harmless zealot.

   This means looking him square in the eye, loving him as God commands
   and fighting him.

   This means being human, even to the inhumane.

   This means agape instead of hate.

   This means you.

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_Copyright 1994, Student Publications Inc. All rights reserved._
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