The Most Hated Family in America - Content

Content

The Most Hated Family in America includes footage of members of the Westboro Baptist Church picketing at funerals of United States soldiers. The organisation members hold signs blaming deaths of U.S. soldiers on the country's tolerance towards homosexuality and LGBT people. Westboro Baptist Church members believe that these deaths are caused by God as retribution for the immorality of the U.S.; stating the soldiers were "struck down by God for fighting for a depraved nation".

They attend the funeral of a soldier Kevin Zeigler who died at the age of 31 while attempting to disable a bomb in Iraq. Referring to improvised explosive devices, Westboro Baptist Church hold signs reading, "Thank God for IEDs". Protest signs carried by members of the organisation at the funeral, including six-year-old children, state: "Thank God For Dead Soldiers", "Don't Worship The Dead" and "Fag Marines". Another placard criticises Diana, Princess of Wales, for her friendship with the LGBT community, stating, "Royal Whore In Hell". Diana is criticised by the organisation as a "fag enabler". Additional signs read "God hates fags", "Thank God for Dead Soldiers", "God is America's Terrorist", and, "Fag Troops". The Westboro Baptist Church members reveled in the September 11 attacks and stated they were punishment for the country's "fornication and lust". The group also protests outside the local synagogue and holds signs which state that, "Jews worship the rectum".

Theroux interviews members of the Phelps family including Fred Phelps (called "Gramps" by members of the organisation) and Shirley Phelps-Roper. Theroux asks Fred Phelps, "Isn't it an act of presumption, when you don't have all the information about all the other churches, to assume you have privileged access to Grace?"; Phelps responds, "Oh, I know all there is to know about 'em." When Theroux asks him how he knows this, Phelps answers, "I'm not going to keep on talking to you. I know what you are. – you're an evil. – I don't even wanna go there. Good luck to ya!"

Read more about this topic:  The Most Hated Family In America

Famous quotes containing the word content:

    To be content with life—or to live merrily, rather—all that is required is that we bestow on all things only a fleeting, superficial glance; the more thoughtful we become the more earnest we grow.
    —G.C. (Georg Christoph)

    I were content to wearie out my paine,
    To bee Narsissus so she were a spring
    To drowne in hir those woes my heart do wring:
    And more I wish transformed to remaine:
    That whilest I thus in pleasures lappe did lye,
    I might refresh desire, which else would die.
    Thomas Lodge (1558?–1625)

    They tell us that women can bring better things to pass by indirect influence. Try to persuade any man that he will have more weight, more influence, if he gives up his vote, allies himself with no party and relies on influence to achieve his ends! By all means let us use to the utmost whatever influence we have, but in all justice do not ask us to be content with this.
    Mrs. William C. Gannett, U.S. suffragist. As quoted in History of Woman Suffrage, vol. 5, ch. 8, by Ida Husted Harper (1922)