I don't like Phelps. I never have. He's a hateful monster who goes out of his way to belittle and mock everyone who doesn't rigidly follow his god.

At the same time, him (and people like him) are the Bellwether for free speech in the US. Knowing that him and his people are saying horrible, hurtful things and getting away with it legally means that speech from other groups can pass through as well- giving them the voice they might not have otherwise.

For every Phelps yelling "fags die god laughs", there's a thousand groups who can speak their own minds with little worry of "official" repercussion.

So, in a perfect world, we need monsters like Phelps to keep ourselves from being silenced. Shine on, you crazy diamond.

Good riddance, there is just too much hate in this world.