Remember Fred Phelps and the Westboro Baptist Church? They were a band that toured around the country awhile back. Instead of instruments, they carried obnoxious signs and instead of singing, they shouted about God hating everybody. They didn’t actually dress as clowns but most people understood that’s what they were. They called themselves a church and that was probably their best joke.

When the band finally broke up, few people noticed. No one was sad. And absolutely nobody wished for a tribute band to the Westboro Baptist Church!

But we got one anyway.

The new Westboro Baptist Church band calls itself the “Freedom from Religion Foundation”. Like their role model, the FFRF members dress in street clothes while performing their clown show. The group’s performances are heavily influenced by the art of mime as they pretend harassing some people promotes liberty for everyone.

The band’s big hit is a song first made popular by the original Westboro Baptist Church. It’s a tune called, “Say Thank You When I Punch You”. It’s the ballad of an unsung hero who travels the country smacking people with whom he disagrees. Almost everyone thinks he’s a jerk because they don’t understand the hero’s heart. He knows everyone would be happier if they thought like him. Punching them is for the greater good.

The FFRF are dedicated to finding and eradicating any thought they deem to be an expression of religion, no matter how small or inconsequential. They will do whatever it takes to stamp out tyranny including imposing tyranny.

This website contains a list of the band’s other hits. They are as prolific as the original WBBC, cranking out petty meanness almost daily. Some of the recent titles:

• FFRF calls out Neb. governor’s anti-abortion prayer proclamation
• FFRF blasts antiabortion members of Congress
• FFRF probes government involvement in Capitol Ministries Event
• FFRF warns USF about proselytizing new football coach
• FFRF defends Delaware city’s decision prohibiting Nativity scene on public property

Then, seemingly without any sense of irony, they write this: Hate must have no home in U.S.

The aspirational goal of the United States is to be that “melting pot” where all of us — regardless of race, color, sex, gender, national origin, religion or irreligion — is equal and equally welcome.

Freedom From Religion Foundation Band

LOL ! and LOL !

You can’t celebrate the “melting pot” while demanding the city of Effingham remove a cross from an overpass. Unless you’re a clown.

The difference between the old Westboro Baptist Church and the new Westboro Baptist Church is the FFRF uses the courts to perpetuate their hate. Their “freedom” comes from legal oppression. That doesn’t make the band any less clownish but it makes them much less entertaining. The Freedom from Religion Foundation claims to defend liberty and that’s probably their best joke.

*It’s been awhile since I’ve made a blog post because I’m finishing my book. Give me a break! It’s hard work writing a book! When it’s finished, I’ll be able to get back to blogging.