Total, Massive Genius, Congregation Beth Simchat Torah

[3894]

This is the kind of stuff that makes it worthwhile to get up every day. Enjoy.

Background: The rabidly wingnutty Westboro Baptist Church loves the publicity their hate-filled picketing brings. We all know their loathesomeness so I'm not linking. They are currently on a rageful, heretical protest jaunt in New York City.

Congregation Beth Simchat Torah has found the perfect antidote: don't engage because that just makes the Westboro protesters feel justified. Instead ...

A Manhattan synagogue turned a visit from hate-spewing demonstrators into a lucrative fund-raiser Sunday.

Leaders of Congregation Beth Simchat Torah, a West Village synagogue that caters to gays and lesbians, didn't want to ignore a planned visit by members of the rabidly anti-gay and anti-Semitic Kansas-based Westboro Baptist Church.

Instead, they asked supporters to pledge a dollar or more for every minute that six protesters stood near their synagogue hurling epithets and holding signs that read "God Hates Fags" and "Jews Stole the Land."

The final haul after 50 minutes: $10,000.

Source is here (http://www.nydailynews.com/news/2009/06/22/2009-06-22_manhattan_synagogue_makes_money_off_of_westboro _baptist_church_protest.html).

[Snowflake]

What a fabulous story!

:snap: to the Congregation Beth Simchat Torah!

[LSPoorEeyorick]

That sounds similar to the Phelps-a-Thon (http://www.phelps-a-thon.com/Home.html) fundraisers that are organized by the Driving Equality group - only their funds go to the local LGBT groups near wherever Phelps is protesting. There was one in L.A. on the 19th!

A great idea, in general, though - why give them attention when attention can be given to the programs and people who deserve it?

[Alex]

If this is successful enough as a fund raiser, the next logical step is for other congregations to (on the down low of course) pay Westboro to come protest.

[Strangler Lewis]

Calling to mind one of my favorite movie lines from "Celebrity": "The skinheads always eat all the bagels."

[lashbear]

Talk about taking Lemons and making $10K worth of Lemonade !!

[Disneyphile]

Best response ever!

[Gemini Cricket]

If this is successful enough as a fund raiser, the next logical step is for other congregations to (on the down low of course) pay Westboro to come protest.
You know, as cynical as I am about the country at times I can totally see this happening.

[Jazzman]

Coolest thing ever! I love it. They should make a whole carnival out of it, with games like Nutjob Bingo (mark spots for; Homophobe in Red & Black Flannel, Obviously Closeted Gay Bible Wielder, "Not Adam & Steve" sign, and so on), costume contests with prizes for whomever actually matches a redneck protester's real look, a wiffle-bat-utilizing game of Whack a Bigot, and a booth where you can get your picture taken with a real, live hatemonger! It'd be a cash cow, AND make them look like bigger idiots! Which is no small accomplishment. :D

[Morrigoon]

I like it. Each protest, rather than bringing them the negative attention their egos desire, instead accomplishes the exact opposite of what they want. So each protest they plan runs contrary to their own beliefs.

Brilliant!