The most newsworthy thing about University of Missouri defensive end, Michael Sam, coming out as gay was the understatement. The head football coach and athletic director both made short statements in which they praised Sam for his personal integrity and communicated their unquestionable support. Other than that, the topic was a mute one in Columbia, Missouri. Until today.
Notorious Westboro Baptist Church and Fred Phelps have made their entrance onto the Mizzou campus today and plan to speak from soapboxes in Speakers Circle. Law enforcement is bracing for confrontations.
My suspicion: Their stream of hate speech will not find an audience. Students will steer a wide circle around them. It will all die for lack of a second.
Ignore them. Respond with no response at all. Focus on something that matters.
This issue is over, settled.
We’re behind you, Michael.
vitalwholeness 
Reblogged this on THE STRATEGIC LEARNER and commented:
Tim Carson shows us how to move forward …
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Fred Phelps was disbarred, but before that, he was a successful attorney representing plaintiffs in Federal 1982 actions. He could get good money from these, but it requires a violation of the plaintiff’s civil rights. He wants the city or university to attempt to stop him from exercising his right to speech. There’s money in it for him if they do. Ignoring him will cut off the money that supports him and his “church”.
I look forward to the day when NO ONE will give the Fred Phelpses of this world any audience anywhere, especially in the communities of faith. You go, Tim.
[…] piece was originally published on the personal blog of FAVS writer Timothy Carson on Saturday (Feb. 15) […]