The most hated family in America
I'd never heard of the Phelps family before, and perhaps for good reason. According to a recent BBC article on the "Most Hated Family in America", the American media tries not to give the family press.The Phelps family is a deeply religious family who uses events such as American soldier's funerals as platforms for communication of their beliefs: that a soldier's death is "God's revenge on the US for tolerating homosexuality." Obviously, their actions have caused extreme anger among patriotic Americans (and just decent people, I would think - because the thought of picketing at any funeral makes me feel sick, too.)
The BBC has a recap of British television presenter Louis Theroux' extended interview with the notorious Phelps family. While calling them the most "extreme people he has ever met", he also says they are normal, high-achieving, and even kind, when they are not on the pickets.
Theroux blames the family patriarch for the apparently baffling behavior of a seemingly "normal" family - saying he was not a very nice man. It's an interesting look at a very unique family with some puzzling perspectives. I'm going to try to catch the BBC documentary.Read | Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments