Mike Gallagher and the Phelps Lunatics

Radio host and columnist Mike Gallagher had a tough decision to make. When the Phelps lunatics, repudiated by Christians and by decent people everywhere, threatened to disrupt the funerals of Virginia Tech students with their “God hates pretty much everybody but us” insanity, he had to decide whether it was better to bribe them again, as he did for the Amish schoolchildren funerals, with another hour of airtime, or let them cause incalculable hurt to families burying their sons and daughters. I think he made the right choice. Here is part of his explanation:

I know that many people disagree with my decision. I have also received many notes and calls of support. Please allow me to state why I’m doing this: I truly feel called, on a spiritual level, to allow my radio show to be a tool that prevents these angry, hateful people the opportunity to hurt grieving families. I fully comprehend the arguments against doing this (“giving in to ‘terrorists’, “allowing them a national platform”, etc.) but my heart is telling me to do something positive here. If my radio show can prevent a circus atmosphere of protests, counter-protests, police protection, and media coverage from taking place in front of churches where grieving families are trying to say good-bye to their loved ones, then I think that’s a good thing. I feel with all of my heart that this is the right thing to do.

I detest that those people call themselves Christians, but I’m no longer enraged by their actions. I pity them, because no matter what they say or how many bible verses they try to terrorize people with, they surely don’t know Jesus Christ.

And Mike Gallagher, for doing what he can to protect the families of the murdered Virginia Tech students, deserves our thanks and praise.

Previous posts: Banderas vs. Phelps, More on Evil – Westboro Baptist Church and the Phelps Clan.