Fred Phelps is dead, but comedians know life goes on (and sometimes goes online)
The death of Fred Phelps was a chance to meet hate with compassion. As the founder of the Westboro Baptist Church of Topeka, Kan., Phelps upset lots of people for many years with such stunts as picketing soldier’s funerals with signs saying “God hates fags” – compounding the offensiveness of the sentiment with the offensiveness of inflicting a hateful message as an utter non-sequitur. He might as well have picketed about the quality of fast food beef at the Pentagon.
So Phelps’ death is a good time for people to show how much better they are than him and his stupid church, as fans of the singer Lorde did when they answered hateful Westboro Baptist signs with their own saying “Sorry for your loss.” (To which a church member sadly but hilariously replied, “I don’t even know what they’re saying.”)
To comedians, though, it’s like any other tragic event: A chance to see if there’s anything funny to say.
Niraj Shah, a Cantabrigian and regular at clubs such as The Comedy Studio in Harvard Square and ImprovBoston in Central Square (his website and calendar are here), had a try early in the news cycle:
Fred Phelps more like DEAD PHELPS. I MADE THE FIRST JOKE YOURE ALL JUST COPYING ME
— Niraj Shah (@TheOtherNiraj) March 20, 2014
John Tullar, a Somerville comedian, summed it up for lots of people:
Fred Phelps is in a better place for us.
— John Tullar (@JOHNTULLAR) March 20, 2014
Lots of news has upsides and downsides, even the simple news that Friday was the vernal equinox:
https://twitter.com/TeamSeanCrowley/status/446764314666737664
Jenny Zigrino, a standup comic and vintage clothing hoarder (her website is here) has even bigger things on her mind:
Instead of bothering with dating, I'm just going to find a dog sitter who will buy dinner and watch history channel with me.
— Jenny Zigrino (@jennyzigrino) March 20, 2014
And how are things with Kevin Seefried, an Allston comedian and open-mic host attending his senior year at Boston’s Emerson College, and his self-esteem?
https://twitter.com/KSeefried/status/445561132422799360
And now a last deep thought for the day from Dan Crohn, a Boston comedian whose website is here:
Lunch Date: My most favorite thing combined with my least favorite thing. Also on that list: Bacon Floss.
— Dan Crohn (@DanCrohn) March 21, 2014
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