(As posted to my Gazette blog)
Today I find myself retreating to the middle path to ponder a moral question that essentially boils down to this: karma vs. two wrongs don’t make a right.
I’m thinking that two wrongs can, indeed, contribute to making a right in the karmic scheme of things because karma is the great teacher. Sometimes we have to experience the sort of pain we have inflicted upon others to truly understand the error of our ways, and to become better people and, thus, advance spiritually. Many people, like myself, believe there are no coincidences in life, and that everything you experience has something to do with what you have sown both in past lives and in your current life. Hence, the old saying: Live by the sword, die by the sword. Or, in more contemporary terms, if you hate gay people and persecute them in this life, chances are you will be gay in a future life, and will experience the same sort of persecution. It’s not punishment . . . karma is never punishment. It’s strictly Spiritual/moral Agriculture 101 — you reap what you sow, no more, no less.
Still, the idea today that many members of the LGBTQ communities in the United States are calling for a gay rights protest (see Gay Star News report) at the funeral of Fred Phelps, the former leader of the anti-gay Westboro Baptist Church who is reportedly on his death bed, troubles me. Phelps and his cult members — mostly family — are notorious for picketing funerals of soldiers and others, bearing signs like “God hates fags,” and there is no indication that they will stop doing it after the death of their patriarch (see Topeka Capital-Journal report).
You gotta think that it would hurt the family if LGBTQ people and their supporters picketed Fred Phelps’ funeral with signs like “God hates bigots.” Perhaps they might then truly understand how they have hurt so many people, how indecent they have been with their misguided moral righteousness.
But . . . what would be the karmic cost for those who did picket Phelps’ funeral?
I can’t speak for anybody else or make any sort of judgment. From my transcendental hilltop, I can only speak for myself.
Would I picket Fred Phelps’ funeral if I were in a position to do so?
No . . .
Jillian
Jillian Page 
Two wrongs don’t make a right, and behaving poorly towards some else says more about you than it does about them. My advice would be to let poor old Fred fade into obscurity. Remember… he still has to stand naked before his god, and that will be an uncomfortable time for him since he has sinned against his fellow man so egregiously. I don’t know who will help his soul, his god won’t.
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One of the great things about karmic debt is that it’s within our ability to choose when and whether it’s worth it to acquire it. Sometimes it’s well worth it!
And then again, giving of oneself for the benefit of others is GOOD karma!
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While it would be sweet justice to picket Phelps’ funeral, it shouldn’t be the LGBT community. The rainbow house across the street is a much better statement. However, I would not be surprised to see his remains cremated and disbursed before most even know he is dead.
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