Is this child abuse?

[OldCityTans]

The People God Hates - iReport.com

[OldCityTans]

Dawkins: I am offended

YouTube - 'I Am Offended!' - Richard Dawkins @ UC Berkeley

[OB2SP]

I can't watch the second video because YouTube is blocked at the office, but in regards to the 1st, I don't know if it falls under the definition of child abuse, per say, but it is despicable, if nothing else. Westboro Baptist is a bunch of inbreds to begin with, this just removes any ounce of credibility they had left, if there was any to begin with. I like the female Marine's comment about being happy they are exercising their right to protest.

Whether I agree with a protest group's stance or not, don't use your kids

[ecochuck]

The People God Hates - iReport.com

This is not child abuse. It is modern parenting. If this were not widespread and common then Kahlil Gibran would not have said of parenting, "Give them your love, not your thoughts. They have their own thoughts." Parents are always trying to get their children to believe what they do. That is the main way that Ku Klux Klan members build their group. But it is not child abuse to teach your kids to hate blacks, or be pro-life, or be Republican or to be Muslim.

Actually I am talking child abuse legally where you can get put in jail. Narrow minded parents teach their kids to be narrow minded. From the view of the Christians, their children are doing a great thing. They are trying to save your soul from going to hell. They feel that if you are not brainwashing your kids like this then you are abusing your children.

[OldMama]

"Reverend" Phelps and his clan are a**holes. The kids are a lost cause, unfortunately. The best thing we can do is not give mass media exposure because it empowers them.

[ShoshTrvls]

When Nelson Mandela was released from jail, as some of you may recall, he toured this country and gave speeches at many large venues.

I went with my brother to the event in Los Angeles, at the LA Colosseum. As we were walking in, a small black boy, maybe 5 years old, handed us some a anti-semitic leaflets. My brother Marc bent down to talk to him, and asked him if he understood what the leaflets said. The boy didn't. Marc then asked him if he knew who Nelson Mandela was, and the boy knew enough to say that Nelson Mandela had been in jail just because he was black. So my brother explained that the leaflet said that people should hate us just because we were Jewish. Marc then asked the boy if he thought it was right to do that, and the boy shrugged and said, "I guess not. It's the same thing." Then the boy's mother came and grabbed him away.

[Bob_Head]

Actually I am talking child abuse legally where you can get put in jail.

I've always been suspicious of these isolated religious sects built around one central charismatic figure. They do seem more prone to child abuse in one way or the other. Right off the top of my head there are the People's Temple, Branch Davidians, Children of God/The Family and Tony Alamo. While there's nothing to suggest systemic physical or sexual abuse at Westboro, Phelps himself is not immune to allegations of abuse.

[ACG]

But it is not child abuse to teach your kids to hate blacks, or be pro-life, or be Republican or to be Muslim.

I do not believe raising your child in your faith (Muslim) can be compared to teaching hate.

[OldCityTans]

This is not child abuse. It is modern parenting.

Even if the entire world believes a lie, it is still a lie. Just because it is "modern" or a lot of people do it, doesn't mean its not the wrong thing, the unhealthy thing, to do.

What about Dawkins' assertation that giving a child a faith-based label & worldview is in a way abusive?