The Rev. Fred Phelps is out to change people’s way of thinking, and he might be doing just that. Fortunately for the cause of civilization, the only effect he might have is to make a few people realize that they really don’t want to be like him.

When the Kansas preacher uses tactics such as protests at funerals, it’s hard to imagine many people, even the most fearful and intolerant, saying, “That’s the kind of leader I want to follow.”

We received a letter on this topic from state Senator Joe Bolkcom, and we’d like to share part of it here:

“The protest … at the funeral of Army Specialist Daniel L. Sesker in Ogden is another sign of extremism and hatred in American politics.

“This spring, the Iowa Legislature approved and Governor Vilsack signed a law restricting protests at funerals…

“As an Iowan, I’m amazed that we even needed to pass this bill. Who could possibly be so warped as to protest at funerals?

“I found the answers when I learned more about Reverend Fred Phelps and his followers. Phelps says he is motivated by Christianity. I disagree. I think it is much more accurate to say he is driven by hatred.

“In fact, I think Reverend Phelps and others like him have been driven crazy by their hatred for gay and lesbian Americans. …

“Once people give themselves over to hate, they’ve started on a downward path. The Phelps group now welcomes every new tragedy as an excuse to spew forth their hatred and extremism.

“Iowa is relatively free of the politics of hate that seems to consume other states. Let’s keep it that way by treating each other with respect and by focusing on improving education, expanding health care, and growing Iowa’s economy.”

Our only quibble with that is the idea that this is a political issue at all. True, Phelps forced our politicians to take action, but his agenda doesn’t deserve to be described as political. Politics is society’s way of working out the rules we need to get along with one another. Phelps isn’t interested in that.