Guess who wants to picket Steve Jobs' funeral

As the world remembers the visionary who led Apple in more innovation than any ten competitors combined, WebProNews points out the ugly response by a familiar pack of loons. Yes, the Westboro Baptist Church is ready to take time out from picketing the funerals of celebrities and soldiers so it can defile the farewell to Steve Jobs.

Keep in mind: these people do not represent mainstream Christianity, or even mainstream humanity. Even fellow believers regard them as ugly nutcases, and for good reason. One has to wonder, though: if there were no silly religions with idiotic rants against "sin", would the Phelps clan be doing any picketing at all? If not for religion, what basis would they have for railing against "sin" or homosexuality or any of their bizarre targets? Just an idle thought; something to ponder while raising a glass (and an iPhone) in honor of Steve.

Speaking of iPhones: Yes, as the WebProNews article points out, the Phelps whacko tweeted that anti-Jobs screed from an iPhone. Really. (Believers say faith can move mountains, but apparently faith doesn't support a Twitter client.)

And speaking of Steve: I don't know what his religious stance was, but let's recall these wonderful words from his famed 2005 commencement speech at Stanford University.

Remembering that I’ll be dead soon is the most important tool I’ve ever encountered to help me make the big choices in life. Because almost everything — all external expectations, all pride, all fear of embarrassment or failure — these things just fall away in the face of death, leaving only what is truly important. Remembering that you are going to die is the best way I know to avoid the trap of thinking you have something to lose. You are already naked. There is no reason not to follow your heart.

Beautiful. No dismissal of life as nothing more than a rehearsal or a test for an afterlife. Rather, Steve suggests the all-out embracing of this world's life as the only life we have. Positive-thinking atheists have been saying so all along; few have said it so well, or to as many eager listeners, as did Steve Jobs.

A life well lived. Thanks for all you did, Steve.