Free Speech?

All the Phelpses are lawyers. Suing people repeatedly is how they earn their livings. Phelps knows exactly what the limits to free speech are...and that's exactly how far he goes. Unfortunately for the people who hate him (and he knows almost everyone hates his guts--IIRC Westboro Baptist "Church" is one of the few groups the ACLU won't defend, and they've defended the Klan) you have to be extremely outrageous to go past the limits of free speech in this country.

I agree that families should have an absolute right to privacy and to honor and bury family members as they see fit, without interruption or invasion.

Strangely, I don't know where I stand on this issue. The Westboro Baptist Church is one of the few groups I can truthfully say I hate with a passion. Just the sight of their faces makes my blood boil. However, and I've felt this way for a while, just how far does freedom of speech extend? Do we stop it short of the beliefs that make everyone angry, or do we extend it fully? I'll probably keep my eye on this case. I'm interested in what the Supreme Court has to say about it - but I'm willing to bet they'll side with the father.

As disgusting as these people are, I don't believe they broke any civil laws. However, though they call themselves Christian, what they practice is far from what Jesus taught. They need to learn the lesson of, you reap what you sow.

I'm all for the freedom of speech. I believe 100% that these nutjob religious fanatics have a right to say whatever they want to say. However, I also feel that harsh rhetoric, aimed at stirring up a negative emotional response, is a form of hatred and is inciting violence. And if someone's threatening you or invading your personal space, I believe fully that you have a right to defend yourself. So, here's the simple way I see it: If those friggin' loons have a right to spew their garbage and take advantage of suffering, then, to defend one's self against it, the victim of the verbal assault has every right to clinch up his fist and knock every tooth from the head of the loud loon! KABLOW. Holy dental work, Batman!

I'm all for the right to protest and right to free speech as well. But come on people give the soldiers a break. Just because you didn't believe in what they were fighting for doesn't mean they shouldn't be honored in their fight. They sacrifice there every day freedoms that we have to join the military and fight for our freedoms when the times come to fight. If they didn't we wouldn't have 2/3rds of the freedoms that we have now. It's important to support them whether or not you agree with what they do is your own personal agenda not theres. It's not your right to push a religion on some one and it's certainly not your right to push your beliefs about war with them if they are serving there country in what they believe in.

I figure I should show up to yours since you showed up to mine! I find this behavior reprehensible. Around here we have a group called the Freedom Riders. A group of wonderful guys. They look like a scary bike gang, and they offer escort to the families of soldiers. They surround the families so that the westboro freaks can't reach them. I donate to this group, they turn down money if they do not need it. A lot of places around here try to raise funds for them.

i agree with your idea , i know this is a touchy subject but families should have a right to honor and hury family members without loonies protesting. come on .^_^