Westboro Baptist Church

[missourimary]

Originally Posted by Digging4Truth

Brilliant.

They were totally not taken seriously. It is when they are taken seriously, even in revolt, that feeds their desire to continue.

I'm sure they still felt persecuted and that the world was eating and drinking as they rushed to their doom. Until I watched Missbrat's video link, I thought ignoring them would work. I'm not so sure after watching that. I hope they lose the Supreme Court case.

Last I heard, they were planning on protesting at the funeral of Christina Taylor Green, the nine year old shot last Saturday. They're pathetic. AZ passed emergency legislation prohibiting such protests within 300 feet of the funeral. That's not far enough, IMO.
http://onfaith.washingtonpost.com/on..._funerals.html

[whoami]

Originally Posted by Azzan

Good grief, protesting Twitter?! What's next?

Pretty funny response, especially the posters with the Rickroll!

LOL I wondered if anyone else would recognize the Rickroll!

[whoami]

Originally Posted by Digging4Truth

Brilliant.

They were totally not taken seriously. It is when they are taken seriously, even in revolt, that feeds their desire to continue.

Yeah, I think making fun of them was the much better strategy.

[Truthseeker]

I heard the passed emergengcy law for the arizona shooting victoms to keep Westboro away but what happened to freedom of speech?

[MrMasterMind]

Originally Posted by Truthseeker

I heard the passed emergengcy law for the arizona shooting victoms to keep Westboro away but what happened to freedom of speech?

300 ft I believe.

And their freedom of speech is not seriously abridged, just a reasonable limitation on time and place.

They can come back the next day and speak to their heart's content.

[missourimary]

Originally Posted by Truthseeker

I heard the passed emergengcy law for the arizona shooting victoms to keep Westboro away but what happened to freedom of speech?

Oh, they can still protest, just not up in the mourning family's faces. Wish they'd tell them they could protest on Pluto. I'd help pay their travel expenses....

On a less sarcastic note, they have the right to peaceable assembly. What they do is not peaceable. And free speech has it's limits. You are not free to yell "hijack" or "bomb" in an airport. You're not free to tell someone you want to shoot them or make racist or otherwise discriminatory remarks against them without repercussions. You're not free to wear a white bedsheet and a pillowcase with eyeholes cut out and burn a cross in someone's yard, even if you say nothing at all, because of what those things represent. So should Westboro be allowed to carry their hate signs and yell epithets at (or directed toward) mourners-a captive audience at a funeral? Some things infringe on others' rights, and for that reason are considered hate speech, racism, discrimination, or hate crimes. Considering what they write on their picket signs, I'd think their actions could easily be considered hate speech, if nothing else.

Do the mourners have no rights?

[Truthseeker]

Originally Posted by MrMasterMind

300 ft I believe.

And their freedom of speech is not seriously abridged, just a reasonable limitation on time and place.

They can come back the next day and speak to their heart's content.

Does constitution mention limited freedom of speech? Why should it be a problem if on public property?

[missourimary]

Originally Posted by Truthseeker

Does constitution mention limited freedom of speech? Why should it be a problem if on public property?

A cemetery may be public property, but a funeral is not a public event. It is a private mourning time. Though open to all mourners, it is not a time for radical public displays meant to disrupt the private mourning of family and friends.

[Truthseeker]

Originally Posted by missourimary

Oh, they can still protest, just not up in the mourning family's faces. Wish they'd tell them they could protest on Pluto. I'd help pay their travel expenses....

On a less sarcastic note, they have the right to peaceable assembly. What they do is not peaceable. And free speech has it's limits. You are not free to yell "hijack" or "bomb" in an airport. You're not free to tell someone you want to shoot them or make racist or otherwise discriminatory remarks against them without repercussions. You're not free to wear a white bedsheet and a pillowcase with eyeholes cut out and burn a cross in someone's yard, even if you say nothing at all, because of what those things represent. So should Westboro be allowed to carry their hate signs and yell epithets at (or directed toward) mourners-a captive audience at a funeral? Some things infringe on others' rights, and for that reason are considered hate speech, racism, discrimination, or hate crimes. Considering what they write on their picket signs, I'd think their actions could easily be considered hate speech, if nothing else.

Do the mourners have no rights?

Of course, you can't on ones property to yell stuff or burn a cross. That's not the same as standing on public property excercising freedom of speech.

[Baron1710]

Originally Posted by MrMasterMind

300 ft I believe.

And their freedom of speech is not seriously abridged, just a reasonable limitation on time and place.

They can come back the next day and speak to their heart's content.

I am waiting to see how the SC decides the case against WBC. I think they will say it is reasonable to ban protesting within (insert number here) feet of a funeral. The other issue in that case could bankrupt them if they lose the emotional distress portion of the case. 5 million I believe was the verdict.