Illegal To Hurt Your Feelings?

[Jermyn Davidson]

The Pastor of Westboro Baptist church is the Defendant in a case that the Supreme Court will weigh.

This case tests the boundaries of our First Amendment Right to Freedom of Expression. Most of us are familiar with the midwestern whackos that protest the funerals of American servicemen with signs like, "Thank God for Dead Soldiers", "America Is Doomed", and "God Is Your Enemy."



So should these types of protests be banned from happening within eyesight or even earshot of the grieving?

Should protesters be denied the right to protest in the presence of those who would find their protesting offensive?


Should it be illegal for me to hurt your feelings?

[whoami]

Originally Posted by Jermyn Davidson

The Pastor of Westboro Baptist church is the Defendant in a case that the Supreme Court will weigh.

This case tests the boundaries of our First Amendment Right to Freedom of Expression. Most of us are familiar with the midwestern whackos that protest the funerals of American servicemen with signs like, "Thank God for Dead Soldiers", "America Is Doomed", and "God Is Your Enemy."



So should these types of protests be banned from happening within eyesight or even earshot of the grieving?

Should protesters be denied the right to protest in the presence of those who would find their protesting offensive?


Should it be illegal for me to hurt your feelings?

I really despise that church... they're close to my husband's base and have protested at the funerals of some of the men from his base who died in Iraq.

*sigh* However, I can't support legislation against their right to protest because I'm afraid of more precedent's being set against free speech. That's the way my husband and I feel about it.. but we're not happy about it.

[Praxeas]

Originally Posted by Jermyn Davidson

The Pastor of Westboro Baptist church is the Defendant in a case that the Supreme Court will weigh.

This case tests the boundaries of our First Amendment Right to Freedom of Expression. Most of us are familiar with the midwestern whackos that protest the funerals of American servicemen with signs like, "Thank God for Dead Soldiers", "America Is Doomed", and "God Is Your Enemy."



So should these types of protests be banned from happening within eyesight or even earshot of the grieving?

Should protesters be denied the right to protest in the presence of those who would find their protesting offensive?


Should it be illegal for me to hurt your feelings?

They need to get permits and arrange for police protection like the KKK, but I don't believe you can just have freedom of speech anywhere any time. For example you can't yell "FIRE" in a crowded room....unless of course there is a fire.

In some cases their actions might be considered disturbing the peace

[Jermyn Davidson]

Originally Posted by Praxeas

They need to get permits and arrange for police protection like the KKK, but I don't believe you can just have freedom of speech anywhere any time. For example you can't yell "FIRE" in a crowded room....unless of course there is a fire.

In some cases their actions might be considered disturbing the peace

There are some who would say that the whole "permit process" is just a front for municipalities to use to limit our freedom of expression. I happen to agree with this thinking.

[Jermyn Davidson]

Originally Posted by whoami

I really despise that church... they're close to my husband's base and have protested at the funerals of some of the men from his base who died in Iraq.

*sigh* However, I can't support legislation against their right to protest because I'm afraid of more precedent's being set against free speech. That's the way my husband and I feel about it.. but we're not happy about it.

This is how I feel.

[Praxeas]

Originally Posted by Jermyn Davidson

There are some who would say that the whole "permit process" is just a front for municipalities to use to limit our freedom of expression. I happen to agree with this thinking.

So then let's say a group of 50k decide to just walk down mainstreet,blocking traffic,chanting "death to blacks" of course they would use the N word instead....you don't see a problem with that? It would be utter chaos if they did not first get a permit, allowing for planning of the event to make sure their is not a giant riot.

[missourimary]

I live close enough to that group to have seen and felt the negative impact. What kind of "free speech" protests a funeral, just for starters?

If the Muslims were picketing at Ground Zero, there would be lots of upset Americans. But if a group of people pickets at a Soldier's funeral, that's free speech? I hardly think so.

I hope and pray that Westboro loses this case. It's only if they lose that freedom wil win. Westboro infringes on freedom every time they boycott or picket, and it is time they were stopped.

[Jermyn Davidson]

Originally Posted by missourimary

I hope and pray that Westboro loses this case. It's only if they lose that freedom wil win.

I find the confederate flag very offensive.

Can you imagine what I see, what I am reminded of, whenever I see that flag or anything that bears a semblance to it, promininently displayed and endorsed by the country I would give my life defending?

Yet, it's perfectly acceptable and I am told to just get over it.


I don't like what these people have to say and I think that they kill their message in their delivery.

I would not like the SC limiting their expressions-- no more than I would like Muslims protesting at ground Zero for a mosque, the Klan marching in my neighborhood, or the Black Panthers in the area of my voting booth.



Freedom is precious and never free.

Should we spare your feelings at the cost of freedom?

[whoami]

Originally Posted by missourimary

I live close enough to that group to have seen and felt the negative impact. What kind of "free speech" protests a funeral, just for starters?

If the Muslims were picketing at Ground Zero, there would be lots of upset Americans. But if a group of people pickets at a Soldier's funeral, that's free speech? I hardly think so.

I hope and pray that Westboro loses this case. It's only if they lose that freedom wil win. Westboro infringes on freedom every time they boycott or picket, and it is time they were stopped.

I think this is the first time I've ever disagreed with you Mary.

Don't get me wrong, I HATE what these people do. I don't know how to stop them, but I personally don't think legislation is the way to do it.

[CC1]

Free speech has always had limits. You cannot yell "fire" in a crowded theater without violating the law.

Same thing applies to this group of idiots. They have a right to protest but not neccesarily within eyesight or hearing of grieving families.