Ah-HA! Westboro gets PWNED!

[Peach Wookiee]

The beauty of freedom of speech is that we have the right to disagree. And that means we vocally disagree with Westboro.

 

[RJDiogenes]

That would be hysterical.

Any particular reason?

Because the Married Gay couples and the Westboro nuts would have a Battle Royale for the ages. It ought to be broadcast live on Pay-per-View. I'd loller for hours on end...

It would be wonderful, and I'd have a front row seat.

 

[Locutus of Bored]

I doubt the soldiers themselves would have felt quite that way. I certainly wouldn't. I can just imagine them looking on from the afterlife saying 'These are the people I died to protect? WTF?!'

Well, thankfully the country is full of more soldiers and civilians who understand that the First Amendment is essentially useless if it only protects speech that is approved by the majority.

 

[RJDiogenes]

I doubt the soldiers themselves would have felt quite that way. I certainly wouldn't. I can just imagine them looking on from the afterlife saying 'These are the people I died to protect? WTF?!'

Well, thankfully the country is full of more soldiers and civilians who understand that the First Amendment is essentially useless if it only protects speech that is approved by the majority.

Exactly; the very purpose of the First Amendment is to protect unpopular speech-- popular speech doesn't need protection.

 

[msbae]

I doubt the soldiers themselves would have felt quite that way. I certainly wouldn't. I can just imagine them looking on from the afterlife saying 'These are the people I died to protect? WTF?!'

Well, thankfully the country is full of more soldiers and civilians who understand that the First Amendment is essentially useless if it only protects speech that is approved by the majority.

Having a right to do something does not mean you should. These assholes are abusing their rights with those actions. Several states (including mine, I think) have passed laws to keep these people away from the funerals and the routes to the place of internment. That's the best way to handle it without even bringing 1st Amendment issues into the discussion. They can still be asshole protesters, they just can't bother grieving family and friends.

 

[Mr. Laser Beam]

Having a right to do something does not mean you should. These assholes are abusing their rights with those actions. Several states (including mine, I think) have passed laws to keep these people away from the funerals and the routes to the place of internment. That's the best way to handle it without even bringing 1st Amendment issues into the discussion. They can still be asshole protesters, they just can't bother grieving family and friends.

At any given funeral, shouldn't the family of the deceased have absolute discretion over who is allowed into the funeral? If the family says keep Westboro away, that should be respected. Right?

 

[suarezguy]

^Should that apply to all public figures, like Nixon or Lay? Just because a family!!! is involved doesn't mean everyone else should vanish.

 

[Mr. Laser Beam]

^Should that apply to all public figures, like Nixon or Lay? Just because a family!!! is involved doesn't mean everyone else should vanish.

What reason could anyone have to attend a funeral (of a private citizen, anyway) if they're not related to, or in some way associated with, the deceased? What business could they possibly have being there?

 

[RJDiogenes]

They don't attend the funeral. They congregate in public places near the funeral.

 

[Nerdius Maximus]

IIRC, their "church" is made up entirely of one extended family.

That's what I've always heard. I think they have a shitload of lawyers and/or law degrees in that family too.

Fred Phelps himself was a civil rights lawyer. He's disbarred.

 

[Peach Wookiee]

That figures.

 

[Captain X]

Like I said, that's how they make their money - they provoke people into doing something and then sue them. That's why it's important not to assault them or to do anything to their vehicles or other property. They're adept at manipulating the civil court system to their advantage, which is how they even exist as a "church" that consists entirely of one extended family.

 

[Mr. Laser Beam]

Fred Phelps himself was a civil rights lawyer.

 

[Nerdius Maximus]

Fred Phelps himself was a civil rights lawyer.

I watched a documentary about them on Showtime or HBO or something. It's probably on Youtube. It really gives insight on what makes him tick.

 

[msbae]

Like I said, that's how they make their money - they provoke people into doing something and then sue them. That's why it's important not to assault them or to do anything to their vehicles or other property. They're adept at manipulating the civil court system to their advantage, which is how they even exist as a "church" that consists entirely of one extended family.

Well, I guess the PGR's will just have to make sure there are no witnesses to the 'crime'...