WTF

[Jim in CT]

Originally Posted by JohnnyD

Exercising your rights cannot violate the rights of another person. In this case, exercising your right to free speech would violate the right of life (Not to be injured or abused) of everyone who is in the theater or airport.

I have to agree with Chesapeake Bill. The people from WBC are disgusting, vile "human beings". However, this judgment was the correct interpretation of their Constitutional right to protest.

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I don't particularly like it, but I have to agree. Unfortunately in this case, free speech is not limited to "inoffensive" speech.

These jerks are not protesting the war, as someone posted. They are protesting the fact that our nation does not persecute homosexuals. Somehow, they have concluded that God is killing these servicemen in retaliation for the fact that we don't persecute homosexuals. Don't ask me to explain in, I'm just repeating it.

I don't think much needs to be said about their actions.

Someone compared this to a Klan rally. But it's different. Because if the Klan hold a rally, say, at a town park, you can choose to stay away from that park if you are offended. The families in this case do not have that choice. They have to be at that cemetary, at that particular time.

It says a lot about our tolerance, I think, that these people have not yet been beaten to a pulp.

And when the leader of this church dies, I hope the defense department sponsors a circus across the street from his funeral.

[JohnnyD]

Originally Posted by Jim in CT

It says a lot about our tolerance, I think, that these people have not yet been beaten to a pulp.

And when the leader of this church dies, I hope the defense department sponsors a circus across the street from his funeral.

I've always wondered how long it will be until someone opens fire on one of their rallies.

Being in some of the VAs, I've seen first-hand some of the mental health issues our servicemen and women can be left to deal with when they come back. I have to imagine if a close friend died while standing next to me in a firefight that it would take every ounce of my strength and willpower not to become homicidal on those WBC scum.

[Jim in CT]

Originally Posted by JohnnyD

I've always wondered how long it will be until someone opens fire on one of their rallies.

Being in some of the VAs, I've seen first-hand some of the mental health issues our servicemen and women can be left to deal with when they come back. I have to imagine if a close friend died while standing next to me in a firefight that it would take every ounce of my strength and willpower not to become homicidal on those WBC scum.

I lost 2 kids under my command in Iraq, I made it back home for one of the funerals. It was tough, you're obviously suffering from indescribable grief, and the family felt 10 times worse than I did. I cannot imagine the torture infliced by these people.

I read the Supreme Court's decision, and I do feel they may have made one mistake. The Supreme Court said that the kooks were not targeting specific individuals. I'm not sure about that. Thos kooks pick specific cemetaries at specific times, when they know that specific funerals are takingt place. Seems to me you could make a case that individuals are being targeted, although the messages on the signs are not specific to the individual.

Freedom is tough, as they say. Having to tolerate these people pushes your tolerance right up to the limit, I'd say.

[Backbeach Jake]

Soooooo, if they can interrupt a religious ceremony with their misguided mission would it be OK if I visited their Sunday Services and caused a scene? A loud protest against high gas prices? I'd have to say YES!

[RIROCKHOUND]

Originally Posted by Backbeach Jake

Soooooo, if they can interrupt a religious ceremony with their misguided mission would it be OK if I visited their Sunday Services and caused a scene? A loud protest against high gas prices? I'd have to say YES!

As long as you aren't on their private property, yes.

[JohnR]

I think it is all so wrong, but it is the First Amendment which these fine young men and women honored and that the Westboro retches can hide behind. Their day will come when they can't hide behind the law.

In the meantime, you can donate some to the legal defense fund: Lance Cpl. Matthew A. Snyder The lawyers are supposedly doing the work pro-bono and the balance of legal costs is probably more than paid for by donations. The big slap is that the father is to pay the legal costs of the westborobastards. The legal fund / donations should at least remove that burden.

Lance Cpl. Matthew A. Snyder