mmarsh
Active member
As you might be aware the Supreme Court has agreed to hear the case of the Westboro Baptist Church run by Fred Phelps.
For those yet blessed not to know Phelps. He is the leader of a church (i.e cult) group (made of mostly of family) who believes the world his cursed by God for us allowing homosexuality. Every catastrophe on earth (wars, famine, disease, disaster) is because of our tolerence of gays.
He regularily pickets soldiers funerals, AIDS victims funerals, jewish synagogues, other churches, and basically whatever he can get attention with signs like God loves Dead Soldiers, God Hates Fa**s, and a bunch of simply odious comments designed to injury the grieving family. Like Adolf Hitler he peddles hate to the masses.
Fred Phelps is pure human bile, last night I listened to a semi-interview with him and the BBC (I say semi because Phelps refused to answer most questions) and I was simply struck what a absolute hate filled individual he was, they guy is a sociopath he seems to literaly hate the world and everyone in it. Ill shed no tears when he kicks the can.
But that isnt really what I to want to talk about, I think we all agree: hes scum. The focus of this thread is really a first amendment issue; does Fred Phelps and his loony followers have the right to picket soldiers funerals?
The Bush Administration instituted the policy of Free Speach Zones, meaning zones protesters were allowed to be that were a long ways away from the event they were protesting. A convient way to circumvent a individuals right to the 1st Amendment and in my IMHO a gross violation of 1st Amendment rights. The police has used this same policy to keep Phelps mad group from distrupting funerals and the like.
This policy is terrible, immoral, in my unconstutional as I dont think the 1st Amendment intend was to bottle up Free speach and lock it in a closet. However the idea that Phelps be allowed to harass people attending funerals is simply a nausaeting thought. I couldnt imagine what I would so if Phelps showed up at a funeral of family member of mine, only that USMC03 and 5.56 would probably be putting me in handcuffs at the end of it.
The court has long held the hateful speach is protected, but a new question is raised as Phelps group is invading our peoples right to privacy.
What do you all think, from a constitutional standpoint (and moral opinions aside, no point in answering morals, Phelps has proven he has no morals), does phelps have the right to protest at people funerals.
For those yet blessed not to know Phelps. He is the leader of a church (i.e cult) group (made of mostly of family) who believes the world his cursed by God for us allowing homosexuality. Every catastrophe on earth (wars, famine, disease, disaster) is because of our tolerence of gays.
He regularily pickets soldiers funerals, AIDS victims funerals, jewish synagogues, other churches, and basically whatever he can get attention with signs like God loves Dead Soldiers, God Hates Fa**s, and a bunch of simply odious comments designed to injury the grieving family. Like Adolf Hitler he peddles hate to the masses.
Fred Phelps is pure human bile, last night I listened to a semi-interview with him and the BBC (I say semi because Phelps refused to answer most questions) and I was simply struck what a absolute hate filled individual he was, they guy is a sociopath he seems to literaly hate the world and everyone in it. Ill shed no tears when he kicks the can.
But that isnt really what I to want to talk about, I think we all agree: hes scum. The focus of this thread is really a first amendment issue; does Fred Phelps and his loony followers have the right to picket soldiers funerals?
The Bush Administration instituted the policy of Free Speach Zones, meaning zones protesters were allowed to be that were a long ways away from the event they were protesting. A convient way to circumvent a individuals right to the 1st Amendment and in my IMHO a gross violation of 1st Amendment rights. The police has used this same policy to keep Phelps mad group from distrupting funerals and the like.
This policy is terrible, immoral, in my unconstutional as I dont think the 1st Amendment intend was to bottle up Free speach and lock it in a closet. However the idea that Phelps be allowed to harass people attending funerals is simply a nausaeting thought. I couldnt imagine what I would so if Phelps showed up at a funeral of family member of mine, only that USMC03 and 5.56 would probably be putting me in handcuffs at the end of it.
The court has long held the hateful speach is protected, but a new question is raised as Phelps group is invading our peoples right to privacy.
What do you all think, from a constitutional standpoint (and moral opinions aside, no point in answering morals, Phelps has proven he has no morals), does phelps have the right to protest at people funerals.