Westboro Baptist Church can be one of the most aggressive groups in the country today. These people protest the funerals of U.S. troops landed to promote their message of anti-gay. For most anyone outside their community, it's beyond appalling.
Suit on one of those families of the deceased soldier has caused the question of whether or not these protesters have a right to do what they were doing. The original ruling found in favor of the family, and give them millions of dollars in power. However, that was nullified by the appeal, indicating that he was violating the right to freedom of expression in the church on them.
Now it's in the Supreme Court. And they do not there is an easy time figuring out, either. Where is the line? What is the point you say that does not allow free speech because other people find it offensive?
I am a huge fan of the First Amendment to the Constitution and despite the finding of the actions and teachings of the Baptist Church Westboro terribly wrong, and the attack, no heart to him, and others, and I am worried about the denial of freedom of expression simply because I do not agree with the position on homosexuality. I do not want my country taken immediately to express my opinion on homosexuality - I mean, that would take away pretty much all of this blog! The right to freedom of expression is maddening at times because it requires us to hear the things that we may not find acceptable at all.
Take, for example child pornography. It was illegal for two years - the performance really adult prison for their involvement in these films - due in part to the moral position of the majority against mixing and was considered a deviation. Agree or disagree with the porn, but the right of any person to enter into this form of expression, due in part to the freedoms of the First Amendment to the Constitution.
He said that - you just can not express your freedoms by stripping down and get busy in front of a cemetery - regardless of whether or not a funeral going on. I would imagine that would break some laws lewd behavior, no doubt (my lawyer friend did not hesitate to chime in here to just laws would be broken), as I can not walk down the street naked, claiming that I'm expressing myself. In this case, why there is no law restricting protest at the cemetery during the funeral? Is not an emotional sensitivity toward those mourning the death of a family value to restrict freedom of expression in a limited capacity? Certainly if we accept that people should wear clothes when in public places, we can accept that people must keep their opinions to themselves while the people do not bury their dead is a sacred thing.
And a final note, I would just like to include this logic baffling by the World Boxing Council:
He says members of the church was the target of a broader non-specific actions of the military and those they serve. They believe that the American soldiers deserve to die because they are fighting for a country that tolerates homosexuality.
What can be said about them that they live, work and operate, pay taxes (I assume) the citizens of this country that our troops fighting the same? How to separate one way or another? The amount of cognitive dissonance is mind-numbing - that is, if any thought and even go to the justification to begin with.
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