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High court looks at military funeral protests - 9/30/2010 8:32:18 AM

rulemylife

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Where do we draw the line between free speech and offensive speech?

Should that line even exist?

High court looks at military funeral protests

YORK, Pa. – One thing Al Snyder wants to make clear: His boy fought and died for freedom in Iraq, but not for the right of some "wackos" to spew hate at soldiers' funerals under the protection of the Constitution.

"It's an insult to myself, my family and the veterans to say this is what our military men and women died for," Snyder says, barely concealing his anger.

Yet more than four years after the death of his only son, Matthew, Snyder is in the middle of a Supreme Court case that raises almost precisely that issue.

The court is set to decide whether members of a fundamentalist church in Kansas who picketed Matthew's funeral with signs bearing anti-gay and anti-Catholic invective have a constitutional right to say what they want.

Or, in intruding on a private citizen's funeral in a hurtful way, have the protesters crossed a line and given Snyder the right to collect millions of dollars for the emotional pain they caused?

The justices will hear arguments in the case next Wednesday.

The case is shaping up as a potentially important test of the First Amendment.

Post #: 1

RE: High court looks at military funeral protests - 9/30/2010 8:54:55 AM

kdsub

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I wonder if our forefathers envisioned this type of despicable abuse of the Constitution when they wrote it?

I feel for the man and all who have been hurt by their actions. I don’t think I could stand by and allow them to spew their hate if my son or daughter’s funeral. I would most likely do something stupid that would please them very much and get them plenty of press.

I believe their right will be upheld sad but so. Allowing these hateful brainwashed people their freedom of speech is a sacrifice we must all make to keep the right for us all.

I just hope the unpopular but correct decision is not used by political organizations for election fodder…It will piss me off.

Butch

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RE: High court looks at military funeral protests - 9/30/2010 9:09:07 AM

Arpig

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quote:

Should that line even exist?

Nope

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RE: High court looks at military funeral protests - 9/30/2010 10:02:55 AM

pahunkboy

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So harassment is free speech?

Wow.

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RE: High court looks at military funeral protests - 9/30/2010 11:12:51 AM

rulemylife

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quote:

ORIGINAL: pahunkboy

So harassment is free speech?

Wow.

If it was harassment they would have been charged long ago.

Phelps and his daughter are both lawyers, though he has been disbarred.

They know how to tread the line.

That's why it will be interesting to see if this judgment against them is upheld. Getting hit in the wallet might finally shut them up.

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Post #: 5

RE: High court looks at military funeral protests - 9/30/2010 11:22:06 AM

pahunkboy

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In a way- to protest a funeral is like saying I do not approve of it=- in other words DO NOT DIE.

even still the intent is to put emotional harm onto the loved ones. that is not free speech. it is antagonistic. it is predatory.   It is harassment.

the intent is to inflict harm on someone.

Ya know- clobbering someone at a low point in their life- one day could back fire in a very unstable way. ie harm to the protesters.   and would a jury convict the guy?    Maybe not.

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Post #: 6

RE: High court looks at military funeral protests - 9/30/2010 11:34:44 AM

rulemylife

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quote:

ORIGINAL: pahunkboy

even still the intent is to put emotional harm onto the loved ones. that is not free speech. it is antagonistic. it is predatory. It is harassment.

I don't disagree with you Pahunk, but the point is it does not violate the law.

I doubt even this civil suit will hold up considering past Supreme Court rulings.

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Post #: 7

RE: High court looks at military funeral protests - 9/30/2010 11:45:46 AM

pogo4pres

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quote:

ORIGINAL: rulemylife

quote:

ORIGINAL: pahunkboy

even still the intent is to put emotional harm onto the loved ones. that is not free speech. it is antagonistic. it is predatory. It is harassment.

I don't disagree with you Pahunk, but the point is it does not violate the law.

I doubt even this civil suit will hold up considering past Supreme Court rulings.

I know god damned well I'd not vote to convict a family member that had to suffer through this bullshit perpetrated by Westboro Baptist, and assaulted a "church" member. Hell I'd probably congratulate the family member from the jury box, and when hammered for contempt, not give a shit. That the Phelps family is allowed to continue to skirt the law pisses me off no end, they are no better than pond scum in my mind.

Religuliously,
Some Knucklehead in NJ

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RE: High court looks at military funeral protests - 9/30/2010 11:48:14 AM

pahunkboy

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quote:

ORIGINAL: pogo4pres

quote:

ORIGINAL: rulemylife

quote:

ORIGINAL: pahunkboy

even still the intent is to put emotional harm onto the loved ones. that is not free speech. it is antagonistic. it is predatory. It is harassment.

I don't disagree with you Pahunk, but the point is it does not violate the law.

I doubt even this civil suit will hold up considering past Supreme Court rulings.

I know god damned well I'd not vote to convict a family member that had to suffer through this bullshit perpetrated by Westboro Baptist, and assaulted a "church" member. Hell I'd probably congratulate the family member from the jury box, and when hammered for contempt, not give a shit. That the Phelps family is allowed to continue to skirt the law pisses me off no end, they are no better than pond scum in my mind.

Religuliously,
Some Knucklehead in NJ

That is what I mean. At some point- someone is going to fly off the handle.

It is only a matter of time.

(in reply to pogo4pres)

Post #: 9

RE: High court looks at military funeral protests - 9/30/2010 12:33:38 PM

LadyTeazer

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This might be slightly off-topic, but I have to say it.

This macadamia (macadamia = nut) just rants on and on about being anti-gay.

However..... am I the only one who has noticed that for all of his opposition to it, that many of the signs his followers carry are written on *rainbow* colored posterboard? Huh??? Is that not just a wee bit of a contradiction there, Mister Nutcase? Further proof (as if any more was needed) that this guy ain't the brightest crayon in the box.

And another thing..... Did I miss something along the way? How are soldiers who are killed in action a "punishment" for those who are gay? What is the connection? I don't see it. Wouldn't it be logical to claim that something like HIV/AIDS is the punishment for being gay? Oops. Silly Me. I'm using the word logical in reference to Phelps. My bad.

The macadamia has a right to say what he believes. But the way in which he tries to spread his gargabe is totally wrong. It seriously violates the ideals of common decency and respect (for the deceased person, and their family and friends). But since those are moral issues, rather than laws, I fear this whacko will get the green light to keep acting like a total ass.

Hmmmm..... I wonder what would happen if a lot of people showed up at his "church" every week, and shouted and carried signs proclaiming that he and his followers are the punishment for inadequate mental health care in this country?.....

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Post #: 10

RE: High court looks at military funeral protests - 9/30/2010 1:28:22 PM

Hillwilliam

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Phelps and his nutbags have twice announced they were going to protest a soldier's funeral in Tennessee (the last time about 20 miles from here). Both times the chickenshit wimped out.

Nothing like a few thousand pissed off, soldier supporting rednecks to make you pack your stuff and head west in the middle of the night.

I just wish he would protest the funeral of a soldier that was the son of sayyyyyyyyyyy a Hell's Angel.

I'd pay to watch that.

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Post #: 11

RE: High court looks at military funeral protests - 9/30/2010 1:30:47 PM

Moonhead

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They've had a few protests drowned out and mostly obscured from the view of the mourners by bikers, have they not?

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Post #: 12

RE: High court looks at military funeral protests - 9/30/2010 1:32:12 PM

Hillwilliam

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Yes they have Moon. But, the 2 they planned for Tennessee, they just flat out cancelled and went home.

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Post #: 13

RE: High court looks at military funeral protests - 9/30/2010 1:33:34 PM

Owner59

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"Both times the chickenshit wimped out."

Thanks for mentioning that. Gives me a little faith that not everything goes in our anything goes nation.

< Message edited by Owner59 -- 9/30/2010 2:07:56 PM >

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Post #: 14

RE: High court looks at military funeral protests - 9/30/2010 1:36:10 PM

Hillwilliam

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The group that acts as counterprotestors for those funeals is, I think, a part of "Rolling Thunder". They are a social rider club that is HUGE advocates for the POW/MIA cause. They are 100% law abiding and, above all, NOT a 1%er group like the Outlaws, Ghost Riders, Hell's Angels, Pagans, etc.

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Post #: 15

RE: High court looks at military funeral protests - 9/30/2010 1:39:50 PM

Hillwilliam

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quote:

ORIGINAL: Owner59

"Both times the chickenshit wimped out."

Thanks for mentioning that. Gives me a little faith that mot everything goes in our anything goes nation.

It just goes to show what kind of person Phelps is. he likes to hide behind that bible of his and the US Constitution but I guess he doesnt have enough faith to believe he will be protected by his god from pissed off supporters of our boys that put their ass on the line every day to keep our's free.

I think chickenshit is totally appropriate.

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Post #: 16

RE: High court looks at military funeral protests - 9/30/2010 1:42:33 PM

Moonhead

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quote:

ORIGINAL: Hillwilliam

The group that acts as counterprotestors for those funeals is, I think, a part of "Rolling Thunder". They are a social rider club that is HUGE advocates for the POW/MIA cause. They are 100% law abiding and, above all, NOT a 1%er group like the Outlaws, Ghost Riders, Hell's Angels, Pagans, etc.

Thanks. I wasn't sure of the name of the club, besides knowing it wasn't the Angels.

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RE: High court looks at military funeral protests - 9/30/2010 1:48:07 PM

peacefulplace

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~FR~

Fred Phelps and his spawn are poor excuses for human beings. Their complete (and bizarre) obsession with homosexuality makes me wonder if they are all self-loathing closet homosexuals. I do not think of myself as a violent person (hence the online moniker), but if I saw them picketing a funeral, particularly when they picketed Matthew Shepard's funeral, I would be hard pressed to NOT take their signs and literally shove them up their asses.

However, the U.S. being who we are has to allow them their right to free speech. It is not really akin to yelling "Fire" in a crowded theater, and giving them attention makes them happy so the best course of action seems to be ignore, ignore, ignore. Like it or not, those dead soldiers were here to protect and defend the Constitution, the Constitution which gives Phelps the right to be a disgusting pig at their funerals. Oh, the irony...

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RE: High court looks at military funeral protests - 9/30/2010 2:11:28 PM

Owner59

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True,the Constitution protects mostly the things we don`t like, but mourners have rights two.

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RE: High court looks at military funeral protests - 9/30/2010 2:21:50 PM

hertz

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quote:

Where do we draw the line between free speech and offensive speech?

In simple terms, I would be looking at the intention and the likely consequence of such speech. If the intent is to offend, or if the most likely result is offence, then I question whether it should be given the same protection as free speech.

quote:

Should that line even exist?

Yes. But I'm from Europe, so I guess my attitude is typically European.

*prepares for shit-storm of protest and insult*

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Post #: 20

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