Free Speech for the Dumb...

On the front page of our local paper...
Supreme Court Rule for Funeral Potesters
Church members' right to free speech trumps the pain inflicted by their hateful demonstrations...

If that was my son who died serving his country, I'm not sure how much civility I'd be able to show those hatemonger cult members from the WBC who claim to represent God.

Those bastards have no right to protest a solider's funeral, and I also do not see how solider's funerals and that church's hatered of ga ys are connected.

Yeah, I saw this yesterday, and it sickened me.

I feel the same way you do, Ult. If those freaks "exercised their right to free speech" at the funeral of someone I knew and loved, I would exercise my right to bear arms... in their general direction. Preferably at their heads.

Fat Freddy wrote:

Yeah, I saw this yesterday, and it sickened me.

I feel the same way you do, Ult. If those freaks "exercised their right to free speech" at the funeral of someone I knew and loved, I would exercise my right to bear arms... in their general direction. Preferably at their heads.

I'm actually surprised that hasn't happened more often yet. I know that local police forces usually protect them.

I wonder how the funeral for one of their own will be? Will American soldiers protest their funeral saying "God Hates Fred Phelps" and "Fred Phelps is in Hell". Obviously that won't happen, but I bet they would scream bloody murder.

ultmetal wrote:

Fat Freddy wrote:

Yeah, I saw this yesterday, and it sickened me.

I feel the same way you do, Ult. If those freaks "exercised their right to free speech" at the funeral of someone I knew and loved, I would exercise my right to bear arms... in their general direction. Preferably at their heads.

I'm actually surprised that hasn't happened more often yet. I know that local police forces usually protect them.

It'll happen sooner or later. And when it does, I hope the beat down gets shown on live TV.

Quote :

Church members' right to free speech trumps the pain inflicted

Following this logic, I guess that means it's now "legal" to yell "FIRE!" in a crowded theater, or drive around town screaming racial slurs at anybody you want to. Hey, you're just exercising your right to free speech!

I saw that too. Free Speech for the Dumb is right.

Besides the obvious (getting their faces on tv) what is their point in protesting soldier funerals? I see them with their "God Hates F*gs" signs, but I don't know what that has to do with a soldier's funeral. Are they protesting the war? The "don't ask, don't tell" policy?

I understand (somewhat) when they protest in front of Catholic Churches and school with the whole priest scandals and whatnot, but funerals? Do they have a reasoning for that?

I'm looking for more of an explaination other than "Well, they are just publicity hungry-douchebags". That much we already know.

From the same newspaper article,
Four members of the WBC pickted outside the Sept, 21, 2006 funeral of Alexander Jordan in Rio Rancho (New Mexico)...Robert Jordan (fater of Alex Jordan), a staunch supporter of free speech, saind in a Journal interview last year that he was conflicted over the pain the Westboro group caused his family and the free-speech rights his song fought to preserve.
"Whatever pain I might have felt is minor in comparison to the bigger issue" of free speech, he said in the interview. "It's part of what makes America unique and beautiful. I don't have to like it, but I'm damned sure going to tolerate it. My son died for it."

ultmetal wrote:

From the same newspaper article,
Four members of the WBC pickted outside the Sept, 21, 2006 funeral of Alexander Jordan in Rio Rancho (New Mexico)...Robert Jordan (fater of Alex Jordan), a staunch supporter of free speech, saind in a Journal interview last year that he was conflicted over the pain the Westboro group caused his family and the free-speech rights his song fought to preserve.
"Whatever pain I might have felt is minor in comparison to the bigger issue" of free speech, he said in the interview. "It's part of what makes America unique and beautiful. I don't have to like it, but I'm damned sure going to tolerate it. My son died for it."

That father and his son are a class act unlike those douche bags

MetalGuy71 wrote:

I saw that too. Free Speech for the Dumb is right.

Besides the obvious (getting their faces on tv) what is their point in protesting soldier funerals? I see them with their "God Hates F*gs" signs, but I don't know what that has to do with a soldier's funeral. Are they protesting the war? The "don't ask, don't tell" policy?

I understand (somewhat) when they protest in front of Catholic Churches and school with the whole priest scandals and whatnot, but funerals? Do they have a reasoning for that?

I'm looking for more of an explaination other than "Well, they are just publicity hungry-douchebags". That much we already know.

They claim that "dead soldiers" are God's wrath being poured out on our country due to our tolerance of homosexuality.



"No God-fearing man or woman would lift a finger fighting for a country washed in sin like this."
-Steve Drains, Westboro Baptist Church

In the end, God hates anyone who is not a member of their cult.

Fat Freddy wrote:

Yeah, I saw this yesterday, and it sickened me.

I feel the same way you do, Ult. If those freaks "exercised their right to free speech" at the funeral of someone I knew and loved, I would exercise my right to bear arms... in their general direction. Preferably at their heads.

Where's Jake and Elwood when we need them...

ultmetal wrote:

They claim that "dead soldiers" are God's wrath being poured out on our country due to our tolerance of homosexuality.

They claim that EVERYTHING is "God's wrath being poured out on our country due to our tolerance of homosexuality." If a school bus full of kids gets hit by a train, it's "God's wrath." If a kid gets killed by a drunk driver, it's "God's wrath." Floods, earthquakes, wildfires- "Well, if Americans weren't so tolerant of homosexuals, none of this would be happening."

They first started showing up on the national radar after the 9/11 attacks, which of course they said America had coming to it and that it was a great thing. Needless to say, they've been on nearly everyone's sh*t list ever since, which they seem to revel in.

There's a (joke) Facebook group dedicated to bringing Varg Vikernes of Burzum to the U.S. so he can set fire to the Westboro Baptist Church.

Oh, well that makes perfect sense. *sigh*

The Supreme Court has made such a mockery out of "Free Speech" and the Constitution in general, it's shameful.

ultmetal wrote:

From the same newspaper article,
Four members of the WBC pickted outside the Sept, 21, 2006 funeral of Alexander Jordan in Rio Rancho (New Mexico)...Robert Jordan (fater of Alex Jordan), a staunch supporter of free speech, saind in a Journal interview last year that he was conflicted over the pain the Westboro group caused his family and the free-speech rights his song fought to preserve.
"Whatever pain I might have felt is minor in comparison to the bigger issue" of free speech, he said in the interview. "It's part of what makes America unique and beautiful. I don't have to like it, but I'm damned sure going to tolerate it. My son died for it."

I absolutely detest the WBC and their hate but I do respect the ability to voice their opinions, even if disagree with them. I think where and how ought to controlled and made to apply for permits and such (like other groups who want to protest). I think that protesting is a vital part of free speech, even if I dont like the people doing it or their message.

It is unfortunate though that some people go out of their way to show how much of an idiot they really are.

I find it funny that we're discussing this in the OF UNSOUND MIND forum. Pretty approprite ,if you ask me.

exact33 wrote:

ultmetal wrote:

From the same newspaper article,
Four members of the WBC pickted outside the Sept, 21, 2006 funeral of Alexander Jordan in Rio Rancho (New Mexico)...Robert Jordan (fater of Alex Jordan), a staunch supporter of free speech, saind in a Journal interview last year that he was conflicted over the pain the Westboro group caused his family and the free-speech rights his song fought to preserve.
"Whatever pain I might have felt is minor in comparison to the bigger issue" of free speech, he said in the interview. "It's part of what makes America unique and beautiful. I don't have to like it, but I'm damned sure going to tolerate it. My son died for it."

I absolutely detest the WBC and their hate but I do respect the ability to voice their opinions, even if disagree with them. I think where and how ought to controlled and made to apply for permits and such (like other groups who want to protest). I think that protesting is a vital part of free speech, even if I dont like the people doing it or their message.

It is unfortunate though that some people go out of their way to show how much of an idiot they really are.

I have to agree with the king, I hate their message, actually they don't have a message!!! But they do have right to free speech and we have to protect their rights to voice their worthless opinions.

I can see where exact is comin' from but in my book, the right to free speech doesn't automatically give people the right to assemble and be a**holes in places where they have no business, i.e. funerals of people they've never met and obviously don't give a sh*t about... mmm, nope, sorry.

I agree with exact and I agree with you also FF, I also have no idea what dead soliders have to do with ga ys or whatever it is they are protesting, if these guys are believers in Jesus Christ has they claim, maybe they should put down their protest signs, pick up their Bible and learn a thing or two about compassion.

I have no use for stupid people like these douche bags, they seem to show up anywhere they think a camera may be, what these asswipes should be grateful is that they live in this country where we tolerate these idiotic opinions.

Fat Freddy wrote:

I can see where exact is comin' from but in my book, the right to free speech doesn't automatically give people the right to assemble and be a**holes in places where they have no business, i.e. funerals of people they've never met and obviously don't give a sh*t about... mmm, nope, sorry.

What I find amazing is that there are no regulations in veterans cemetaries that prohibit people who are not part of the family/mourners from being there.

I have a lot of problems with limiting free speech/assembly but I have no problem with it being regulated - i.e. permits to gather, adequate police, etc. I think that some states are now going to enact statutes to cover this type of behavior, although it does nothing to those already mortified by the WestBoro Cult behavior.

They can say it but I think they should be kept back from the actual funeral and the procession. Exact nails it with regulating them.

The WBC is a neo-pagan hate-filled cult using the words "God" and "Jesus" to justify their stupidity. To inflict further suffering on people who are already hurting for their 15 minutes of fame is sick.

E33 is right, as much as we all might hate them, this decision allows regular folks the right to voice their opinions (even if it allows dumb-asses like the WBC to do it too).

ultmetal wrote:

MetalGuy71 wrote:

I saw that too. Free Speech for the Dumb is right.

Besides the obvious (getting their faces on tv) what is their point in protesting soldier funerals? I see them with their "God Hates F*gs" signs, but I don't know what that has to do with a soldier's funeral. Are they protesting the war? The "don't ask, don't tell" policy?

I understand (somewhat) when they protest in front of Catholic Churches and school with the whole priest scandals and whatnot, but funerals? Do they have a reasoning for that?

I'm looking for more of an explaination other than "Well, they are just publicity hungry-douchebags". That much we already know.

They claim that "dead soldiers" are God's wrath being poured out on our country due to our tolerance of homosexuality.



"No God-fearing man or woman would lift a finger fighting for a country washed in sin like this."
-Steve Drains, Westboro Baptist Church

In the end, God hates anyone who is not a member of their cult.

Check out what I found out about Steve Drain in information on Fred: The Movie, a movie about Phelps and the WBC:
"This was originally supposed to be a movie about people's ignorance of their own religion. When Steve Drain came across Fred Phelps he decided that Phelps had the most airtight theology of anyone he'd interviewed, and not only changed the course of the movie to focus entirely on Phelps, but he and his wife also joined Phelps's church/cult and made their daughters join as well."

Steve Drain was an aspiring documentary filmmaker, and Fred: The Movie was his second and final movie. His time, efforts, and income are now dedicated solely to Fred Phelps's "love crusades".

Yikes.

i guess they do have the right to protest, but it is in such poor taste, no one will give a crap about the "message" they want to convey.

Ugh........ I feel conflicted - personally, someone should kick their a$$e$, but they do have the right to free speech. My Dad was in Vietnam and I am reminded about what he said about Jane Fonda "That F'n C***", but he also said "It's a free country, she can say what she wants, but so can I and she is a f'n c**t"

Personally, I think this cult is led and filled with c***s. They take generally held evangelical (and some catholic) beliefs to an extreme. What they are doing has nothing to do with God - it's all about rage and hate and pushing an agenda.

Yeah,like it or not (and just about everybody doesn't),they are well within their constitutional rights to assemble,although I had heard it has to be a respectable distance.However far that is and who decides it,I don't know.