Smoke
Done here.
Well, I never saw any straight folks getting worked up about WBC before that; did you?
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Free Speech or Hate Speech?
- Thread starter Rakhel
- Start date
Not at all. Most hadn't heard about them, granted most straight folks hadn't heard of Matthew Shepard either, so not noticing the anniversary appearance of a bunch of co-religionists with "Matt is in Hell" and "God Hates ****" signs isn't very surprising. Many of my straight friends are fairly oblivious about violence, inequality, and hate directed at LGBT people, and seem to think occurrences of that nature are not as common as they are.
linwood
Well-Known Member
Smoke
Done here.
You're unusually aware.I did!
linwood
Well-Known Member
You're unusually aware.
I dunno.
They started getting mainstream when protesting Matthew Shepards funeral.
Nobody cared but they did start getting some PR through that.
Before that I`d seen them in a few "Weird News" type reports and was incredulous.
gnomon
Well-Known Member
I never knew the group existed until about 2006 or '07 until someone on this forum or USPoliticsOnline posted a link to their website.
And Smoke's right that no one cared much until they started protesting funerals. And for those of us who did pay attention to the group it didn't not take more than a recognition and a dismissal. They were not that much different than the LDS Church, many, or most, evangelical Churches and the RCC.
I never heard GLAAD attempting to sue them all the way to the Supreme Court for not violating any laws.
edit: Though I will note that when the lawsuit over the pertinent case in this discussion first started I had never even believed so many self labeled progressives would jump at the opportunity to praise what is essentially the stripping away of basic constitutional rights.
It was actually rather funny.
And Smoke's right that no one cared much until they started protesting funerals. And for those of us who did pay attention to the group it didn't not take more than a recognition and a dismissal. They were not that much different than the LDS Church, many, or most, evangelical Churches and the RCC.
I never heard GLAAD attempting to sue them all the way to the Supreme Court for not violating any laws.
edit: Though I will note that when the lawsuit over the pertinent case in this discussion first started I had never even believed so many self labeled progressives would jump at the opportunity to praise what is essentially the stripping away of basic constitutional rights.
It was actually rather funny.
tomato1236
Ninja Master
Liberals seem big on rights-chasing, but the real goal is "don't tell people what to do, or that they did wrong." So if free speech is telling someone what to do, or that they've done wrong, then rights are in the way of "true" freedom.
In Canada, their public protest would almost certainly qualify as hate speech, but I can't say about in the U.S.
I think it is a shame to disrupt a funeral. Family members of the deceased are devastated by the person's death and the last thing they need is for someone to interrupt them. As others have said, there are more appropriate places to assemble.
Shadow Wolf
Certified People sTabber & Business Owner
It should be hate speech. It is so disrespectful to the fallen and the friends and family of that it should not happen. Protesting funerals and telling a grieving mother her child is burning in hell because he or she died defending homosexuals. It would be considered a hate crime to protest a black persons funeral just because they are black, so why aren't these hatemongers being charged?
Rakhel
Well-Known Member
Now this group will be heading to New York to tell Jewish children they are evil and are going to hell.
Westboro Baptist Church Picket Schedule
Westboro Baptist Church Picket Schedule
Free speech is all about being able to say hateful things.
Who here wants to give government the power to decide what speech is hateful & punishable?
Could that drawing displayed in Loveland CO of Jesus getting a BJ be considered hate speech?
Should cartoonists be prosecuted for drawing Islam's prophet? Be careful what you wish for, folks.
Who here wants to give government the power to decide what speech is hateful & punishable?
Could that drawing displayed in Loveland CO of Jesus getting a BJ be considered hate speech?
Should cartoonists be prosecuted for drawing Islam's prophet? Be careful what you wish for, folks.
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I believe in free speech, I also believe in respecting a family while they are having a funeral.
I would love to take an ax handle to these crazies. If they where in the town square, I would support their rights. Harassing a funeral is different.
I would love to take an ax handle to these crazies. If they where in the town square, I would support their rights. Harassing a funeral is different.
Shadow Wolf
Certified People sTabber & Business Owner
That is where I draw the line. Free speech is great. Protesting a funeral is just uncalled for. You can't campaign within a certain distance of a voting center on election day, and you shouldn't be able to be any where withing site or sound of a funeral if you want to protest.
tumbleweed41
Resident Liberal Hippie
I agree. They have chosen the wrong venue.
If I am angry about a banks policies, I should organize a protest outside the bank. Not at a bank tellers funeral.
I am, however, very wary of any infringement of free speech. If the court rules against them, it is going to have to be very careful in its wording of the ruling as to why WBC should not be protesting at these soldiers funerals.
Unfortunately, it is when people abuse their rights that we have to do a little reigning in that affects everyone's rights.
Where's that? I could use a break.
gnomon
Well-Known Member
Magic Man
Reaper of Conversation
Unfortunately it is free speech. It would be nice if there was a way to restrict this so that they didn't do it at funerals, but it's tricky because they do it on public land, and as far as I know they don't do it loud enough to be considered a disruption.