Westboro Baptist Church to get day in court

[Zaltana]

There are also far more respectful ways to do it too.

 

[Miros]

I'd kill em all if I could. Just sayin'

 

[Reauland]

I'm with Skaw on this. They're not protesting, they're intentionally harassing.

You guys remember that scene in "Die Hard: With a Vengeance" where McClain was forced to walk into Harlem wearing that racist, offensive sandwich board that said, "I HATE N*****S"?

Correct me if I'm wrong, but wouldn't the police have been perfectly within the bounds of the law to arrest someone doing such a thing on the basis of their disturbance of the peace?

Yes, we must protect free speech, but I can't recall anyone ever saying that we must also protect speech whose sole purpose is the intent to be inflammatory. The permits that are being issued to allow these fuckheads to "demonstrate" in the first place should probably place some limitations on the content of their protest signs. If that smacks of censorship, then I ask you to please refer to the aforementioned awesome Bruce Willis flick - the law should kick in before the stupidity and insensitivity of these close-minded wastes of flesh causes someone to get hurt, most likely one of them.

Because trust me, if these fucks ever had the sack to show up at a funeral for one of my friends or family, I'd gleefully skip to jail with a big ole smile on my face to serve my time for what might stop at assault and battery . . . or might not . . .

 

[Miruyasha]

I'm with Skaw on this. They're not protesting, they're intentionally harassing.

You guys remember that scene in "Die Hard: With a Vengeance" where McClain was forced to walk into Harlem wearing that racist, offensive sandwich board that said, "I HATE N*****S"?

Correct me if I'm wrong, but wouldn't the police have been perfectly within the bounds of the law to arrest someone doing such a thing on the basis of their disturbance of the peace?

Something like that, I'd think, WOULD be disturbing the peace since it's not really a protest, it's just a racist and inflammatory sign that would be trying to incite trouble. If you have a "formal" protest, you can say whatever you want as long as it doesn't escalate beyond being a rally/protest. Like I (and Marajade) have said before, these people's right to free speech and assembly ends when it intrudes upon even one individuals rights. That's the way the law works, unfortunately, and we just have to bite the bullet until these people do something even more stupid than what they're doing already.

Note: This is all just speculation and what I remember from law back in high school.

 

[Hexx]

I'm with Skaw on this. They're not protesting, they're intentionally harassing.

You guys remember that scene in "Die Hard: With a Vengeance" where McClain was forced to walk into Harlem wearing that racist, offensive sandwich board that said, "I HATE N*****S"?

Correct me if I'm wrong, but wouldn't the police have been perfectly within the bounds of the law to arrest someone doing such a thing on the basis of their disturbance of the peace?

Yes, we must protect free speech, but I can't recall anyone ever saying that we must also protect speech whose sole purpose is the intent to be inflammatory. The permits that are being issued to allow these fuckheads to "demonstrate" in the first place should probably place some limitations on the content of their protest signs. If that smacks of censorship, then I ask you to please refer to the aforementioned awesome Bruce Willis flick - the law should kick in before the stupidity and insensitivity of these close-minded wastes of flesh causes someone to get hurt, most likely one of them.

Because trust me, if these fucks ever had the sack to show up at a funeral for one of my friends or family, I'd gleefully skip to jail with a big ole smile on my face to serve my time for what might stop at assault and battery . . . or might not . . .

Because that would not be protesting, it would be inciting violence, since he is going into a predominantly black neighborhood and calling them a racial epithet. There is a fine line between protest and inciting violence, one is protected free speech, and the other is a crime. Like Hali said, that will be for the SC to decide.

 

[Halifirien]

I always thought that was decided by common sense.

People have different ideas about what constitutes "common sense." We have judges to serve as the final arbiters. Merely being inflammatory isn't grounds for censorship; if it was, Howard Stern would've been drummed out of the business decades ago.

 

[Hexx]

People have different ideas about what constitutes "common sense." We have judges to serve as the final arbiters. Merely being inflammatory isn't grounds for censorship; if it was, Howard Stern would've been drummed out of the business decades ago.

As the saying goes, "Common sense, isn't common".

 

[Morcheeba]

Yes. Their victims are not the victims of a crime. They're only the victims of hurt feelings. That's not illegal.

Not true... well not entirely.



What Trist said.

What happens when the free exercise of speech (Westboro) impedes the right of the people to peaceably assemble (funeral processions)?

I had quite a bit of fire on this topic at first, but no one had really agreed with my p.o.v. yet.

 

[masterorion]

i completely agree with free speech, but there are some venues where protesting such as this, is completely uncalled for. funerals tops my list of those places. however, due to them protesting there, it hascreated one of the best groups of people to escort funeral processions. ...the patriot guard riders. for those that dont know who they are, they are a majority of war vets with motor cycles....well, the video here explains it best:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZwigMTjup70

when it comes to this church that chooses to act like this, its very similar to terrorism. the children growing up learning that this behavior is ok, they pass it on to their kids. its a never ending loop. just as terrorists. their kids think its ok to kill innocent people. they pass it on to further generations as well.
honestly, this church is, in my opinion, a cult. all of whom are brainwashed to think what their leader has taught them. just one of those groups that will never go away. hopefully, large lawsuits will tone them down some.

 

[Zaltana]

People have different ideas about what constitutes "common sense." We have judges to serve as the final arbiters. Merely being inflammatory isn't grounds for censorship; if it was, Howard Stern would've been drummed out of the business decades ago.

We can go there.

And how many times does howard, and our good friend rush, travel across the country to specific locations with the deliberate purpose to harass groups of individuals that just want to be left alone? Whether or not howard is being inflamatory is subjective because they're not stepping on the faces and toes of others while exercising their rights. they are sitting in their own broadcast stations, or in rush's case his TV show as well, rambling off things many people rather not listen to. whether you like them or not, neither man crosses the line. Can we say that for our partially inbreed friends? i think not.

And common sense is common, its the ability to use it that isn't.

 

[Zaltana]

i completely agree with free speech, but there are some venues where protesting such as this, is completely uncalled for. funerals tops my list of those places. however, due to them protesting there, it hascreated one of the best groups of people to escort funeral processions. ...the patriot guard riders. for those that dont know who they are, they are a majority of war vets with motor cycles....well, the video here explains it best:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZwigMTjup70

when it comes to this church that chooses to act like this, its very similar to terrorism. the children growing up learning that this behavior is ok, they pass it on to their kids. its a never ending loop. just as terrorists. their kids think its ok to kill innocent people. they pass it on to further generations as well.
honestly, this church is, in my opinion, a cult. all of whom are brainwashed to think what their leader has taught them. just one of those groups that will never go away. hopefully, large lawsuits will tone them down some.

this "church" is only a church in name. no arch-diosis will claim it and it is considered a hate group by the US census. and they do sequester their members. They aren't permitted to have relations with member outside of the congregation. makes me wonder what direction this group will take when phelps kicks the bucket.

 

[Halifirien]

And how many times does howard, and our good friend rush, travel across the country to specific locations with the deliberate purpose to harass groups of individuals that just want to be left alone?

I couldn't tell you about Rush because I'd rather have my ears filled with hot lead than listen to that ingrown scrotum hair speak about anything, but Howard Stern used to send Stuttering John out to bug celebrities by asking them inappropriate questions and embarrass them for the purposes of comedy.

 

[masterorion]

this "church" is only a church in name. no arch-diosis will claim it and it is considered a hate group by the US census. and they do sequester their members. They aren't permitted to have relations with member outside of the congregation. makes me wonder what direction this group will take when phelps kicks the bucket.

thats the thing, thy preach some bible, which one it is, i dont know. but because of this, they call themselves a "church". it resembles radical christains. sort of like radical muslims that bin laden hangs with.
im pretty sure that this group will never stop even when phelps does kick it. too many followers that will keep it going. however, maybe they will not be as active as they are

 

[Hexx]

thats the thing, thy preach some bible, which one it is, i dont know. but because of this, they call themselves a "church". it resembles radical christains. sort of like radical muslims that bin laden hangs with.
im pretty sure that this group will never stop even when phelps does kick it. too many followers that will keep it going. however, maybe they will not be as active as they are

LOL have you not seen his psychotic daughter? She's as crazy, if not more, than he is XD I'm pretty sure his death won't do a thing to stop them......

 

[Zaltana]

I couldn't tell you about Rush because I'd rather have my ears filled with hot lead than listen to that ingrown scrotum hair speak about anything, but Howard Stern used to send Stuttering John out to bug celebrities by asking them inappropriate questions and embarrass them for the purposes of comedy.

and they didn't stand for it i'm sure. the celebs i mean. i'm sure his listeners loved it.

 

[Zaltana]

thats the thing, thy preach some bible, which one it is, i dont know. but because of this, they call themselves a "church". it resembles radical christains. sort of like radical muslims that bin laden hangs with.
im pretty sure that this group will never stop even when phelps does kick it. too many followers that will keep it going. however, maybe they will not be as active as they are

religion is just the fuel for their fire. it the motif the go with. whether or not any of them truly believe in god is anyone's guess. and no, phelp's death will do nothing to end this group. killing him will give them a marter and his passing will just pave the way for another to take his place.

 

[Halifirien]

religion is just the fuel for their fire. it the motif the go with. whether or not any of them truly believe in god is anyone's guess. and no, phelp's death will do nothing to end this group. killing him will give them a marter and his passing will just pave the way for another to take his place.

I doubt anyone would do the things they do and shoulder the enormous level of hatred sent their way unless they sincerely believed they're doing their god's work. Jesus told his followers that being hated and persecuted was part of the deal.

 

[Skaw]

thats the thing, thy preach some bible, which one it is, i dont know. but because of this, they call themselves a "church". it resembles radical christains. sort of like radical muslims that bin laden hangs with.
im pretty sure that this group will never stop even when phelps does kick it. too many followers that will keep it going. however, maybe they will not be as active as they are

When Fred Phelps kicks the bucket, I'd love for hundreds of people to "protest" his funeral with signs and people screaming "Jesus hates intolerant inbreeding hicks."

 

[Zaltana]

When Fred Phelps kicks the bucket, I'd love for hundreds of people to "protest" his funeral with signs and people screaming "Jesus hates intolerant inbreeding hicks."

hahaha that would be the ultimate irony.

 

[Hexx]

When Fred Phelps kicks the bucket, I'd love for hundreds of people to "protest" his funeral with signs and people screaming "Jesus hates intolerant inbreeding hicks."

I know I would