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Should Westboro Baptist Church be Guaranteed First Amendment Protection?
Jeff Wrangler:
I wonder how come nobody thought to sue him before? ???
Lynne:
--- Quote from: Marge_Innavera on March 17, 2010, 12:08:35 pm ---...
But it needs to be pointed out that all this flamboyant public posturing about outrage over Westboro is totally dependent on their disrespect for the military. Phelps and his bloviating band of bigots were picketing the funerals of AIDS victims at least 16 years ago and there was not a peep of outrage.
Not from churches.
Not from any City councils that I've ever heard of.
Not from legislators.
We need to keep that in perspective. It isn't the hatefulness that outrages lawmakers and pundits for the most part; and as far as churches go, Phelps is quite useful to many of them. He functions like the proverbial bridesmaid in the hideous dress.
--- End quote ---
Excellent point, Marcia.
louisev:
--- Quote from: Clyde-B on March 17, 2010, 10:04:16 am ---It's not legal to sit around and plan someone's murder, that is not free speech.
It's not legal to sit around and plan the illegal destruction of property, that is not free speech.
Is it legal to advocate and incite both of these acts? The question is where do you draw the line?
If I were the Westboro Baptists, I would be careful about claiming that "God loves IED's." Someone might just decide to send them one.
--- End quote ---
that's where they skirt the lines, and it is no accident that every spawn of Satan Westboro Baptist offspring (almost all of them are a single family) hold a law degree and are licensed to practice law in Kansas, and possibly elsewhere. their "God Hates Fags" is protected speech and so is "You're Going to Hell" and "USA Deserves It" - but inciting to riot by making direct suggestions, using personal information, harassment of individuals and invasion of privacy are where their noses are right up against the window of breaking the law.
Clyde-B:
--- Quote from: louisev on March 17, 2010, 01:06:45 pm ---that's where they skirt the lines, and it is no accident that every spawn of Satan Westboro Baptist offspring (almost all of them are a single family) hold a law degree and are licensed to practice law in Kansas, and possibly elsewhere. their "God Hates Fags" is protected speech and so is "You're Going to Hell" and "USA Deserves It" - but inciting to riot by making direct suggestions, using personal information, harassment of individuals and invasion of privacy are where their noses are right up against the window of breaking the law.
--- End quote ---
I have wondered about the wisdom of allowing people to preach hate against any individuals of a society. It's one thing to debate practices and what behaviors will be allowed and what will not, but preaching hate against individuals comes very close to inciting lynchings. I'm not sure that's a good idea regardless of who the individuals are.
Marge_Innavera:
This is slightly OT, but Fall From Grace, Ryan Jones' excellent documentary about the Phelpses, is available on Netflix.
I attended the premiere of this movie, which was originally a grad student project, in Kansas City. Interestingly, I had a strong impression that Mr. Jones is gay and if that's correct, the Phelpses evidently never picked up on it. He said they were quite friendly to him, even offering to picket the premiere in order to give him more publicity. ) ???
Netflix link: http://www.netflix.com/WiMovie/Fall_from_Grace/70080238?strackid=7fddc2b0c561760f_0_srl&strkid=285479172_0_0&trkid=438381
At Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/Fall-Grace/dp/B00197POYK
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