Westboro Baptist Church and the Supreme Court

[BlackHawkPaul]

Well, what are your thoughts?

Should we limit free speech because of offensive behavior, or should anyone be free to say what they want?

.

 

[MassHavoc]

[quote name="BlackhawkPaul"]Well, what are your thoughts?

Should we limit free speech because of offensive behavior, or should anyone be free to say what they want?

.[/quote]

uummmm. what?

 

[ginnie]

[quote name="BlackhawkPaul"]Well, what are your thoughts?

Should we limit free speech because of offensive behavior, or should anyone be free to say what they want?

.[/quote]





Who knows? Its the States so I guess they can argue over that point for years...



I live in Canada, and the church's demonstrations and behavior would not be tolerated because here we aren't allowed to tell lies about anyone and we have to be polite.



That church did try to enter Canada, and some did slip through but we prevented most of them from entering our country:



http://www.cbc.ca/canada/manitoba/story ... otest.html

However, Phelps-Roper said the reaction the group has raised from some police and public officials has her questioning whether the planned protest will go ahead.



"The question to my mind [is] whether or not we ought to get them the heck out of that country, because that's some crazy stuff when you've got your officials talking like they are in a back-alley brawl and not government officials who took an oath to obey the law and so forth."



Phelps-Roper said she would advise church members not to go ahead with the protest if there is a concern they might be arrested or harmed.

 

[BlackHawkPaul]

[quote name="ginnie"]





Who knows? Its the States so I guess they can argue over that point for years...



I live in Canada, and the church's demonstrations and behavior would not be tolerated because here we aren't allowed to tell lies about anyone and we have to be polite. [/quote]

:lol: :clap:

 

[LordKOTL]

[quote name="BlackhawkPaul"]Well, what are your thoughts?

Should we limit free speech because of offensive behavior, or should anyone be free to say what they want?

.[/quote]

IMHO one you limit any freedom you are no longer living in a free society.



As deplorable as their acts are, if we limit the freedom of speech we are eroding one of the core tenets of american freedom.



It's much simpler to ignore them or laugh at them.

 

[ginnie]

In Canada, you can believe whatever you want almost, but expressing those beliefs in public can run you afoul of the law.

I doubt if the Westboro Church could legally protest here, and that's fine with me.

 

[winos5]

Freedom of speech does not provide immunity to the consequences of said speech; libel, slander, public endangerment, harrassment, fraud, extortion, terroistic threats, other assorted criminal behaviors ect....



I'll be interested to see what the Supreme Court rules here.

 

[LordKOTL]

[quote name="winos5"]Freedom of speech does not provide immunity to the consequences of said speech; libel, slander, public endangerment, harrassment, fraud, extortion, terroistic threats, other assorted criminal behaviors ect....



I'll be interested to see what the Supreme Court rules here.[/quote]

Exactly. They have the right to say what they will and publically express themselves, but they don't have the right to be immune from any consequences--as long as the consequences are legal. I could go and picket, protest, and express my true feelings about the church and what I believe the minister does to the choir. However, i can't hold the guy down, have Jax pry his jaws open and shit in his mouth after a full meal of corned beef and cabbage.

 

[Tater]

[quote name="LordKOTL"]

Exactly. They have the right to say what they will and publically express themselves, but they don't have the right to be immune from any consequences--as long as the consequences are legal. I could go and picket, protest, and express my true feelings about the church and what I believe the minister does to the choir. However, i can't hold the guy down, have Jax pry his jaws open and shit in his mouth after a full meal of corned beef and cabbage.[/quote]



Hell, it's worth a try anyways.

I'll help.

 

[MassHavoc]

What am I missing about this church, I know I'm slow lately but I haven't seen it in the news.

 

[ginnie]

http://www.godhatesfags.com/



This should explain their thinking...

 

[jakobeast]

If I have learned nothing else in this life, it is to let the fucking nuts talk.



The KKK, these fucks, any para-military group, the list goes on. They are like small kids. When they are making a lot of noise, screaming, breaking their toys, you know whats going on. The moment you realize it has been quiet in the house for more then 5 minutes, you worry and scramble to find out whats going on. That's when you find them shaving the cat, or flushing you car keys down the toilet.



These groups feed on people frothing about them. If the KKK wants to march, let 'em. The secret is don't go there and yell at them. That's what they want. Same with the Westboro Baptist "Church" asshats.



So yes, let them "protest". It is the right of the people of America to do so. However, don't be surprised when you get shit thrown at you, you can't buy a car, or you find strange things happening to you.

 

[bri]

I totally support Freedom of Speech, but I think they go beyond that and cross the line. The scary thing to me is that there are people out there that will actually listen to these lunatics.

 

[jakobeast]

[quote name="bri"]I totally support Freedom of Speech, but I think they go beyond that and cross the line. The scary thing to me is that there are people out there that will actually listen to these lunatics.[/quote]



That's just it Bri, no one is. The "church" has about 45 members, and a good chunk of the are related to the "pastor".



With all these groups, whether these dopes or white supremacy groups, et. al., they aren't going to convince someone who isn't already thinking that way. For instance, they aren't gonna convince me that "God hates ****" and thats the reason soldiers are dying. The KKK isn't gonna convince me that black people are gonna be the demise of the nation. The Nation of Islam can't tell me that he white devil wants to destroy them and not have me laugh in their face.



The only people that they are gonna get are stupid fucks that already believe that shit.



http://www.splcenter.org/get-informed/hate-map



Click on the state of your choice and you can find the hate groups in that state and where they are located.

 

[bri]

I just don't understand how people can be so consumed with hate. I was raised to be tolerant and accepting. I have said this on many occasions, but my mom has always said, "Being different doesn't mean being wrong." I try to at least learn about people and things I don't know about and try to understand even if I don't agree. Lately I find myself watching all kinds of shows about different lifestyles and behaviors. Hoarding, Hoarders, The OCD Project, Sister Wives, Strange Sex and Freaky Eaters. I have learned so much.

 

[BlackHawkPaul]

[quote name="bri"]I just don't understand how people can be so consumed with hate. I was raised to be tolerant and accepting. I have said this on many occasions, but my mom has always said, "Being different doesn't mean being wrong." I try to at least learn about people and things I don't know about and try to understand even if I don't agree. Lately I find myself watching all kinds of shows about different lifestyles and behaviors. Hoarding, Hoarders, The OCD Project, Sister Wives, Strange Sex and Freaky Eaters. I have learned so much.[/quote]

You can learn much more by just watching PBS.

 

[whiteevo]

i can't believe there is not one crazy guy in the USA that can't just take those people and their place out. blow those dicks up. problem solved. take one for the team of humanity.

 

[Ymono37]

[quote name="BlackhawkPaul"]You can learn much more by just watching PBS.[/quote]

Yeah, that Ken Burns is a knowledgeable and thorough mother-******!

 

[winos5]

[quote name="Ymono37"]

Yeah, that Ken Burns is a knowledgeable and thorough mother-******![/quote]





And Bob Ross was always so soothing. If I wanted to take a nap on Saturday afternoon I'd just tune into to his painting show.

 

[supraman]

They have the right to say whatever they say but they should also have the decency to not say it. Just because you have an opinion doesn't mean you should voice it. My sister's boyfriend is big time catholic and now she is too and I would love to know what the hell brought that on from my sister who has never shown an ounce of spirituality around me is now going to church on Sunday's but you know what I know better than to ask her, I have more decency, and quite frankly it is none of my business and as long as she is happy I should be happy for her. So my point is just because someone has the right to say something doesn't mean they should.