Posted on 11/24/2007 7:44:20 AM PST by Non-Sequitur
TOPEKA | Countless flights across the country. Car rentals, gas money, food and lodging. All those cardboard signs. For the 71 members of Fred Phelps’ Westboro Baptist Church, the costs of doing business must add up.
And those costs could soon grow a lot higher. A Maryland jury recently ordered Westboro to pay nearly $11 million to the father of a fallen soldier whose funeral was the subject of one of Westboro’s protests.
Many hope the lawsuit, and future ones like it, will put the notorious church out of business for good. It’s something that new funeral picketing bans, now passed in 43 states, have proved unable to do.
(Excerpt) Read more at kansascity.com ...
Delicious. I can’t wait until these S.O.B.s have to spend so much time working to pay for their miserable existence that they have no time to harass the brave men and their families who paid the ultimate sacrifice.
Story about your favorite protesters, Ms. B....
Let me say I’m 100% opposed to Fred Phelps’ Westboro Baptist Church and what they are doing. However, this $11 million judgment bothers me. What exactly did the church do to cause $11 million of damages? They are disgusting slugs, but when did the 1st Amendment start prohibiting speech we don’t agree with? This isn’t like the case of shouting fire in a crowded theater. Public safety isn’t at risk, nor is Fred Phelps advocating (to my knowledge) illegal activities. Opinions?
When it is deliberate, outrageous, provocative Fighting Words that is some states and societies could have/should have gotten them shot dead.
“Church members praised the Sept. 11 attacks, said Amish children deserved to die in a school shooting last year, and thanked God for the 2004 tsunami.”
Evil, despicable people—no doubt. However, we let neo-Nazis march in Skokie. Do we have the right to prevent speech we find hateful or disgusting?
“Phelps seemingly always craved publicity. He ran for Kansas governor as a Democrat in the ’90s and launched other failed bids for the U.S. Senate and the Topeka mayor’s office.”
Wow. I’m SHOCKED The Kansas City Red Star actually printed this without leaving off his political affiliation.
Gorzaloon wrote: “When it is deliberate, outrageous, provocative Fighting Words that is some states and societies could have/should have gotten them shot dead.”
What if I say sinners are going to burn in Hell? Are those “deliberate, outrageous, provocative Fighting Words?” Seriously, people say offensive things all the time. Doesn’t the 1st Amendment protect offensive speech?
Keep in mind, I agree this “church” is despicable, but unless they are breaking trespassing or other laws (not related to constitutionally protected free speech), what right do we have to punish them?
Given the "Hate Crime" doctrine, Yes, absolutely. Whether we want it or asked for it or not.
patton wrote: “I think their behavior is so utterly offensive to the conscience of rational people that the jury would have found against them, whatever the law.”
Perhaps, but I think it’s ultimately going to be tossed out as a violation of the 1st Amendment.
The same right you would have to punish me, were I to stay awake at night dreaming up the most loathesome, provocative things possible that I were certain would infuriate you beyond all reason, and then shout them in your face.
I would hope, as a matter of honor, that your response would be something "Remedial".
One has to look at the intent. the intent is not to express, not to preach, but to outrage. As in dressing up like Hitler and attending a Bar Mitzvah, or wearing a Klan outfit and attending the Million Man March. It is deliberately planned to go as far beyond Free Speech as rape is from a wink.
They want outrage and notoriety, and should be given it in full.
You may be correct.
Gorzaloon wrote: “Given the “Hate Crime” doctrine, Yes, absolutely. Whether we want it or asked for it or not.”
I don’t believe sexual orientation is covered (at this time) by federal hate crime laws, and conservatives aren’t generally big fans of “Hate Crime” laws to start with. Even so, the “church” could claim a religious exemption.
Be careful what you ask for. If you start giving the government power to regulate free speech, what kind of speech will be regulated next?
The government didn't do anything to impinge upon their first amendment rights. But the family of the soldier also has rights, and the Phelps mob violated them.
The Government should never have been involved. The Community and the People should have resolved it.
Once. Years ago.
VILE....EVIL people who have done WORSE than yelling FIRE in a theater!! If you think this is Free Speech where they say AWFUL things about DEAD SOLDIERS at their FUNERALS, you are pathetic. Have you NO DECENCY, SIR?
I see on your Home Page that you call yourself a Christian......hmmmmmm.....
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