[Enterprise]

"The picketers obeyed police instructions and stood about 1,000 feet (300 meters) from the Catholic church, where the funeral took place in March of 2006.

The protesters drew counter-demonstrators, as well as media coverage and a heavy police presence to maintain order. The result was a spectacle that led to altering the route of the funeral procession.

Several weeks later, Albert Snyder was surfing the Internet for tributes to his son from other soldiers and strangers when he came upon a poem on the church's website that assailed Matthew's parents for the way they brought up their son."

Supreme Court: Raucous Funeral Picketers Allowed

In reading this, a couple of things stand out.

1. The protesters obeyed the police and kept their distance from the Church.

2. The route of the funeral procession was altered. My impression was that Mr.Snyder did not see the protesters or the counter protesters.

3. Several weeks later, Mr. Snyder came upon an offensive poem on the internet. Again, my impression is that Mr. Snyder was not suing over the presence of the protesters at the funeral, but was instead, suing over an offensive poem.

God bless and comfort Mr. Snyder. The Westboro Baptists can burn in hell. But I don't see how FReepers would have wanted this case to be decided otherwise. In time, a decision like this would give fearsome ability to liberals to hammer conservatives for speech they find offensive.

[B Knotts]

Absolutely right. I don’t understand how anyone can not grasp that. A decision that prohibited this kind of nonsense, would quickly lead us down the road to Canadian-style suppression of speech.

[Carley]

When someone speaking before the Supremes can call them fags and hope they rot in hell will be the day I support their decision.

You can’t use that language on TV, in any classroom in America either.

Sorry, we’re seeing the fall of America.

[samtheman]

Thanks for providing all that detail. It hurts to have to agree with the Enemy, even if our reasons for doing so are exact opposite of the Enemy’s reasons.

Kind of like Barry not going into Libya right now. I have to agree with his decision, though not for his reasons. He’s a lazy talentless schmuck who doesn’t know which of his many muzzie friends in the area to side with. I want muzzies of all stripes to keep killing each other. So though it pains me to “agree” with Barry in keeping clear of Libya, I do so anyway.

[A_perfect_lady]

But I don't see how FReepers would have wanted this case to be decided otherwise.

Because you don't picket funerals. Period. I'm comfortable with that being the new "don't yell FIRE in a theater."