Free Speech

Today during nap time, I was browsing Yahoo News like I always do during nap time. I like to kinda keep up with the world, and see what's going on. Also a great way to find out what some of the celebs are up too, which as embarassing as it is to admit, I have an obsession with celbreity news! Moving on...

Today the Supreme Court ruled in favor of the Westboro Baptist Church in a suit filed against them The suit was filed by a family of a fallen Marine, and they filed because this church, lead by their Pastor Fred Phelps, was protesting outside of their son's funeral. Now, this church believes that our soldiers die because there is homosexuality in the world. And apparently some of their signs were pretty hurtful, and caused many grieving members of this family emotional distress.

The Supreme Court ruled as it should. This protest, no matter how hurtful or tactless, is protected under free speech. And free speech is a wonderful thing, especially for extremely outspoken people. What bothers me is that something like this would even have to go in front of the Supreme Court in the first place. 

We are all taught from an early age that if we don't have anything nice to say, we shouldn't say anything at all. And that's mostly just crap our parents tell us because it's supposed to teach us to think before we speak. We all say and do hurtful things. It happens, we are human beings. However, it seems that some people cross the line so far that they can no longer see the line. 

Now, the members of this church have every right to believe as they want to believe. And really, it affects no one. Whatever. No matter how crazy it seems to the rest of us, they still get to believe it. And they even have a right to protest, and vocalize (as loudly as they want) their thoughts and opinions. And I support that right. In fact, I would help them organize their protests, because everyone should be able to do what they want. That being said, What in God's name are they thinking to go sit outside funerals of dead soldiers, and say the awful things they say? That shows a lacking of plain human decency. No matter if love the military, support everything they do, or hate the military and think it should not exist, we all agree that the loss of a son or daughter, mom or dad, aunt or uncle, sister or brother, is an awful experience. How could these deranged people think this is an appriote time to try and sell their political message? Especially when that message is saying that God killed these soldiers because he's upset about homosexuals? 

The members of this church, lead by Mr. Phelps, say that they are getting out this message because it's their duty to human kind, blah blah blah. Probably think they are going to save the world from themselves. But how can you think you are doing good when what you are doing is hurting so many innocent people? There is a time and a place for free speech, and funerals are not it!


http://news.yahoo.com/s/yblog_exclusive/20110302/pl_yblog_exclusive/courts-ruling-in-funeral-protest-case-restates-first-amendment-principles