That being said, it is still distressing to find out that some of the most powerful media organizations in this country have sided with Fred Phelps and his hate-filled minions with the Westboro Baptist Church.
In an amicus brief filed with the U. S. Supreme Court, the New York Times, Associated Press, Tribune Company, Bloomberg, the Society of Professional Journalists, NPR, the National Press Club, and numerous other media and First Amendment groups, not only came down firmly on the side of the church's "right" to protest at the funerals of American soldiers, but said it is vitally important that the protests be allowed to continue:
"Far more is at stake in this case than the ability of the Westboro Baptist Church to protest near military funerals. This case concerns an issue critical to a wide range of speakers, including members of the news media: whether a plaintiff may recover for intrusion and intentional infliction of emotional distress where the harm is based upon the publication of controversial speech about matters of public concern."
In the case that will be heard before the Supreme Court, Albert Snyder of Maryland is suing the church for disturbing the funeral of his son, Matthew Snyder, who was killed in a vehicle accident while serving in Iraq in 2006. When the funeral was held, Albert Snyder was greeted by Fred Phelps and his followers holding signs that declared that Matt Snyder was going to hell, "Thank God for dead soldiers," and numerous messages that God hates homosexuals. Phelps claims that soldiers' deaths are God's way of punishing the United States for its permissive attitude about gays.
Snyder won his lawsuit and was awarded damages, but the decision was overturned by the appellate court, which not only agreed with Phelps, but forced the dead soldier's father to pay Phelps' legal expenses. Now the decision will be made by the nation's highest court.
The kneejerk response of the media organizations, and understandably so, is to take the side of free speech. Yes, the First Amendment grants us the right to express ourselves on any side of any issue, and it protects the most vile and hateful speech. That is a right worth defending and one for which soldiers such as Matthew Snyder have given their lives.
In the brief, the media organizations concede that the speech and conduct of Fred Phelps and his followers is hateful:
Most reasonable people would consider the funeral protests conducted by members of the Westboro Baptist Church to be inexplicable and hateful. Without a doubt, the church’s message of intolerance is deeply offensive to many, and especially so to gay Americans, Catholics, veterans, and the families of those who sacrificed their lives defending the United States. But to silence a fringe messenger because of the distastefulness of the message is antithetical to the First Amendment’s most basic precepts.And I would be the first to agree- the courts should not deprive of Phelps of his constitutional right, no matter how demented and twisted the man is. Let him express whatever belief he wants to, including the ones mentioned earlier. Let him howl at the moon if he wants- but please do not allow Fred Phelps or anyone else to turn the First Amendment into an invitation to invade the privacy of grieving families.
The Supreme Court should protect Fred Phelps' right to free speech and freedom of assembly, but should also deliver a clear message about the sanctity of funerals for the sake of those who are left behind.
There should be room in this great country for dissent and decency.
6 comments:
Very well put, sir! I couldn't have said it better.
Our First Amendment rights are rarely tested by mainstream voices.
You are right, Andy, but can't you see a difference between this and something like the Jerry Falwell case or even protesting at some military installation? This is the only time family and friends will be able to pay tribute to a lost loved one
Well put, Randy. Basic human decency should supercede the inflicting of pain disguised as free speech. Who gave Phelps or anyone else the right to violate another's right to their free speech? In this case honoring their loved one with a funeral.
Not the Constitution.
It seems to me that the Golden Rule is still the best Law. That's the highest law.
Well Turner, the guy who sued you and the Carthage Press did us all a favor in running you out of the newspaper business.
I agree totally with the end result of your foolishness. Everytime you or a newspaper says something I find objectionable then I get to beat you up or kill you because you hurt my pore little feelings and I found it 'hateful' to me.
This way, those with the biggest dicks or fists or guns or meanness will decide who gets to say whatever they want and who gets forced to listen to it.
The families of those idiots killed in Afghanistan or Iraq want to think that their thuggish spawn were 'heros' for going halfway around the world in order to murder women and children who never did anything to them on behalf of jews stealing Palestinian territory and Big Oil making a big profit sucking up oil over there when we could drill plenty of our own oil in North Dakota. These people are simply mercenaries caught at the wrong time and wrong place who died because God didn't think it just to shield them from a freedom-fighter's bomb or bullet.
A pity that Iraq and Afghanistan don't have nuclear weapons to give idiots like Turner something real to whine about. Idiot thugs like Turner are a good reason why North Korea and Iran should develop nuclear weapons so that their people won't have to suffer invasion by the thieving hordes of America, who not only want to murder women and children, but want to be called 'heroes' for doing so.
Fred Phelps is the John Brown of our day. God loves Fred Phelps. God hates fags/Randy Turner.
(By the way Turner, now that they are going to repeal 'Don't Ask, Don't Tell' perhaps it is time for you to find a new career as a grunt in the US Army/Marines.)
Is that ad by Google for dates with 'Homosexual Military Men' next to your youtube video an accident or paid advertising, Randy Randy?
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