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Offline Ptarmigan

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Westboro Funeral Pickets Are Protected Speech, High Court Rules
« on: March 02, 2011, 02:39:55 PM »



Westboro Funeral Pickets Are Protected Speech, High Court Rules
http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2011/03/02/westboro-funeral-pickets-protected-speech-high-court-rules/?test=latestnews

Free speech has become abused lately. Freedom is not freedom when it tramples on other people's freedom. Scum like them should be eradicated.






edited to meet breaking news rules!
« Last Edit: March 02, 2011, 03:47:14 PM by Thor »
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Offline catsmtrods

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Re: Westboro Funeral Pickets Are Protected Speech, High Court Rules
« Reply #1 on: March 02, 2011, 03:23:28 PM »
Yes, more so than bunnies!
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Offline Ptarmigan

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Re: Westboro Funeral Pickets Are Protected Speech, High Court Rules
« Reply #2 on: March 02, 2011, 03:26:05 PM »
Quote from: catsmtrods on March 02, 2011, 03:23:28 PM
Yes, more so than bunnies!

I hate WBC more than I hate bunnies. At least bunnies have some use.
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Offline TexasCop

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Re: Westboro Funeral Pickets Are Protected Speech, High Court Rules
« Reply #3 on: March 02, 2011, 03:29:01 PM »
While I hate their message and the way the deliver it with a passion, I would fight to the death to protect their right to have that freedom. 
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Offline korporal_krakrs

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Re: Westboro Funeral Pickets Are Protected Speech, High Court Rules
« Reply #4 on: March 02, 2011, 03:33:22 PM »
Not sure what I think about this.  I mean, of course I think they're a bunch of horrible people doing this, of course I think they SHOULDN'T be doing it, but should it be ILLEGAL for them to do it?  I think that would be a slippery slope that I'm not sure I want to start down.  Maybe that's just me.

However, I will also say that if the current "hate crime" laws don't address this, then they shouldn't apply to ANY case.  I understand that currently if a preacher reads Lev. 18:22 to their congregation (for instance) they could get brought up on hate crime charges.  If that IS true (man, I don't know, I'm just a guy sitting here) then surely these people should have been given the chair by the same measure.

However however, I don't think think either should be illegal.  Frown upon it, shun the people, boycott their businesses, don't send them Christmas cards, whatever you want to do, but I don't think it should be prosecuted as a crime.

One more note, I believe in a just God who is looking down on these people, and at judgment day I rest assured that He will deal with them as He sees fit in His righteousness.  Vengeance is the Lord's.
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Offline Eupher

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Re: Westboro Funeral Pickets Are Protected Speech, High Court Rules
« Reply #5 on: March 02, 2011, 03:42:00 PM »
Let's not forget that, despite SCOTUS' ruling, these scum do what they do not for political or religious reasons, but simply to push buttons.

The more buttons they push, the more likely that somebody is going to blow a gasket and "fix" the Westboros. When THAT happens, that somebody will have so many lawsuits slapped on him he won't know which way is up.

For the Westboros, it's all about lawsuits and damages that they win in their court cases.

They don't give a damn about religion, they don't give a damn about political statements, and they don't give a damn about the grieving.

It's all about the money.

****ing scum.  :argh:
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Offline FreeBorn

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Re: Westboro Funeral Pickets Are Protected Speech, High Court Rules
« Reply #6 on: March 02, 2011, 03:43:33 PM »
One more note, I believe in a just God who is looking down on these people, and at judgment day I rest assured that He will deal with them as He sees fit in His righteousness.  Vengeance is the Lord's.

There will be lightning bolts. Woe be to those who use the Lord's name in vain.
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Offline FreeBorn

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Re: Westboro Funeral Pickets Are Protected Speech, High Court Rules
« Reply #7 on: March 02, 2011, 03:44:51 PM »
Quote from: Eupher on March 02, 2011, 03:42:00 PM
Let's not forget that, despite SCOTUS' ruling, these scum do what they do not for political or religious reasons, but simply to push buttons.

The more buttons they push, the more likely that somebody is going to blow a gasket and "fix" the Westboros. When THAT happens, that somebody will have so many lawsuits slapped on him he won't know which way is up.

For the Westboros, it's all about lawsuits and damages that they win in their court cases.

They don't give a damn about religion, they don't give a damn about political statements, and they don't give a damn about the grieving.

It's all about the money.

****ing scum.  :argh:
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Offline catsmtrods

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Re: Westboro Funeral Pickets Are Protected Speech, High Court Rules
« Reply #8 on: March 02, 2011, 03:58:39 PM »
I'm sure I would be the one to blow a gasket and they could sue me to no end. I can't believe no one has put them out of their misery yet!
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Offline Thor

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Re: Westboro Funeral Pickets Are Protected Speech, High Court Rules
« Reply #9 on: March 02, 2011, 04:16:03 PM »
As much as I loathe and disdain the Westboro inbreeds, I have to side with SCOTUS on this.  Should they have decided otherwise, it would be an infringement on the First Amendment. No matter how hateful or despicable the speech, we are still allowed to say what we want. Had the SCOTUS infringed the 1st Amendment just for Westboro, I could see other things being infringed, like our forum.
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Offline TexasCop

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Re: Westboro Funeral Pickets Are Protected Speech, High Court Rules
« Reply #10 on: March 02, 2011, 04:19:51 PM »
Exactly, Thor.  That blade is sharpened on both sides.
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Offline JohnnyReb

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Re: Westboro Funeral Pickets Are Protected Speech, High Court Rules
« Reply #11 on: March 02, 2011, 05:01:20 PM »
Quote from: Eupher on March 02, 2011, 03:42:00 PM

****ing scum.  :argh:

Yep....and they're reproducing.
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Offline Bertram

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Re: Westboro Funeral Pickets Are Protected Speech, High Court Rules
« Reply #12 on: March 02, 2011, 05:55:44 PM »
This is a very painful example of the double edge sword indeed.
Theres a great documentary on these crazy ****s that you can find on Google Video if you do a little digging.

If I ever see in the paper that this entire church group was slaughtered I would be both delighted, but also I'd be a little bit unhappy. We all agree that these are scum of the earth, terrible people that are sending an awful message and just sucking in all the hate they receive and they love it. Because negative press is still press. But these people give us all someone to hate. It's kind of a unifying factor you know what I mean?
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Offline Ptarmigan

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Re: Westboro Funeral Pickets Are Protected Speech, High Court Rules
« Reply #13 on: March 02, 2011, 05:59:47 PM »
Quote from: Bertram on March 02, 2011, 05:55:44 PM
This is a very painful example of the double edge sword indeed.
Theres a great documentary on these crazy ****s that you can find on Google Video if you do a little digging.

If I ever see in the paper that this entire church group was slaughtered I would be both delighted, but also I'd be a little bit unhappy. We all agree that these are scum of the earth, terrible people that are sending an awful message and just sucking in all the hate they receive and they love it. Because negative press is still press. But these people give us all someone to hate. It's kind of a unifying factor you know what I mean?

Are you talking about the "The Most Hated Family In America"? I have seen it. Very disturbing as I put it mildly. It is also on You Tube. There are lot of people who want harm and kill Phelps. If Fred Phelps and WBC are gone, we would find someone else to hate and there are plenty of them out there, like Osama bin Laden, South Hadley 6, Casey Anthony, etc.
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Offline Ballygrl

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Re: Westboro Funeral Pickets Are Protected Speech, High Court Rules
« Reply #14 on: March 02, 2011, 06:35:43 PM »
They're scum, but if the SC took away their right to free speech what would make them just stop there? Thank God for the Patriot Guard to handle scum like this.
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Offline Ptarmigan

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Re: Westboro Funeral Pickets Are Protected Speech, High Court Rules
« Reply #15 on: March 02, 2011, 06:38:40 PM »
If you thinking picketing funerals was the worst. Fred Phelps abuses and beats his children and wife. He also made them sell candy even on school days. He also turned on his own family because his father re-married a divorcee after his mother died. Also, he is estranged from his sister.

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Offline Boudicca

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Re: Westboro Funeral Pickets Are Protected Speech, High Court Rules
« Reply #16 on: March 02, 2011, 06:51:30 PM »
Quote from: Ptarmigan on March 02, 2011, 06:38:40 PM
If you thinking picketing funerals was the worst. Fred Phelps abuses and beats his children and wife. He also made them sell candy even on school days. He also turned on his own family because his father re-married a divorcee after his mother died. Also, he is estranged from his sister.

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With all due respect, Ptarmigan, I personally STILL think heaping emotional abuse onto the overwhelming grief that families are experiencing at the burial of their loved ones is worse than abusing his own family members.  Cycle of abuse or not, I've seen some of them interviewed on tv and they're as hateful as Freddie Kruger is.  I know there are many victims of abuse in this world and they don't deserve it, BUT I'm making an exception for the Phelps clan, minus the minors.  I must admit I haven't delved much into their family dynamics, because I like to maintain the ability to eat, but they're so beyond the pale I have zero sympathy.  Except for the innocent bereaved families, of course.
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Offline Ptarmigan

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Re: Westboro Funeral Pickets Are Protected Speech, High Court Rules
« Reply #17 on: March 02, 2011, 07:00:28 PM »
Quote from: Boudicca on March 02, 2011, 06:51:30 PM
With all due respect, Ptarmigan, I personally STILL think heaping emotional abuse onto the overwhelming grief that families are experiencing at the burial of their loved ones is worse than abusing his own family members.  Cycle of abuse or not, I've seen some of them interviewed on tv and they're as hateful as Freddie Kruger is.  I know there are many victims of abuse in this world and they don't deserve it, BUT I'm making an exception for the Phelps clan, minus the minors.  I must admit I haven't delved much into their family dynamics, because I like to maintain the ability to eat, but they're so beyond the pale I have zero sympathy.  Except for the innocent bereaved families, of course.

No argument from me. He is just doing what he always does, abusing people that fuels is paranoid rage. Going after a grieving family is cowardly and worthy of Hell alongside with Osama bin Laden, 9/11 Terrorists, and Stalin. In the end, Phelps is no different from Osama bin Laden or Charles Manson.
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Offline Boudicca

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Re: Westboro Funeral Pickets Are Protected Speech, High Court Rules
« Reply #18 on: March 02, 2011, 07:02:38 PM »
Quote from: Ptarmigan on March 02, 2011, 07:00:28 PM
No argument from me. He is just doing what he always does, abusing people that fuels is paranoid rage and psychopathy. Going after a grieving family is cowardly and worthy of Hell alongside with Osama bin Laden, 9/11 Terrorists, and Stalin. In the end, Phelps is no different from Osama bin Laden and Al-Qaeda. Hopefully no one gets offended at me comparing Phelps to Bin Laden because Bin Laden did 9/11 and killed thousands.  

Don't see why anyone would be offended.  Neither bin Laden nor Phelps is what we'd consider a real human being.  No doubt Phelps is as mentally and morally deficient as Osama bin Laden. :argh:
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Offline FreeBorn

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Re: Westboro Funeral Pickets Are Protected Speech, High Court Rules
« Reply #19 on: March 02, 2011, 07:24:26 PM »
I certainly have my opinions of the Westboro Hate Freaks but I don't have any personal experience with them. Here's a Gentleman, a Gold Star Dad who demonstrates an enormous amount of dignity and class despite the fact the Westboro mob polluted his son's funeral and the SCOTUS handed down its ruling on what would have been his son's 25th birthday. God bless this man, my hat is off to him. I don't know if I could find the wherewithall to measure up to his example were I to find myself in his shoes.

http://www.herald-mail.com/news/kwch-news-msg-westboro-court-decision,0,2312669.story
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Offline AllosaursRus

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Re: Westboro Funeral Pickets Are Protected Speech, High Court Rules
« Reply #20 on: March 02, 2011, 07:26:33 PM »
Quote from: TexasCop on March 02, 2011, 03:29:01 PM
While I hate their message and the way the deliver it with a passion, I would fight to the death to protect their right to have that freedom.  

Yep! We can't pick and choose what we believe to be Free Speech. If we did that, we'd be DemoncRats! And I don't know about you, but I'd rather cut my nutz off with a butter knife! That had been layin' in a pile of pig shit for half a century! Found any butter knives in that mound there in Nebraska Coach? We might need a few before this thread ends.

Eta:

Quote from: JohnnyReb on March 02, 2011, 05:01:20 PM
Yep....and they're reproducing.

Problem is, it's pretty much a cult. Too bad they can't find a comet to hitch a ride on!
« Last Edit: March 02, 2011, 07:31:03 PM by AllosaursRus »
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Re: Westboro Funeral Pickets Are Protected Speech, High Court Rules
« Reply #21 on: March 02, 2011, 07:32:05 PM »
Somewhere in heaven a Marine is looking down and saying to his father, "Rest easy.  You've done all you can, the rest is in the Lord's hands, and he will have the final say."
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Offline Ptarmigan

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Re: Westboro Funeral Pickets Are Protected Speech, High Court Rules
« Reply #22 on: March 02, 2011, 07:37:59 PM »
Quote from: Boudicca on March 02, 2011, 07:02:38 PM
Don't see why anyone would be offended.  Neither bin Laden nor Phelps is what we'd consider a real human being.  No doubt Phelps is as mentally and morally deficient as Osama bin Laden. :argh:

What makes Osama bin Laden different from Fred Phelps is he killed thousands on 9/11. Other than that, both Phelps and Bin Laden are cancers on humanity worthy of eradication.
« Last Edit: March 02, 2011, 07:40:23 PM by Ptarmigan »
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Offline Ptarmigan

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Re: Westboro Funeral Pickets Are Protected Speech, High Court Rules
« Reply #23 on: March 02, 2011, 07:39:25 PM »
Am I the only one here who thinks something really bad will happen to Phelps? I think this ruling will put them at more risk for it.

I think civics classes should be mandatory, which they don't teach these days. People abuse their freedom and freedom is not meant to be abused, like WBC, etc.
« Last Edit: March 02, 2011, 07:41:33 PM by Ptarmigan »
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Offline Splashdown

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Re: Westboro Funeral Pickets Are Protected Speech, High Court Rules
« Reply #24 on: March 02, 2011, 07:39:49 PM »
I hate to say it, because I loathe those effers. But the SC had it right.
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