I'm generally a pro-free speech person, as is probably everyone in this class. However, I really do believe there are limits. A friend of mine posted on FB about the Westboro Baptist Church's plans to protest Ronnie James Dio's memorial service. I'm still hoping that this is some kind of hoax, but after spending some time on CNN.com reading some of their previous exploits, I'm not so sure.
I don't care what people think about Dio's music, his personal beliefs, or about homosexual U.S. soldiers. There are limits to what you should do, and protesting at a person's funeral is above and beyond those limits.
I knew there was a reason I liked keeping my head in the sand...
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Tell that to the group from Kansas who protests soldiers' funerals because they claim that the deaths are due to homosexuality in the U.S.
ReplyDeleteEqually frightening is the blurring of the line between church and state. Too many churches are taking political stands based on their religious standards, directly telling congregations who is more right with God.
The Westboro Baptist Church IS the group from Kansas.
ReplyDeleteThis church takes an odd stand against homosexuality. To me, this is kind of like picketing a minimum wage Comcast phone operator's house because you don't like the fact that the giant multi-billion dollar Comcast corporation televises porn. Along with being totally useless, you would end up causing all the regular people to disregard your argument because you look like some kind of nut.
On the other hand, as far as I know, this church group has never come into physical contact with anyone attending a funeral, all they do is picket. If that is the case, I would assume that they have the right to protest anywhere that they want.
There should be nothing wrong with a group standing up against issues they disagree with. This is America. In this case though, some common sense is called for.
Note: I believe that the Supreme Court is going to look at a portion of this case but I don't have all the details and I am not sure whether they are going to examine it in relation to the First Amendment.
My opinion is that regardless of issues, families should be allowed to grieve in peace.
ReplyDeleteMy husband had a great statement about the group's presence. He reminded us that those soldiers died so that group could maintain their ability to protest.
I think I've got to agree with what adslocum said just above - those soldiers died so that group could maintain their ability to protest. A pity they can't recognize that. On one hand, they have the right to protest. But should they? It's incredibly disrespectful, and in the end, what does it do other than generate ill will and anger?
ReplyDeleteI disagree, personally. The presence of the group is affirmation of our free speech rights. Freedom of speech only really exists if it includes statements that the majority considers wholly inappropriate or abhorrent.
ReplyDeleteIt's a shame that we have such a group saying something so vile at such a venue (funerals, that is, particularly soldiers' funerals), but at the end of the day we're either a country where you can speak your piece, or we're not.
Although picketers do have the right to express themselves, doesn't doing so at a private family event constitute harassment? Can they also picket family member's own houses? Where is the line drawn?
ReplyDeleteIn response to One Man's Opinion - the Supreme Court is looking at the case because a lower court ordered a soldier's father to pay the church's legal fees when he sued them and lost. He appealed and is suing for $5 million.
ReplyDeleteI have found another group that counter protests the Westboro church. They have created a mock religion (based on a Flying Spaghetti Monster) complete with "proof" - a bible, artwork, etc. www.venganza.org
I am not sure how effective the FSM group's tactics are. While they infuriate the Westboro church, I am sure they are also angering other people that are not nearly as extreme or hateful in their views.
I think it is important to distinguish between free speech and intellectual freedom . Intellectual Freedom can be as a type of free speech. These people from the Westboro Baptist Church are just trying to be provocative, and considering the conditions of their expression, it would be a free speech issue, but not an intellectual freedom issue. Just as if someone was to threaten someone at a club who was "talking shit" to him, it would be ridiculous to suggest the other person's intellectual freedom was attacked. This would be a situation of AMOGing, and not expressing well thought out ideas.
ReplyDeleteUnfortunately, the church does indeed have the right to protest on public property whenever they want to. That being said, they do NOT have the right to impede business--which they have done in the past by blocking funeral processions (I think they learned their lesson on that one a few years ago), and which they continue to do by shouting negative comments to the mourners during the funeral services--, and they do NOT have the right to step onto private property without permission...so, any burials in privately owned cemeteries are out
ReplyDeleteLack of human decency like that is why the Patriot Guard was formed: a nationwide group of motorcycle-riding vets and military supporters who provide additional security at funerals the church is planning to protest. They literally form a physical line of people farther away from mourners and completely circling them so the church members cannot pass without physical altercation, which the church is not willing to initiate.
BTW, the Church of the Flying Spaghetti Monster predates Westboro Baptist Church protests by decades...it started as a joke among a group of friends at UC Berkley, and spread through counter-culture due to the sheer fun of it. People associated with FSM tend to be very strong supporters of intellectual freedom and also strong opponents of hate and bigotry.
~Lynn
Now that you mention it, I'm curious to know what kind of cemetery Dio is buried in. It's highly possible that he's in a private cemetery, in which case it would be harassment.
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