From Pine View Farm

Freedom of Screech 1

The despicable and hateful demonstrations of the Westboro Baptist Church appall almost everyone (you can google Westboro Baptist; I shan’t link to them).

Through their very name, their existence insults churches, baptists, and even westboros.

Indeed, to those who believe that the central message of Christianity is to “love they neighbor,” Westboro Baptist Church blasphemes. (As someone who was raised Baptist, I must say that Westboro is not affiliated with any respectable or even semi-respectable Baptist convention. One of the embarrassing things of having a Baptist heritage is that any crackpot who wants to set up some nutcase church sticks “Baptist” into its name.)

Nevertheless, saying hateful things is an American right and, in the United States and blasphemy is not illegal (nor should it be).

It is one thing to require that protestors maintain a specified distance from the targets of their protests. The chants and shouts of protesters can sometimes be considered fighting words. I think such separations are often enforced, not because the protesters are actually using “fighting words,” but to emasculate the protest; nevertheless, I believe that the words that the adherents of Westboro Baptist say (rejoicing in the deaths of soldiers), combined with the places where they say them (at the funerals of soldiers), easily qualify those words as fighting words.

God forbid, should it be my son, I should not want their presence to soil his funeral.

As despicable as Westboro Baptist is and as much as I find many of Attorney General Ken Cuccinelli’s positions wrong-headed and even comical, I have to say that I think he got this one right.

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1 comment

  1. Karen

    June 2, 2010 at 1:08 pm

    Ok, I have to admit that quelling their screaching would be the start down a slippery slope. (I’ve wanted to use that phrase for a long time!) But: I have an alternative that gives all parties what they want/need.

    Do not allow those buffoons within a mile of a military funeral. Let them talk their trash somewhere else.

    The families right to mourn in peace is protected (most important) & the clowns right of free speech is also not impacted. Nowhere in the constitution does it say they have to have an audience. Just don’t let them around plants or animals. Well, maybe a hungry lioness (or a whole pride with cubs) with a taste for human flesh. I don’t see a problem with that.

    I’ve seen them in action. Yelling in the faces of elderly people as they try to get into church. They are the most horrendous people (that term is generous) I think that inhabit almost anywhere. 

    They want a country with no gay/lesbians? Send them to Iran.