Take a moment and compare the news brief below with the last article posted on this blog, about the Marine Corps Body Bearers. Westboro Baptist Church, and its founder, Fred Phelps, are known for protesting at the funeral of America’s servicemen. This group had the insensitivity to protest at the funeral of St. Joseph Missouri Native, Army Spc. Edward L. Myers, who was killed in Samarra, Iraq when an IED (Improvised Explosive Device) detonated near his Humvee. Imagine the pain and suffering Myer’s family were forced to endure. Not only had they lost their son (who died serving his country) they were also forced to tolerate a group of people holding signs in support of the very ones who killed him.
Marines Corps Body bearers, featured in the last post, treat the mortal remains of deceased service members with the respect and dignity they deserve and one which resonates with the majority of Americans. Westboro Baptist Church, on the other hand, is allowed to dishonor American Heroes, because of freedom of speech. Isn’t there something very wrong about this? What will our young people think if we continue to allow our heroes to be treated in such a way? Is freedom of speech so absolute that it trumps the dignity and sacredness of a last tribute to someone who died for his country? And tramples on the sorrow and pain of his grieving family and friends?
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Washington (CNN) — Missouri’s tight restrictions on protests and picketing outside military funerals were tossed out by a federal judge Monday, over free speech concerns.
A small Kansas church had brought suit over its claimed right to loudly march outside the burials and memorial services of those killed in overseas conflicts. The state legislature had passed a law to keep members of the Topeka-based Westboro Baptist Church from demonstrating within 300 feet of such private services.
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August 18, 2010 at 8:25 pm
Dave Maez
Actually, Freedom of Speech doesn’t give anyone the right to do this.
Holding up a sign that says “Thank God for IEDs” in front of the grieving friends and family of a soldier killed by an IED is not protected speech. This falls under the Fighting Words Doctrine.
However, passing a silly and unconstitutional law was not the correct action by Kansas. The correct action would be to simply send down a police officer and arrest the protesters for disturbing the peace. Passing an unnecessary law that limits freedoms is about the worst possible thing to do. Perhaps someone should educate Kansas lawmakers about the pre-existing laws of the land so they continue to waste everyone’s time.
August 18, 2010 at 8:35 pm
normanjude
You actually make a very good point Dave and I like the Fighting Words Doctrine… but then the individual is accused of a hate crime.