Free Speech U.S.-Style
The truly abominable, fanatical Christian fundamentalist who preaches hate at Westboro Baptist Church, in Kansas, the Reverend Fred Phelps has an ally in the U.S. Constitution which protects his right to free speech.
Well, that's the price of offering freedoms of conscience, association, speech, and what have you. When the enthusiastic hell-fire damnings of one such as the Reverend Phelps has a conscience not quite like anyone else's, and attracts to him the support of other self-righteous, licentious-loathing Christians, they too can partake of civil rights.
That they are hatefully, monstrously evilly harmful in their predations on others does not, perforce, limit their activities, even when they go beyond the pale. As when they prepare to gather at the funerals of fallen soldiers, for example, or murdered gays, to proclaim that they have met their just end, and Satan will greet them, not Gabriel.
Canada has its Human Rights Commissions pretending to be legal entities, which can be called upon to protect the 'human rights' or hurt feelings or perceptions of bias of those who perceive they have been uncivilly insulted.
The United States has its Court of Appeals, and the Court of Fourth Circuit has rendered its verdict of what is appropriate under free speech law in producing a peculiar judgement concluding their assessment of what constitutes justice under America's free speech laws.
The grieving father of a combat soldier who died in Iraq has been ordered to pay appeal costs in the sum of $16,510.80 to Reverend Phelps.
Previously the U.S. Supreme Court had agreed to rule on whether American free speech laws give Reverend Phelps the right to picket funerals. He has evidently been found to be protected under those same laws. And there is nothing to protect families burying loved ones from the vicious imprecations and slanders of fundamentalist dooms-day Christians like the Reverend.
Lance Corporal Matthew Snyder, all of 20 years of age when he was killed in combat in March 2006, had his funeral ceremony in Maryland desecrated by the Reverend Phelps and his outlandishly religious zealots. His understandably upset father filed a lawsuit in federal court claiming invasion of privacy and intention to cause emotional distress.
Despite the truth of those assertions, and the grievous psychological harm done Matthew Snyder's family following hard on his untimely death, the reality is that the guaranteed exercise of free speech trumps anyone's right to respect for the grieving, no matter the occasion.
A hard price to pay for a freedom held dear, one not readily absorbed.
Well, that's the price of offering freedoms of conscience, association, speech, and what have you. When the enthusiastic hell-fire damnings of one such as the Reverend Phelps has a conscience not quite like anyone else's, and attracts to him the support of other self-righteous, licentious-loathing Christians, they too can partake of civil rights.
That they are hatefully, monstrously evilly harmful in their predations on others does not, perforce, limit their activities, even when they go beyond the pale. As when they prepare to gather at the funerals of fallen soldiers, for example, or murdered gays, to proclaim that they have met their just end, and Satan will greet them, not Gabriel.
Canada has its Human Rights Commissions pretending to be legal entities, which can be called upon to protect the 'human rights' or hurt feelings or perceptions of bias of those who perceive they have been uncivilly insulted.
The United States has its Court of Appeals, and the Court of Fourth Circuit has rendered its verdict of what is appropriate under free speech law in producing a peculiar judgement concluding their assessment of what constitutes justice under America's free speech laws.
The grieving father of a combat soldier who died in Iraq has been ordered to pay appeal costs in the sum of $16,510.80 to Reverend Phelps.
Previously the U.S. Supreme Court had agreed to rule on whether American free speech laws give Reverend Phelps the right to picket funerals. He has evidently been found to be protected under those same laws. And there is nothing to protect families burying loved ones from the vicious imprecations and slanders of fundamentalist dooms-day Christians like the Reverend.
Lance Corporal Matthew Snyder, all of 20 years of age when he was killed in combat in March 2006, had his funeral ceremony in Maryland desecrated by the Reverend Phelps and his outlandishly religious zealots. His understandably upset father filed a lawsuit in federal court claiming invasion of privacy and intention to cause emotional distress.
Despite the truth of those assertions, and the grievous psychological harm done Matthew Snyder's family following hard on his untimely death, the reality is that the guaranteed exercise of free speech trumps anyone's right to respect for the grieving, no matter the occasion.
A hard price to pay for a freedom held dear, one not readily absorbed.
Labels: Human Relations, Justice, United States
posted by Pieface @ 6:56 PM
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