Are there limits on free speech in America? We are about to find out. The US Supreme Court is hearing the case of the small church which likes to go to military funerals and scream protests. The church is Westboro Baptist Church in Topeka, Kansas. They appear to be a church of about fifty to sixty people, most of whom seem to be related to each other. One thing is clear, this is a group of haters. From all indications this is the most un-Christian Christian church I have ever heard of. They were sued by the father of a fallen Marine. At that Marine’s funeral they protested in an ugly and disgusting way. Their stated view is that since America is tolerating homosexuality, God is punishing us by killing our servicemen in combat. Further, they seem to believe that we deserve all the grief being visited upon us, and it should continue until we revert to their very narrow way of thinking. The Marine’s father won a judgment of eleven million dollars which was later reduced to five million. An appeals court threw out the judgment claiming it violated the church’s free speech rights. The case has now found its way to the Supreme Court.
So, what to think of this. I am going to offer an opinion which could probably upset some folks. As Americans we are freedom loving people and freedom can sometimes get pretty messy. Freedom of speech means that even ugly speaking people have the right to that speech. There is no one on earth who can decide for me what I can say. As a free American I can open my mouth and reveal my inner most stupidity at any time if I so choose. So can the Waterboro Baptist Church. Free speech doesn’t mean just the speech that you happen to agree with. Freedom of speech doesn’t mean just the pretty words that are not controversial. No, this right allows for all speech, ugly, hateful, disgusting, and just plain down right stupid also.
I believe The Supreme Court will find the same way. Some may feel that this is a bad decision. Consider this, what if someone decided some day that your choice of songs you wished to sing, or the poetry you wished to recite, were uncomfortable to them. Would you favor their right to shut you up? What if they felt that your newspaper held the wrong political opinion? Would you favor a law shutting up that newspaper? We have, in our history, fought and died for this right, and sometimes, even when we don’t like the message of some moron, they still have the right to spew that view. Both hate speech and love speech are just speech in the eyes of the law and the Constitution.
The absolute best way of dealing with the Waterboro Baptist Church is to ignore them. No press, no TV coverage, just ignore them. Trust me, they will go away. If we denied them publicity, they would disappear just as quickly as they appeared. The Marine whose funeral they protested died so they could have the freedom to hold that protest. Seems ironic, doesn’t it.
You, who are reading this, are reading it on the Opinion Page of this newspaper. This column is my opinion. I have the freedom to express my opinion because this is America. The nitwits who display their ignorance at military funerals have the same freedom. They can scream all the hate they wish. It only serves to show the world what morons they are.
Ron Scarbro October 10, 2010
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6 comments:
Good Blog Ron, I wish these people would drop the name Baptist from their so called church because they are unlike any Baptist I have ever known. I despise what they are doing. I also despise what a lot of other people are doing and am offended by about 75% of it. That being said if they can shut them up, they can shut us up. I for one don't want to shut up.
All I can say is AMEN, Brother.
Ron
Happy Birthday Daddy!
Ok Daddy, I have a question. As you know, I completely agree with you (raised well) on the freedom isn't pretty bit.
If someone were to to say marry someone of another ethnicity and their wedding were bombarded and interrupted by such morons as these mentioned in your piece, would these folks not be arrested for disturbing the peace?
Even though the Church or Cemetery itself may be on public property or perhaps not, aren't the proceedings considered private? As when we stay in a hotel, we are permitted to protect ourselves and belongings as if we were at home... etc
Why would a private service, probably held on private property, allow for such behavior amongst uninvited thugs?
Love,
Heather
I understand your concern about privacy, but, free speech is guaranteed by the Constitution, privacy is not. That having been said, I believe the Supreme Court will allow for a barrier to prevent unnecessary interruption of private services and I would support that move completely. We must guard against feel good court decisions which may seem good at the time, but which fly in the face of the Constitution. I so agree with you last comment. There are indeed a lot of guns at a military funeral. My comment would be, morons, interrupt at you own risk.
Love,
Daddy
Heather made some very good points. I want to clarify on thing that people are misinformed on. Churches are not public property. They belong either to the local congregation or to the denomination. They open their doors and welcome the public but they are paid for and supported by their membership. Many churches have their own cemeteries and these are not public either. While I believe in the right to free speech I also believe strongly in private property rights.
You better be careful here Ron. You are going to be having an ongoing forum.
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