Bostonians Block Westboro Baptist

Poet,

Hitler used the same excuse to exterminate the Jews--they were considered a poison to society.

Free Speech is often cruel, inane, and marked by bigotry. It's your ability to discern with your own heart that makes a difference.

 

It may not help them, but they do love attention, it's why they do what they do.

So, even if it doesn't give their cause any aid, their REAL cause is everybody looking at them. When they had to actually turn around, they just about jizzed themselves.

 

Whenever I see them in the news or online, I know exactly what their message is: "God Hates Fags!" It resonates with the name of the church. If I had as much publicity by just showing up, I'd be a millionaire. Granted, my message would more positive, but then it wouldn't get as much attention.

 

Well shoot, all this talk encouraged me to look up their website. They definitely attribute every bad thing to the handy work of a god, and I suppose that if I were a faithful Baptist, I would be so inclined, too. Their playbook is the Bible, without a doubt.

 

I think that question of what is essential about free speech arises.

If you threaten someone with violence, that is not protected speech. If you slander someone, that is not protected speech. If you yell fire in a crowded theater, that is not protected speech.

If we define speech broadly, what can not be defined as speech? Can anything be prohibited whatsoever?

To my way of thinking, the essence of free speech is the right to communicate an idea to an audience that chooses to hear that speech. What is the reason for defining free speech more broadly than that?

 

You are absolutely correct, there are a FEW restrictions on speech in America, none of which, I believe, the Westboro Baptsist have violated; otherwise, they would have been slapped down by now.

I think Free Speech has greater authority when it's expressed in a public place. I see it at play in my own city, where they tried to limit the homeless from panhandling on street corners--also covered by Free Speech. In my mind, as long as the activity is on public property, they are free to express themselves. That's not to say that some communities don't try to regulate speech by requiring permits and other formalities, which I am sure the Westboro Baptist have encountered. You could possibly be snagged by some nuisance ordinance, like playing loud music in the city park, the legalities of which are debatable.

You have to excuse me because I live in a state that has a very broad view concerning Free Speech. It protects everybody from the street preacher downtown to the nude dancer on the stage. I've heard and seen some wild stuff during my time here. I've also lived in states where the protection was not so apparent.

 

This is the kind of weirdness that goes on in my hometown: Naked Bike Ride

 

Well, I've been looking over their website. Their justification for their actions at funerals is that they would be less compassionate if they did not take the opportunity to warn others of their demise and ultimate fate (not a direct quote). Jeez...

I think a good look at their website is very revealing. In my opinion, the only thing they hold in high regard is their concept of god, who seems like a complete dick after reading their info.

 

But this isn't Hitler. This isn't the Holocaust. This is something completely different. This is individuals as part of a Church in society choosing to spew hate and cruelty.... and society dealing with it.

 

He is.

But that's because all they really care about is attention. They would surely love power too, but this is the only way they can get it, so.... this is what they do.

They also have delusions of granduer. The interviews with a lot of them are fucking creepy, they're high as fuck on it all.

"oh shit, look how persecuted we are by these fags, they won't even let us into their city to spread the good word of how they're all fags and god bombed them, so hot"

They would be right at home in the sex section at HF. Maybe some of them frequent it.

If you read the definition of "fag" on their site (if they haven't changed it, I haven't been there in years) it pretty clearly says that it's a word for anybody who does not totally agree with them and belong to their horrible church.

I realize it could be a "scandal" if it went wrong or broke any rules, but I can't fucking BELIEVE that they have not been separated from their kids and stripped of any religious status of privilege, on the grounds of being an abusive, and heavily child abusive, cult. You have the right to believe and live as you wish, but you don't have the right to damn (how ironic) your children to live like that, in that hateful paranoid (and yet, loving it) way.

 

Let me offer another example of religious belief being expressed: Brittany McComb. She's expressing herself and her beliefs to a captive crowd. Of course, her god is a bit more kind; regardless, it's still religion and her convictions.

 

I don't even understand why these people would protest at these funerals. I mean, really, who is the real terrorist in this country. It is ridiculous what some people can get away with, nothing seems to be sacred anymore.

 

What about the First Amendment?

 

Those guys are crazy.

 

WBC picketed my brothers church,why you may ask because it's a Baptist church that's why. mentaly deranged they are

 

Whats that painting or photograph with the naked lady on a broomstick?
Also I'm glad the city is standin up to these assholes

 

its relevant as in racist terrorists!

 

wrong! everyone in the world are'nt terrorists.only terrorists are terrorists.protestant baptists are in that category. its their nazi roots!.shame theres was never a good old A.R.A over there ta put a stop them.

 

Oh no...Not the ARA too! They're even worser bad asses than the IRA (short for "I ran away"). The ARA hate EVERYBODY !

 

no summer we won't be breaking the peace treaty the brits can't honour, as we have done and are still doing.but nice try anyway!we are still winning the war on terror! though i do understand how dissapointed ye are bout that,as i know how much ye love war games.roll on 32.