Going to the Supreme Court: Dad of fallen Marine vs. Westboro Baptist Church

[LLStarks]

http://www.csmonitor.com/USA/Justice/2010/0330/Dad-of-a-fallen-Marine-perseveres-against-protests-at-military-funerals

If the SCOTUS has even a shred of decency, they will rule in favor of the father. Hate speech at private events like the funeral of a soldier should not be protected by the First Amendment.

[Hawkeye-X]

1. If there was any Karma - all the Phelps clan should die of AIDS

acquired from their hate.

hawkeye-X

[lamp_shade]

2. K&R

[pipoman]

3. I'm not so sure that Phelps should

be barred from doing their thing, but they shouldn't be awarded fees when someone sues them....the price for bad choices in the exercising of their rights..


Marine's father ordered to pay Westboro's court costs

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=102x4325005

[DemocratSinceBirth]

7. Bad Cases Make Bad Laws

Usually the loser of a court case doesn't have to pay legal fee unless the action brought is without merit or frivolous.

[DemocratSinceBirth]

4. I Don't Understand The Case

I am a First Amendment absolutist but even I realize there are some restrictions on free speech.

For instance I can't yell at my neighbor from the street because I dislike him nor can I go to the mayor's office, stand outside his door and shout obscenities. And I don't think I can go to a funeral and disrupt it by hollering at the mourners.

There needs to be restrictions on speech as to time and place.

[era veteran]

5. I believe in the First Amendment but hate speech should be prosecuted

Super batshit crazy Phelps family. I wonder what sordid shit goes on behind the scenes?

[DemocratSinceBirth]

6. I Don't Believe Hate Speech Should Be Prosecuted Or Nearly All Of DU Would Be In The Hoosegow

If the right defined what "hate sppech" was.

That being said it does seem that Fred and his ilk were disturbing the peace.

[pipoman]

8. I don't believe in "hate speech"

and want no part of the speech police, nor do I want anyone deciding what constitutes "hate speech". I assure you there will be no 2 people agree what is/isn't hate speech. The only speech which should be prosecuted, is when one person incites people to commit crimes, then it should be conspiracy of some sort.

[DemocratSinceBirth]

9. I Don't Know How This Became A Hate Speech Issue

You don't have the right to disrupt a meeting.

I can't go to a basketball game and start shouting obscenities and not expect to be ejected and possibly arrested. Heck, they say it at the beginning of every game. I can't go to a funeral and start hollering at the mourners.

[pipoman]

10. Look, I am a huge hater of the Phelps scum

but in fairness, they set up across the street from these funerals and picket. Their message is vile, stupid, and hurtful, but they don't actually come into the service and usually there are Patriot Guard who cover them and drown them out.