Tweet of the Day: If Fred Phelps has the right to verbally abuse people going to their son's funeral

[BR_Parkway]

Tweet of the Day: If Fred Phelps has the right to verbally abuse people going to their son's funerals, then OWS has the right to sit in the middle of a park

[lbrtbell]

1. I was just saying that to somebody last night

If the "God Hates F@gs" crowd is allowed to protest at funerals, why not OWS? :mad:

[The Doctor.]

7. Because corporations don't give a f*@#

about soldiers' funerals or "fags".

[jberryhill]

2. A good many people here at DU do not support the Phelps' right to do that /nt

[BR_Parkway]

3. Freedom of speech offers no guarantee that everyone will like their

speech - but they still have the right to say it. If some on DU are against that, maybe they need to take a few to reflect on what they actually stand for. 'Rights for me but not thee' has never been a working foundation.

Hell, as a gay man, I'm one who should think he can't say that but I actually appreciate his honesty. NOM, Dobson and the rest of these anti-gay groups carefully mask themselves as "protecting the family" - but all they're doing is dressing up what Fred says so bluntly so that they can continue to profit from it. At least Fred & crew have a level of transparency I can appreciate. It's like "tolerate" - fuck that, I don't want a soul in this world to tolerate me, it presumes that they are in some superior position and have to compromise that somehow for me to exist. Either accept me or tell me to piss off and die.

[Ikonoklast]

8. This i where you get into a "Hate Speech" vs "Free Speech" argument.

Not Phelps right to Free Speech, their right to blatantly intimidate, denigrate, and humiliate is called into question.

They skirt the edges of Free Speech, and they knowingly do so, trying to incite others into acts over which they can then sue.

[jberryhill]

10. And calling police "pigs" is "Love Speech"?

[_ed_]

13. "skirt the edges of free speech"

Where does it refer to "edges" of free speech in the First Amendment? In relevant case law?

You might want to educate yourself. Try reading Brandenburg.

[MADem]

4. Doesn't that Phelps pissant get permits?

That might be the difference.

[jberryhill]

11. Yes

[rfranklin]

5. I don't think they are the best example to follow...

but Free Speech does apply to mercenary assholes.

[JVS]

6. OWS should probably send a lawyer from their ranks to the Phelps family to learn ...

about suing the fuck out of people.

[jberryhill]

12. There's no magic formula

The Phelps clan gets permits for a place and time to hold their protests. They are entitled to police protection, and anyone who interferes with them is breaking the law.

There is no secret formula involved.

[hootinholler]

9. If Fred Phelps...

If Fred Phelps has the right to verbally abuse people going to their son's funerals,
then OWS has the right to occupy Bloomberg's sidewalk!