Protesting Against The War During a Fallen Soldier's Funeral Okay?

Topic. Link for details~

Ignore the people who do this. They're attention whores.

As long as they don't get too close, I don't think we should stop them.

Obviously the 1st amendment isn't there to protect speech everyone likes.

If they're on public land then it's okay.

Under the constitution, yes. As humans, no thats all it really comes down to unfortunatelyimaps3fanboy

Pretty much sums it up.

Of course it's not out, there is a time and place to hold a protest and a funeral is not it! These people make me sick, try showing a little humanity to his grieving family.

Before even clicking the link, I was guessing this was Westboro Baptist. They have a right to, but I don't support it. Let these families mourn their loss in peace.

If a funeral is a private event then no, they shouldn't legally allowed to protest there.

Sure they should be allowed to protest at funerals.

Just like it should be allowed to beat the crap out of people who protest at funerals, under the principle of public interest/decency.

Westboro Baptist Church News Video

Before we even get into my opinion on whether or not protests at funerals should be banned, I'd just like to point out that these guys are IRL trolls and should be banned from the universe.

Of course it had to be the Westboro Baptist Church.

I agree that it's incredibly disrespectful but alas they aren't breaking any rules, that said of course their actions might cause some severe consequences if they keep this up.

No. Isn't it offensive to rant like a d-bag at someone who died fighting?

I'm all about free speech but there is a proper time and place.

Sure they should be allowed to protest at funerals.

Just like it should be allowed to beat the crap out of people who protest at funerals, under the principle of public interest/decency.

SUD123456

If I had to choose between banning funeral protest or this I might just choose this.:P

Common decency needs a coffin as well.

I'm definitely not ok with it. People can protest all they want, but you have to be an enormous c*** to protest a funeral.

That's just out of line. Its cool to voice your opinion, but have some respect for the soldier..

People like this make me sick.

It's one thing to be against the war. It's an entirely different issue to be against the troops who are just following orders.

Believe it or not, protecting you and protecting your rights to say whatever you want---no matter how tasteless and cruel it might be---is a point of great honor for those of us who have deployed to Iraq and Afghanistan and who will deploy to many other places as the years roll on by.

Show a little bit more respect to the greatest sacrifice we can make.

People like this make me sick.

It's one thing to be against the war. It's an entirely different issue to be against the troops who are just following orders.

Believe it or not, protecting you and protecting your rights to say whatever you want---no matter how tasteless and cruel it might be---is a point of great honor for those of us who have deployed to Iraq and Afghanistan and who will deploy to many other places as the years roll on by.

Show a little bit more respect to the greatest sacrifice we can make.

airshocker

The link won't work, but I assume that it's Westboro Baptist church. They certainly have the right to protest, but don't mind them. Their minister has serious anger problems and many parents within the family are abusive. These are facts. While most would agree with me, they are complete, brainwashed nutjobs, but that's just our opinion.

I'm all about free speech but there is a proper time and place.

kidsmelly

Anything else isn't freedom of speech

As horrible as it is, I'm a fan of our nation's Constitution. To change one provision of it would be a tragedy. Maniacc1

I'm not American so maybe its not my place to say, but your constitution needs to be able to change with the times. Its a very old document and also quite simplistic.

Anyway, onto the real point. We're having a similar problem here in New Zealand at the moment. This Sunday is ANZAC day here. Its essentially America's equivilant of Veterens day and commemerates ANZAC forces landing at Gallipoli in WW1. The Returned Servicemans Association sells red poppy pins to commemerate and fund raise. Peace activists are coming out a day earlier and selling white poppy pins to push there wagon and they're being seen as just as disrespectful.

The argument is that their message is just fine, but their choice to time and place is a calculated for the most press coverage, which makes it a calculated insult. Activists like this seem to forget that they're supposed to be swaying people to their way of thinking, and by making people angry, they're making it so that people will never listen to tem again.

So my message is, your arguments are fine, but be more sensitive.

Common decency needs to become law.JustPlainLucas

Criminalize the minority?

Under the constitution, yes. As humans, no thats all it really comes down to unfortunatelyimaps3fanboy

Yeah, pretty much. That's pretty crappy to protest anything during anyone's funeral.

I'm not American so maybe its not my place to say, but your constitution needs to be able to change with the times. Its a very old document and also quite simplistic.

Misfire704

They do change it. There have been over 20 amendments, the most recent...(looks it up)...being passed in 1992. And it's simple, because is just establishes general principles (i.e., freedom of speech, chicks can vote).There's a huge-ass US Code of laws that spells out alll the details.

I think it's tasteless and offensive.SteveTabernacle

I don't think our founding fathers ever believed that there would be a time when their own countrymen would wish or celebrate the deaths of our own soldiers. If they did they probably would have put it into the consitution to at least protect their sacrifice for their country.

I don't think our founding fathers ever believed that there would be a time when their own countrymen would wish or celebrate the deaths of our own soldiers. If they did they probably would have put it into the consitution to at least protect their sacrifice for their country.

Tangmashi

I disagree. I think most of the founding fathers believed that the citizenry should be allowed to speak out against the government and its agents all they like, and that's expressed in the government they created.

they should at least give respect to the soldier...

Would there happen to be some sort of law that could better squeeze in the banning of protesting during funerals, or does freedom of speech really cover it all?ProjectTrinity

You might be able to make a law that simply bans all demonstrations within a certain distance of a funeral. Speech is restricted in all sorts of situations for a myriad of reasons, "disturbing the peace," being the most common and obvious. Freedom of speech is intended to protect citizens who want to speak out against their government. It's not a blanket protection for people to be disruptive jackasses.

No, It's not okay to do that. Show some respect people! :evil:

[QUOTE="Tangmashi"]

I don't think our founding fathers ever believed that there would be a time when their own countrymen would wish or celebrate the deaths of our own soldiers. If they did they probably would have put it into the consitution to at least protect their sacrifice for their country.

Palantas

I disagree. I think most of the founding fathers believed that the citizenry should be allowed to speak out against the government and its agents all they like, and that's expressed in the government they created.

People who do this are disgraceful and have no respect for other people, families deserve to have private funerals without people telling them that the deceased is going to hell. The law should be upheld but it's truely ridiculous that such a law even had to be made in the first place.

[QUOTE="I"]

I disagree. I think most of the founding fathers believed that the citizenry should be allowed to speak out against the government and its agents all they like, and that's expressed in the government they created.

LJS9502_basic

Speaking out against the government yes. But these are private funerals. Those who protest at funerals disgust me. They want to protest government actions...head to DC and protest there.

I think people who protest at soldier's funerals are Grade-A ****heads who need to fall in a hole. However, when it comes to the legality of the issue, I don't think soldiers, FBI agents, tax collectors,or whoever should get special protection at their private funerals. If you want to stop it, ban protests at all funerals.

These protester ****suckers should show up the next time a former President or senator dies. Then maybe someone will address this.

People should start protesting back........LJS9502_basic

[QUOTE="LJS9502_basic"]

[QUOTE="I"]

I disagree. I think most of the founding fathers believed that the citizenry should be allowed to speak out against the government and its agents all they like, and that's expressed in the government they created.

Palantas

Speaking out against the government yes. But these are private funerals. Those who protest at funerals disgust me. They want to protest government actions...head to DC and protest there.

I think people who protest at soldier's funerals are Grade-A ****heads who need to fall in a hole. However, when it comes to the legality of the issue, I don't think soldiers, FBI agents, tax collectors,or whoever should get special protection at their private funerals. If you want to stop it, ban protests at all funerals.

These protester ****suckers should show up the next time a former President or senator dies. Then maybe someone will address this.