So, how true can you be to the principles of free speech? Do you believe free speech applies to all? This is often seen as a no-brainer, but what about when the speech is filled with hate, bigotry, and insults? The attorneys general in both Virginia and Maine are the only two in the nation who have taken the controversial stance in a recent court case--that freedom of speech should, indeed, apply to all.
Virginia won’t back hate-speech suit
My heart goes out to the Snyder family; to lose a son, and then have awful things shouted about him and them at his funeral, is a terrible thing to endure. I fully support the Patriot Guard nationwide, and the good work they do shielding families from protestors like the Westboro Baptist Church; I've considered joining them myself. I personally loathe what WBC does.
I also have to agree, however, with the last line of the article, a quote from ACLU executive director Kent Willis: "This kind of deplorable free speech must be protected in order to make sure all speech is protected."
I hate what WBC stands for, and I hate what other hate groups like the KKK and Nation of Islam stand for. I hate that conservative Christians often make general statements about people going to hell for this, that, or the other, statements that frequently would include me (and most of my friends) for any of a variety of reasons. I hate that Islamic extremists preach against the capitalistic way of life in the United States.
BUT
I like having the freedom to tell WBC, the KKK, the Nation of Islam, and any other bigots to go to hell. I like having the freedom to tell those conservative Christians where they can stuff their dogma. I like having the freedom to express my opinion about various military actions our country is involved in. I like having the freedom to tell a soldier or veteran "Thank you for your service" then turn around and tell the government they made the wrong choice in sending that soldier in the first place.
If I am to continue to expect to have the freedom to speak as I please, I have to defend the right of others to speak as they please--so long as it is only words, not hurtful actions--, no matter how despicable I find their words. To paraphrase a quote of questionable origin:
I may disagree with what you say, but I will defend unto death your right to say it.
Can you do the same?
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Freedom to speak also includes freedom to post whatever one chooses online. And that means patrons have a right to view KKK, Nation of Islam, etc, whether or not we agree with them. So what is the difference between hateful websites and pornography? Do children need to be protected from both? Are both "inappropriate" or harmful?
ReplyDeleteYou just wish there could be a free speech (with common sense) clause in the Bill of Rights. Having a brother-in-law who recently reurned from Iraq I find the WBC to be despicable. Sure they should have the right to demonstrate, but common sense should prevail.
ReplyDelete"I may disagree with what you say, but I will defend unto death your right to say it."...Well death is here and it deserves not to be disrespected by the WBC.
It does become a "what can we really do to stop it?" Is someone's death enough. I believe it is. I have to admit it took a lot of guts by these two AGs not to get on board with the lawsuit. But something needs to be done, because I could very easily see a distraught family member or friend of a fallen soldier snapping and taking out one of these WBC members. I wouldn't lose sleep over it, because I think they would have it coming it if it was my family.
I think we need the right to shout obscenities at each other from behind picket lines.
ReplyDeleteWhat bothers me most about Westboro Baptist Chuch is that they discredit the principle of freedom of speech. At least, they test the hell out of it.
Still, the whole point of freedom of speech is that it applies to the least popular ideas as much as the most popular. One can only make so many exceptions before censorship becomes the rule.
I love freedom of speech, but I really only support if it the person truly believes in the message he or she is giving, regardless of how despicable I find that message.
ReplyDeleteFrom what I hear about the Westboro Baptist Church, they are simply a bunch of lawyers trying to incite people to cross a line and give them and opportunity to sue. Their message is secondary, if at all important to them. I can't say whether that's actually true, but if it is...
I absolutely cannot stand the WBC, but I do understand where you are coming from. It is very important to defend ALL speech. I have found an interesting article that shows the Snyder family is now trying to appeal the court's decision by claiming they were a 'captive audience'. I am not knowlegeable about the law, but it sounds like they may be able to get the decision reversed. At least, I hope so!
ReplyDeletehttp://www.firstamendmentcenter.org/analysis.aspx?id=23019