Should protesters be permitted to disrupt military funerals?
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airehead
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 Posted: 05/09/06 - 19:08 Post subject:
| camelia bedelia wrote: | | airehead wrote: | | camelia bedelia wrote: | What I don't get, is what are the Phelps clan protesting about at these military funerals? What point are they trying to get across? It doesn't seem connected to the funerals at all, just a place to get media attention, or am I missing something??
I am very torn on this issue. Mostly I come down on the side of freedom of speech, but protesting at a funeral is beyond the bounds of decency. And 'protesting' by shouting hateful slogans is abhorrent. I would like to think common decency would regulate that kind of thing, but unfortunately there are a lot of cruel people out there. |
They're attention getters.
I think (think) they protested at Matthew Shepard's funeral as well. |
They did. With signs that said "Matthew Shepard is in Hell". How very Christian of them. |
I know, huh?
They represent true Christianity about as well as the 9/11 bombers represent true Islam. 
Last edited by airehead on 05/09/06 - 23:47; edited 1 time in total
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RangerG
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Posted: 05/09/06 - 20:49 Post subject:
| camelia bedelia wrote: | What I don't get, is what are the Phelps clan protesting about at these military funerals? What point are they trying to get across? It doesn't seem connected to the funerals at all, just a place to get media attention, or am I missing something??
I am very torn on this issue. Mostly I come down on the side of freedom of speech, but protesting at a funeral is beyond the bounds of decency. And 'protesting' by shouting hateful slogans is abhorrent. I would like to think common decency would regulate that kind of thing, but unfortunately there are a lot of cruel people out there. |
See for yourself:
http://www.godhatesfags.com/main/index.html
http://www.godhatesfags.com/fliers/may2006/20060507_ten-dead-troops.pdf
These folks do not subscribe to common decency. Rev Phelps is nuts...but Phelp's daughter is crazier than Jim Jones... Total brain wash....
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camelia bedelia
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Posted: 05/09/06 - 21:39 Post subject:
| RangerG wrote: | | camelia bedelia wrote: | What I don't get, is what are the Phelps clan protesting about at these military funerals? What point are they trying to get across? It doesn't seem connected to the funerals at all, just a place to get media attention, or am I missing something??
I am very torn on this issue. Mostly I come down on the side of freedom of speech, but protesting at a funeral is beyond the bounds of decency. And 'protesting' by shouting hateful slogans is abhorrent. I would like to think common decency would regulate that kind of thing, but unfortunately there are a lot of cruel people out there. |
See for yourself:
http://www.godhatesfags.com/main/index.html
http://www.godhatesfags.com/fliers/may2006/20060507_ten-dead-troops.pdf
These folks do not subscribe to common decency. Rev Phelps is nuts...but Phelp's daughter is crazier than Jim Jones... Total brain wash.... |
I'm familar with Phelps and Co, I just didn't know what the military connection was and why they wanted to Thank God for Dead Soldiers. (I refuse to go to any site they promote).
When Phelps dies, do you think people will show up at his service with signs that say "Fred Phelps is in Hell"?
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RangerG
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Posted: 05/10/06 - 06:11 Post subject:
| camelia bedelia wrote: | | When Phelps dies, do you think people will show up at his service with signs that say "Fred Phelps is in Hell"? |
Poetic justice would be for no one to show up at Fred's funeral except the backhoe operator. To show up with signs would be to stoop to his level.
Some people exist simply to serve as an example of how NOT to live your life.
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kobyj
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Posted: 05/10/06 - 18:01 Post subject:
| camelia bedelia wrote: |
I'm familar with Phelps and Co, I just didn't know what the military connection was and why they wanted to Thank God for Dead Soldiers. (I refuse to go to any site they promote). |
I believe that they protest at funerals just to get attention. And if that's their "mission", then mission successful.
I visit their website everyonce in a while to just do a little research on the "enemy" in sense. This way I'm educated and can actually state facts regarding them. Plus everytime I visit their site, I get fired back up and am eager to ride anywhere for a mission.
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GaRebelRunner
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Posted: 05/10/06 - 20:28 Post subject:
I may be pretty much out there in left field, but I can't imagine why there should even be any discussion on this topic. The answer to the question is simply no.
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airehead
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Posted: 05/10/06 - 20:53 Post subject:
| GaRebelRunner wrote: | | I may be pretty much out there in left field, but I can't imagine why there should even be any discussion on this topic. The answer to the question is simply no. |
I agree with you 100%.
But it's always good to discuss laws and their possible future ramifications.
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kristin31
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Posted: 05/11/06 - 18:39 Post subject:
| airehead wrote: | | camelia bedelia wrote: | | airehead wrote: | | camelia bedelia wrote: | What I don't get, is what are the Phelps clan protesting about at these military funerals? What point are they trying to get across? It doesn't seem connected to the funerals at all, just a place to get media attention, or am I missing something??
I am very torn on this issue. Mostly I come down on the side of freedom of speech, but protesting at a funeral is beyond the bounds of decency. And 'protesting' by shouting hateful slogans is abhorrent. I would like to think common decency would regulate that kind of thing, but unfortunately there are a lot of cruel people out there. |
They're attention getters.
I think (think) they protested at Matthew Shepard's funeral as well. |
They did. With signs that said "Matthew Shepard is in Hell". How very Christian of them. |
I know, huh?
They represent true Christianity about as well as the 9/11 bombers represent true Islam. |
Those people are so full of misdirected hate that they will wind up pickled to death in ignorance and rage at something beyond their understanding. To use a military funeral as an excuse to get themselves attention is very wrong. It may be in their constitutional rights, but it is wrong to me.
(This is from someone who is totally anti-war, and therefore against this war, but I would never, ever protest the war at a funeral or protest and cause a scene or do anything to denigrate soldiers coming home from Iraq. They are only following orders, however f'ed up the orders might be).
Phelps and his little cult are disrespectful, nasty rude intolerant bigots.
The people that fought and died deserve some respect and their families deserve that as well as peace.
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airehead
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Posted: 05/11/06 - 21:45 Post subject:
| kristin31 wrote: | | airehead wrote: | | camelia bedelia wrote: | | airehead wrote: | | camelia bedelia wrote: | What I don't get, is what are the Phelps clan protesting about at these military funerals? What point are they trying to get across? It doesn't seem connected to the funerals at all, just a place to get media attention, or am I missing something??
I am very torn on this issue. Mostly I come down on the side of freedom of speech, but protesting at a funeral is beyond the bounds of decency. And 'protesting' by shouting hateful slogans is abhorrent. I would like to think common decency would regulate that kind of thing, but unfortunately there are a lot of cruel people out there. |
They're attention getters.
I think (think) they protested at Matthew Shepard's funeral as well. |
They did. With signs that said "Matthew Shepard is in Hell". How very Christian of them. |
I know, huh?
They represent true Christianity about as well as the 9/11 bombers represent true Islam. |
Those people are so full of misdirected hate that they will wind up pickled to death in ignorance and rage at something beyond their understanding. To use a military funeral as an excuse to get themselves attention is very wrong. It may be in their constitutional rights, but it is wrong to me.
(This is from someone who is totally anti-war, and therefore against this war, but I would never, ever protest the war at a funeral or protest and cause a scene or do anything to denigrate soldiers coming home from Iraq. They are only following orders, however f'ed up the orders might be).
Phelps and his little cult are disrespectful, nasty rude intolerant bigots.
The people that fought and died deserve some respect and their families deserve that as well as peace. |
I agree. I hate drug dealers and pedophiles and all they stand for but I don't think I'd ever protest at their funerals. That's their time to meet their maker.
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andydp
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Posted: 05/12/06 - 14:03 Post subject:
The only thing I will say is the same statement I make whenever something like this crops up:
The ACLU is protecting the rights of dirtbags because...if they don't protect the dirtbags' rights, pretty soon WE will be the dirtbags.
Believe me, I think protesting at a funeral is not the place to do it. By using this venue, Fred has made his fringe, whack job position well known.
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Gogirlgo
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Posted: 05/14/06 - 22:02 Post subject:
OK, yeah. But the whole job for lunatic fringe groups is to get those in the mainstream to back the message, which you can't do when you look like a f*cking lunatic like this guy.
It's the same thing with EarthFirst!, the group that spikes trees for loggers to hurt themselves in order to protest the impact of the loggers on the environment. No matter how important or even correct their message might be, it's all in the way they go about it.
And when you have a totally horrid message like Phelps does, it's real hard. You're alienating your potential fanbase by choosing the method of funeral-crashing. Even the gay-bashers draw the line at this.
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Aslowhiteguy
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Posted: 06/05/06 - 16:16 Post subject:
couldn't they be stopped w/o creating a new law?
don't you need a permit to protest on a public street/place? if so the permit could specify they must maintain a certain distance from the actual event.
couldn't they be prevented from entering or protesting in a church or private cemetery? the right to protest doesn't extend to private property, does it?
i would support a law preventing protests at any funeral. it's sad we need laws to inforce what should be common decency and courtesy.
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Gogirlgo
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Posted: 06/05/06 - 22:46 Post subject:
I spoke to a guy I know yesterday, hadn't seen him for a while. Turns out it was one of his cousins who was killed a few weeks ago around here.
Phelps and Co. were there. The family was outraged. The cops actually told the family, "If you want us to just turn around for a few minutes, say the word."
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Gogirlgo
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Posted: 06/05/06 - 22:48 Post subject:
| Aslowhiteguy wrote: | couldn't they be stopped w/o creating a new law?
don't you need a permit to protest on a public street/place? if so the permit could specify they must maintain a certain distance from the actual event.
couldn't they be prevented from entering or protesting in a church or private cemetery? the right to protest doesn't extend to private property, does it?
i would support a law preventing protests at any funeral. it's sad we need laws to inforce what should be common decency and courtesy. |
Streets and parks have been historically public venues. Sometimes a permit is required. But a permit isn't always written to be limiting. I think this one is going up b/c the SC needs to create a legal entity around this activity, like it does for certain other ones.
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Capt Kirk
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Posted: 06/06/06 - 15:52 Post subject: The problems with protestors
Sometimes people protest just to protest without regard to the venue, who is there, or even the subject.
This law is being passed in Colorado where I now live. The funeral of the soldier that was killed had nothing to do with what was being protested; he wasn't gay.
Free speech is right that comes with responsibilities. 1st ammendment says you say what you want, but its doesn't say I have to hear it. Protest somewhere else, write a letter to the editor, whatever. BUT the 1st Ammendment does not allow people to invade private venues and events. And stopping someone from entering a private venue/event is NOT infringing in 1st Amnt rights.
Another thing, know what your talking about when you go protest. I mean, the law does'nt say you have to know, but....Example: the mass of the people that were protesting the World Trade Organization meetings: most of the folks, when asked, had no idea of what they were protesting. They really didn't know what the WTO was, or any of the issues. They were protesting because someoen told them to. (That's a liberal example, conservatives do the same thing....)
When you ask most guys in the 60's why they were protesting, most would tell you thats' where the girls were...
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