ACLU Sues for Anti-Gay Group That Pickets at Troops' Burials

[obisean]

I'm not trying to sound mean or stupid or anything, but where is it spelled out that people in the US have the right to honor their dead?

As far as I know it isn't. This is most likely because the forefathers had some ethics and common sense, unlike most people who live in the country today. Just like the new internet laws that are now coming out, this is something that may need to put into law as the times change. It was never written, but it was always common sense...until now at least.

Alright, I was just wondering if you were talking about actual law or just common decency.

I would fight it as them not allowing me to practice my religious beliefs. Funerals are generally a religious thing, and therefore are protected in the Constitution.

I hate the ACLU, I hated them way before this, but this is just ridiculous! If you didnt hate these guys before you do now, check the story here. [http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/07/22/AR2006072200643.html]

This makes me love them even more. They defend the rights of those they disagree with a la Voltaire. They are noble even if many people don't get how heroic they are. The right to free speech includes people you hate as well as love. If you don't like the ACLU then you could demonstrate it by ceasing to utilize your free speech.

Why oh why can't America just have hate laws against picketing funerals (especially those of military background) ?

Military funerals are in no way more sacred than normal funerals. If you think the dead deserve respect you respect them regardless of their civilian/military status.

These are the men and women who are dying to protect your rights and beliefs no matter what country they are from. Unless you are a Nazi type soldier, yes, in combat death is more of a sacred thing than getting hit by a car. All death is sad, I won't argue that it is more sad, just that they died doing something (seemingly) selfless, generally that is called the hero in most stories.

 

[Cado_Deus]

There is already a solution in the making for the WBC "problem". While it is their legal right to picket, in a legal way, at a funeral it is also the right of the bereaved family members and friends to seek out the help of an amazing group of people, the Patriot Guard. They are a group of, mainly Motorcycle riding, people that just want those in mourning to be allowed to mourn in peace. This group of riders, which has sections in all of the states, has the right to keep the WBC protesters away from the funeral. It's no guarantee or amendment, but it's a step in the right direction. And while this wasn't quite on the subject at hand, it did have something to do with it.

But I digress. Either way, both groups of people-the, mourners and protesters, have their rights. It really should come down to, is what the WBC doing infringing on the rights of others? I mean if we can't drive drunk why are they allowed to shout some of the most profane things, such as "That soldier fought an evil war for an evil country!" while trampling our flag mind you, at the mourners during the funeral?(I dont remember the phrase ver batim but I heard something like that shouted at an Army friends funeral). My drunk driving comment is hinting at the fact that you aren't really allowed to infringe on the rights of others without suffering some form of consequence. All I know is that if I die protecting this country, this flag and this constitution and they are picketing at my funeral I will somehow figure out a way to come back to life, leap out of my coffin and beat the all to death with my left shoe. The proceed to return to my coffin and officially rest in peace.

 

[Guitarmasterx7]

"The church and the Rev. Fred Phelps say God is allowing troops, coal miners and others to be killed because the United States tolerates gay men and lesbians."
... I don't know what the fuck to say to that. I don't think i need to say anything to that.

On the actual topic, this reminds me of a scenario a while back I read about. There where Christians handing out pamphlets, bibles ect. at public schools. This was a multicultural school of lots of different faiths and beliefs, so naturally they got a lot of complaints. Though as is the case with America, Christians greatly outnumbered the minority groups, and pooled money at church to hire big expensive lawyers to bring it to the state court and declare it legal. So, what a lot of the parents of other faiths did was got together and started passing out (either Hindu or Muslim i forget which) pamphlets. This wasn't to convert children, it was just to send a message, however, the christian parents where furious, pooled their money again, and basically banned what they initially fought to make legal.

So the obvious solution is to make scientologists protest outside churches saying christianity causes Xenu to give North korea nukes

 

[obisean]

No it isn't military people are not more noble than civilians. Dying by being shot by cops protesting a war is every bit as much dying for your principles as dying while fighting in a war. There are many heroes in this world and imo most don't wield weapons. Civilian funerals are every bit as sacred as military funerals.

I like how you threw in 2 noble causes to die for. Both of your scenarios are fighting for the rights of others.

 

[samsonguy920]

I have to wonder whether any of these soldiers whose funerals this group has picketed even support gay rights. What makes me sick is they picket the funeral of soldiers who gave their lives to protect people's rights. It's really a twisted ignorant turnaround. It's like your dad giving you a gun for your birthday, then someone shoots him, and you complain about him being pro-guns...all the while keeping the gun he gave you.

 

[Booze Zombie]

Please, America, how many of you planned on protesting a fucking funeral?
What's that?
I can't hear you, you must be too busy not protesting at a fucking funereal.

This is the most ridiculous thing to complain about! If not having assholes bothering you whilst you're burying your dead is unconstitutional, then you need a change of constitution.

By the way, Britain doesn't have Freedom Of Speech and we seem to be doing just fine without your hallowed law.

 

[Embright]

Well at least they are consistent in their insanity. While they have done some things I agree with I still think they bring far more harm than they are worth.

Is this issue right? Is it wrong? Difficult to say ethically but you shouldn't necessarily picket a funeral. Funerals are for the living and so that they can mourn the dead.

People should be more courteous.

 

[timmytom1]

That is one infuriating article.
Come on! Live and let live. I can't believe just how intolerant some people is.
You can't go and picket a funeral, there's people there who are suffering for the loss of a loved one. I doubt their god would approve of such disrespectful stupidity.

These Westboro Baptist Church people are nothing but ignorants and I hope the ACLU loses so they get some time off in jail to think about how idiotic they are. ¬_¬

Whilst i like what you`re saying , i don`t think these people are capable of thought

 

[RufusMcLaser]

Its the principle of the thing. Freedom of speech and all that should be for everyone. Not just for those whom have something you want to hear. These people are sick, depraved, and completely idiotic. But they have legal right (so far) to do what they do.

I agree. The ACLU has stood up for some right bastards, and if you go down the Skokie case [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/American_Civil_Liberties_Union#Notable_historical_cases] but they've also stood up for pedophiles and other people I detest. And yet, they've usually done so out of principle- because the case in question hinged upon an important legal issue, even a Constitutional one, which might have had major, cascading repercussions.
I despise those Westover creeps. If they were all eaten by poisonous mollusks tomorrow, I would smile beatifically. But I must grit my teeth and hope that their right to peaceably assemble is not infringed beyond a certain extent. If the law in question does indeed overstep the bounds, it needs to go and I'll be grateful that the ACLU is finally doing some good for once.

By the way, don't be overly fooled by those Westboro slunts. Their core leadership is a bunch of attorneys, and the intent of most of their marches is to coerce counter-marches into a violent confrontation and then sue the pants off everyone involved. It's a smart little scam.

 

[Seanchaidh]

Phelps is a scumbag, but that doesn't mean he needs to be repressed by the government. The ACLU protects people like Phelps to keep everyone's speech free and unhindered. Legal precedent is very powerful. Speechless zones are not good for America.

 

[Ushario]

They are picketing the funerals of dead soldiers and no one has been shot yet?
Its just a matter of time, they'll picket the funeral of a soldier and one of his mates will get pissed off about it.

I think I'll have a cookie for every church nut the guy guns down!

 

[demonicjesus]

this seems like a huge bash against the ACLU
should you really just focus on the bad points or should you look into the good theyve done also
ive just been reading the wiki page on them and they seem to have been testifying against religious action for a good number of years

In June 2004, the ACLU received numerous phone calls from angry parents after the Dover Area School District in Dover, Pennsylvania passed a curriculum change requiring that its high school biology students be read a one-minute statement saying that the theory of evolution is not fact and mentioning intelligent design as an alternative theory - (taken from the wiki page)

for fuck sake they got that banned
biology is the direct opposite of religion

why are you all bashing these guys when the people you really should be ranting about are the fucktards that keep harping on about how gays are an afront to nature even though noones listening

 

[Simriel]

That is one infuriating article.
Come on! Live and let live. I can't believe just how intolerant some people is.
You can't go and picket a funeral, there's people there who are suffering for the loss of a loved one. I doubt their god would approve of such disrespectful stupidity.

These Westboro Baptist Church people are nothing but ignorants and I hope the ACLU loses so they get some time off in jail to think about how idiotic they are. ¬_¬

Took the words right out of my mouth.

 

[Seydaman]

They deserve a fail cake. That's just terrible. Once again, glad to live up here in Canada. Our religious nuts at least shut up.

 

[Wadders]

The biker gang, Knights of the Last Crusade had the right idea.

I just looked them up on Google, they seem like awesome people. Have they beaten the shit outa the Westboro Baptist Church yet?

Please say yes...

With regards the the article, it's several years old, and I doubt I'll be saying anything about the subject that hasn't been said before.

I just wonder how the WBC haven't all been gunned down in the street yet. In a country with plenty of guns and lots of people, surely there is someone out there, some hero of decency, who can put an end to them...

 

[XJ-0461]

So the ACLU is allowed to spread their hate, but the families of the deceased aren't allowed to have a time to mourn for the loss of their loved one?

 

[beddo]

I hate the ACLU, I hated them way before this, but this is just ridiculous! If you didnt hate these guys before you do now, check the story here. [http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/07/22/AR2006072200643.html]

The ACLU help to ensure that your constitutional rights are upheld. Unless of course you don't accept the US constitution I can't see why you hate the ACLU.

In this case they are asserting that this group has the right to freedom of speech and freedom of religion, it's quite simple. No matter how repugnant we may find someone's ideas and the way they express them we have to accept and more importantly defend their right to hold and express them. Otherwise we pave the way for thought crimes and a totalitarian state.