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mikeyboyeee

Westboro Church- UNREAL

By mikeyboyeee, in General Discussion

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mikeyboyeee    66

mikeyboyeee
Posted

I understand free speech, but these people need to be stopped!!!!

 

http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2011/03/02/westboro-funeral-pickets-protected-speech-high-court-rules/

 

 

The Supreme Court, in an 8-1 decision, ruled Wednesday that members of the renegade Westboro Baptist Church have a constitutionally protected right to protest military funerals even though their demonstrations are widely despised and deplored.

 

The case presented the justices with a high-profile question about the breadth of First Amendment speech and assembly protections. A majority of justices ruled that these fundamental rights outweigh the concerns of grieving family members who would rather not deal with what they say are obnoxious protesters from the Kansas church.

 

"Speech is powerful. It can stir people to action, move them to tears of both joy and sorrow, and -- as it did here -- inflict great pain," Chief Justice John Roberts wrote in his majority opinion. "On the facts before us, we cannot react to that pain by punishing the speaker. As a nation we have chosen a different course -- to protect even hurtful speech on public issues to ensure that we do not stifle public debate."

 

Justice Samuel Alito was the only dissent, writing that the church protests simply go too far.

 

"Our profound national commitment to free and open debate is not a license for the vicious verbal assault that occurred in this case," Alito wrote. "In order to have a society in which public issues can be openly and vigorously debated, it is not necessary to allow the brutalization of innocent victims like petitioner. I therefore respectfully dissent."

 

The ruling upholds a lower-court decision to invalidate a $5 million judgment in favor of the father of a dead Marine whose funeral was targeted by the protesters.

 

For years, the Westboro protesters have popped up at places across the country to voice their displeasure with government policies they think promote homosexuality. They did so in 2006 at the funeral for Matthew Snyder, a Marine killed in Iraq.

 

Matthew Snyder was not gay and had no connection to the Westboro cause, but the funeral provided the protesters an opportunity to speak out against government policies.

 

Snyder's father, Albert Snyder, didn't want anything do with the picketers when he buried his son.

 

"I want them to stop doing this to our military men and women," Snyder told Fox News in October before the arguments. "I want the judges to hear that this case is not about free speech, it's about targeted harassment."

 

The ruling acknowledged Westboro's spurious choice of location for its protest. Nonetheless, Roberts concluded that "Westboro addressed matters of public import on public property, in a peaceful manner, in full compliance with the guidance of local officials."

 

In the days leading up to the funeral, Westboro parishioners, including Fred Phelps, notified local authorities of their intention to picket the service. They were kept 1,000 feet away from the church and because of the use of an alternative entrance for church-goers there was no disruption to the memorial.

 

Seven protestors held numerous signs including some that read, "Thank God for Dead Soldiers," "God Hates Fags," and "You're Going to Hell." There were no arrests.

 

Snyder filed a lawsuit against Phelps based on the protest and a subsequent post on the Westboro website about his son.

 

A jury awarded Snyder nearly $11 million in damages for the intentional infliction of emotional distress and invasion of privacy. That award was later cut in half and then the Fourth Circuit U.S. Court of Appeals set aside the decision in its entirety ruling that the protests were absolutely protected by the First Amendment.

 

Wednesday's ruling by the Supreme Court upholds the Fourth Circuit's decision but Roberts made clear on several occasions that his ruling is limited to the specific facts of this case. Roberts carefully noted that the ruling doesn't address the First Amendment viability of a Maryland law, passed after the Snyder funeral, banning all funeral protests.

 

A group of 21 news organizations joined a brief defending Westboro's case.

 

While calling their views "inexplicable and hateful," they expressed concern that a ruling against the church would chill the activities of anyone who wants to speak out on a controversial issue and "threatens to expand dramatically the risk of liability for news media coverage and commentary."

 

One of the media groups that joined the brief is Dow Jones whose parent company also owns Fox News.

 

Read more: http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2011/03/02/westboro-funeral-pickets-protected-speech-high-court-rules/#ixzz1FShhtQhX

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joejaxx    38

joejaxx
Posted

http://www.sextoy.com/category.php?a=stcppc&cid=7&gclid=CPzGx_umsKcCFVln5QodaVjCBw

 

I understand free speech, but these people need to be stopped!!!!

 

 

...... What website are you visiting?

 

 

Uhhhh WTF? I think you put the wrong link in there

 

 

ROFLMFAO!!!

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mikeyboyeee    66

mikeyboyeee
Posted

Um, yeah, that was the incorrect one for this news story ;)

 

and yes, I am as dirty or far sicker then the rest of you.

 

No shame here, just wasnt supposed to be the link for the news story ;)

 

Guess u saw it before I changed it, hehe

 

Didn't mean to get you too excited Stephanie, sorry ;)

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axeman_g    128

axeman_g
Posted

Back to the OP.

Ok... I beleive this was the right decision. Now we just need to figure out a way to curtail their methods to gain noteriety and money. They make a ton of cash from frivolous lawsuits against towns that block them and people that confront them.

 

There should be a away to block lawsuits brought about from plaintiff engaged in disgusting behaviors.

 

Now back to the more fun part of this thread.

 

Steph... seriously considering one, but I like to examine before I buy. Can I see a test drive of slumber bunny? I will bring pie.

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Krdshrk    3,878

Krdshrk
Posted

Back to the OP.

Ok... I beleive this was the right decision. Now we just need to figure out a way to curtail their methods to gain noteriety and money. They make a ton of cash from frivolous lawsuits against towns that block them and people that confront them.

 

There should be a away to block lawsuits brought about from plaintiff engaged in disgusting behaviors.

 

Yes - it is their freedom of speech to be able to protest this. I agree with the ruling. However, I do not agree with this so-called "church" and their methods.

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Zed's_Dead    16

Zed's_Dead
Posted

 

 

There should be a away to block lawsuits brought about from plaintiff engaged in disgusting behaviors.

 

 

 

Careful...plenty of people think carrying, or even having a gun is disgusting behavior!

 

I actually think that decision, while allowing that "church" to continue to behave in their vile manner, is good for those of us who want the 2nd Amendment interpreted as it was intended by the Framers of the Constitution. If 2nd Amendment rights are afforded the same deference as 1st Amendment rights, no state will be able to arbitrarily withhold carry permits.

 

As for Steph, I haven't met her yet so rather than comment and be thought crude, I'll just keep reading the rest of your hilarious posts.

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axeman_g    128

axeman_g
Posted

not my recipe... but it is good.

Plum and Cherry Pie, aka "Sexy Pie"

Ingredients:

5 large plums

1/4 cup dried cherries, chopped

1 Tbs orange liqueur

1/2 cup sugar

1 Tbs flour

A pat of butter

 

1 pie crust

 

Slice the plums in half, removing the pits, and place in a medium bowl. Combine with chopped dried cherries, sugar, flour, and orange liqueur, and let rest for half an hour. Then roll out one pie crust and place on a cookie sheet lined with parchment paper or a silicone baking sheet. In a pinch, a glass pie pan will work as well. Spoon the plum filling into the center of the crust, then fold the edges in. Drop a pat of butter into the center.

 

Bake at 400 degrees until crust is flaky and golden, about 20-25 minutes.

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