Comments on: Schieffer on Free Speech and Military Funerals
Asks, If One Cannot Shout "Fire" in Crowded Theater, Must Harassment of the Grieving to Promote a Cause Be Allowed?
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- He that saith he is in the light, and hateth his brother, is in darkness even until now. He that loveth his brother abideth in the light, and there is none occasion of stumbling in him. --1 John 2:9,10 If a man say, I love God, and hateth his brother, he is a liar: for he that loveth not his brother whom he hath seen, how can he love God whom he hath not seen? --1 John 4:20 I rest *MY* case. To protest at ANYONE'S funeral is not only disrespectful to the family of the deceased but thoughtless & hateful. I'm sure the people who protested at this soldier's funeral would not like it done to them if it was their loved one's funeral. Just unbelievable!
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- I like freedom of speech. The part of the argument that I cannot understand is: what speech would be denied the protesting group should protests of various issues (not seemingly related to deaths or funerals of specific soldiers) if they were ordered to desist? They still have freedom to protest Govt policy. They still have freedom to voice their opinion. If they have money, they can BUY commerical time (since SCOTUS has so equated dollars with free speech of late). Freedom of speech does not and should not mean the ability to say anything at any time.
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- The freedom of speech itself would be denied, as the constitution specifically prohibits any government authority from denying the right to speak, and there is no law giving private citizens the right to deny others such rights, even on their own property, in which case the only legal remedy is to insist the offending party leave the premises, but limiting speech is not a legal option.
- Here's my take: The Constitution guarnatee's seperation of Church and State. At the funeral's, this Church is crossing the boundries, attemptin to control the state's tolerance of gay's(in their words). Therefore, no permit to protest, on those grounds, should be permitted by a non "state" group, hence Church.
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- What these people do is evil... no matter if it is impeding on a funeral for a soldier or torment Matthew Shepards parents. These people do not represent Christians... Jesus would never ever condone this. They are pure evilness.
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- This idea that there is freedom in the US is ismply a lie. Anybody who was ever a member of a communist party or nazi party, even if they didn't commit any crime is automatically not allowed to become a citizen or permanent resident. This idea of freedom to express yourself is non existent anywhere in the world. They allow gays, lesbians and others to express themselves because they are no threat to the establishment but anyone who actually confronts it is marked, just ask John Lennon.
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- After last weeks attack on American Protesters demonstrating against the war last week, I'm almost afraid to speak my opion. Even though I disagree with Bush's two DigiNet Age Wars, I must stand up for our dead troops whom have only followed orders faithfully, with out question & only with patriotism in their heart and soul. Most of their parent's also had nothing but patriotism in their home's backing their childrens everymove, dreaming of the day their young soldier comes home. America has always been the land of freedom, until George Bush took office. I won't speak against him today, and will only say are freedom's are less and our safety has been made a million times more dangerous because of foolish leadership and two unnecessary wars. Besides this I love my country from Alabama to Honolulu. Chicago sucks, just a mafia city, of bribes and brutality. Other parts of our county still seem free but others have turned away. I really appreciate freedom and know what it is and I hate to give any of it up, for any reason but a good one. Seat, belts suck, mandaory insurance sucks, building restictions sucks as police brutality and abuse sucks, and seem unfair and based upon the opinions of a few rich lawyers. The freedom of speech should be protected by all of us, but when it comes to disruption of sacred events such as a funeral, a church service or hospital care a standard must be set by law. Something like disturbing the peace. Not a felony but a petty crime that our police would have the legal right to order them to another area. Wouldn't that be fair. They could still protest but from a distance that doesn't disturb the service. That's fair, we all would still have our freedom's. The freedom to grieve or protest. USA Obama USA
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- "...The freedom of speech should be protected by all of us, but when it comes to disruption of sacred events such as a funeral, a church service or hospital care a standard must be set by law..."---- Nope.---- "Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances."... The very first amendment.
- You right brianbwb2015, the first Amendement does guarantee complete freedom of speech, under the condition it is a peaceful assembly. Do you consider nearby by shouts and taunts upon a funeral assembly as a peaceful assembly? I don't, I beleive it's already against the law to inflame and incite people in grieve to point of disordily conduct. The rights of all are involved, not just the freedom of speech. If Bush was making a speech and I stood up and stopped his speech by overpowering vocal replys, would I not be arrested. Isn't this same scenerio?
- An instinct to run from a fire is not the same as smashing someone who is taunting you.
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- To the Phelps... I will never walk right again because I defended your freedom of free speech in a harsh battle during the war, but I am grateful for the opportunity to serve and am working at getting back to continue to serve. When you die, and it is inevitable, I will dig you up, flip your coffin over so you are facing your final destination (hell) and deficate on your grave, then remove your marker so you will forever be forgotten. THIS will be my freedom of expression. I wish nothing but the worst for you and your family!! -Proud combat vet and defender of America
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- Let's get real here, you are much too young to have taken part in any military action that was an actual defense of America, or anybody's rights in it... Unless you fought in the Civil war, every "war" that America has been in since then had nothing whatsoever to do with defending America, and everything to do with using you as a free mercenary service for crooked profiteers... So you sacrificed your legs so that some very rich multinationals could get even richer. If you volunteered, then it is your fault, and yours alone... If you really had wanted to defend America, you should have stood up to the genocidal maniacs who sent you to the grinder, on the basis of lies... Yes indeed the Phelps are a reprehensible group, but if you wish to further erode the constitution because you don't like what they say, then you have wasted your legs, and have defended nothing at all.
- Come up to my level. Follow me as I do my job, learn what it is I know. Only then will you understand. I respect your opinion, but you lack knowledge and experience, thus limiting your ability to make sound judgement. There are things you do not know, do not NEED to know and will NEVER know. This is how we 'mercenaries' keep your ability to go about your everyday life without worry or concern. No need for thanks for it is our pleasure.
- @brianbwb2015 - You were quite disrespectful to superfly885. You should ask yourself if you would say that to his face before typing something comments like that. While you're flying the banner of free speech you're forgetting that people deserve a right to privacy. I think a funeral where they are burying their loved one demands that. I can only hope there are a thousand people protesting at Phelps funeral and the voices are so deafening to his family that they can't even hear the service. I also recommend to the gay community that they fly rainbow flags from one end of his funeral service to the other. If someone desecrates his grave every day until his memory is forgotten he asked for it. @superfly885 - As the son of a vet I want to thank you for defending America. I personally do recognize your sacrifice.
- The special agenda folks who demonstrate...their lifestyle and politics... They offend. When they stop....there would be no reason for others to react. The ones who have served and those who have died...were fighting evil...what did they believe? That which is evil fights others. What is evil is evil. It has always been good versus evil.
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- Those who served were committing genocide, on the basis of lies... Fighting evil? They were taking part in one of the most evil acts humans can commit... If you think yourself good, then ask yourself what innocent Iraqis or Afghanis have ever done to you that makes them deserve genocide.
- Why don't we get a group to go the the funerals and protest the protestors? Now that would be good.
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