What a terrible ruling. The cliche is correct: interesting cases make for bad law.
Tom Send a noteboard - 04/03/2011 04:44:25 AM
Time and place restrictions on free speech have always been considered valid. Funerals should not be considered "public events" and handled with kid gloves, as though we're setting ourselves down a slippery slope to stifle protest. What's next? Westboro protesting at weddings? Baby showers?
Not only is the ruling inconsistent with existing restrictions on free speech that the government doesn't have a problem with, but it shows that the nation has no legal recourse against this odious family. The likelihood that people will take extra-legal measures increases when the courts do not provide redress for wrongs. Having said that, I certainly wouldn't shed a tear if a bunch of the Phelps family were gunned down. No, I'd probably make plans to go protest at the funeral, with a sign that says "GOD HATES FRED PHELPS".
Not only is the ruling inconsistent with existing restrictions on free speech that the government doesn't have a problem with, but it shows that the nation has no legal recourse against this odious family. The likelihood that people will take extra-legal measures increases when the courts do not provide redress for wrongs. Having said that, I certainly wouldn't shed a tear if a bunch of the Phelps family were gunned down. No, I'd probably make plans to go protest at the funeral, with a sign that says "GOD HATES FRED PHELPS".
Political correctness is the pettiest form of casuistry.
ἡ δὲ κἀκ τριῶν τρυπημάτων ἐργαζομένη ἐνεκάλει τῇ φύσει, δυσφορουμένη, ὅτι δὴ μὴ καὶ τοὺς τιτθοὺς αὐτῇ εὐρύτερον ἢ νῦν εἰσι τρυπώη, ὅπως καὶ ἄλλην ἐνταῦθα μίξιν ἐπιτεχνᾶσθαι δυνατὴ εἴη. – Procopius
Ummaka qinnassa nīk!
*MySmiley*
ἡ δὲ κἀκ τριῶν τρυπημάτων ἐργαζομένη ἐνεκάλει τῇ φύσει, δυσφορουμένη, ὅτι δὴ μὴ καὶ τοὺς τιτθοὺς αὐτῇ εὐρύτερον ἢ νῦν εἰσι τρυπώη, ὅπως καὶ ἄλλην ἐνταῦθα μίξιν ἐπιτεχνᾶσθαι δυνατὴ εἴη. – Procopius
Ummaka qinnassa nīk!
*MySmiley*
US Supreme Court allows anti-gay funeral protests
- 03/03/2011 04:55:52 AM
821 Views
And it doesn't forbid content-neutral bans on funeral protests. Everyone wins.
- 03/03/2011 08:53:20 AM
491 Views
What a terrible ruling. The cliche is correct: interesting cases make for bad law.
- 04/03/2011 04:44:25 AM
435 Views