The US Supreme Court handed down a decision today that is sure to be unpopular across the political divide. By an 8 - 1 vote, they upheld the right of the hateful throng at the Westboro Baptist Church to picket at funerals.
If you're not familiar with the Westboro folks, they like to go to funerals of PEOPLE THEY DON'T KNOW to hold up signs like, "God Hates Fags."
While I find the message of the Westboro faithful to be reprehensible, I applaud the high court's decision. We must defend the right of free speech for those we most disagree with. As long as said free speech does not directly endanger the lives of others, it must be permitted or else we negate the "free" portion of this free-dom.
Free speech doesn't always make those hearing it feel comfortable. It can often be hateful, uncivil and disrespectful. It can challenge societal norms and express opinions we don't wish to hear. However, if you value the right to speak your mind, then you must value that same right for others or else you're nothing more than a hypocrite.
I deplore what the Westboro Baptist Church stands for, but I defend their right to believe it personally and to express it publicly.
If you're not familiar with the Westboro folks, they like to go to funerals of PEOPLE THEY DON'T KNOW to hold up signs like, "God Hates Fags."
While I find the message of the Westboro faithful to be reprehensible, I applaud the high court's decision. We must defend the right of free speech for those we most disagree with. As long as said free speech does not directly endanger the lives of others, it must be permitted or else we negate the "free" portion of this free-dom.
Free speech doesn't always make those hearing it feel comfortable. It can often be hateful, uncivil and disrespectful. It can challenge societal norms and express opinions we don't wish to hear. However, if you value the right to speak your mind, then you must value that same right for others or else you're nothing more than a hypocrite.
I deplore what the Westboro Baptist Church stands for, but I defend their right to believe it personally and to express it publicly.
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