Founder of Anti-Gay Westboro Baptist Church Dies

[c.d.]

http://news.msn.com/obits/phelps-tested-free-speech-with-anti-gay-protests

c.d.

[RivkahChaya]

Well, I for one am crushed, crushed, I tell you. Who will stand up for free speech now?

[Cogidubnus]

And now if he would only take out the rest of the clan, just maybe I'd begin to believe that there is indeed a god...

All the best

Dave

[pinkmoon]

Don't agree with what this fellow has said over the years but I will defend the right of free speech which in my opinion is vital to any civilized country lack of freedom is an evil thing.

[GUT]

G'day Pinkmoon

Or should I say Voltaire.

I agree.

[Robert]

Yes he should have free speech bit not everywhere e.g. he shouldn't be allowed to hurl abuse during a funeral.

[pinkmoon]

Yes he should have free speech bit not everywhere e.g. he shouldn't be allowed to hurl abuse during a funeral.

We may not like it I certainly don't but it is his right if he wishes to.

[Cogidubnus]

Don't agree with what this fellow has said over the years but I will defend the right of free speech which in my opinion is vital to any civilized country lack of freedom is an evil thing.

Hi Jason

This is fine in principle...but does this then give them the right to turn up at funerals and loudly heckle the grieving relatives...to my mind freedom of speech involves responsibilities as well as privileges...and let's make no mistake, freedom of any kind is something that's been earned in a very costly fashion down the years, so it's definitely a privilege rather than a right.

"As far as I'm concerned if someone turns up at one of my family funerals and heckles, then they're quite free to express their opinion...if one of my family in turn decides to kick the miscreant's head/gonads in, then that too is a fair expression of opinion...after all if we're talking moral principles then the law of the land is surelyof no account at all...after all these people need to know that every action taken involves a consequence..."

Think it through...Is this seriously the kind of argument you're seriously condoning old mate?

All the best

Dave

[Fleetwood Mac]

Or should I say Voltaire.

I agree.

Voltaire was a poor man's John Locke. He himself conceded that his thoughts weren't original - he went to England and took them on board. And, it wasn't a free for all for John Locke - there were caveats. Such as intolerant of the intolerant, which I personally disagree with.

[jmenges]

They picketed at my uncles funeral, picketed in front of my father's house, and issued a press release just to say that a cousin of mine, who died from a brain aneurysm when she was sixteen, was burning in hell alongside several other deceased members of my family. Needless to say, my family and the Phelps' are well acquainted. Fred wasn't very active at all in the last 10 years give or take, and I do believe his death is meaningless to the church members. They have had a new leader for quite awhile now and will continue with their routine, possibly getting even worse. I think you'll see a few defections from the church but there will be a core group of nut jobs who will remain.

JM

[babybird67]

i'd like to know...

just what kind of religion condones such hatred? They are the worst kind of advertisement for their beliefs.

[GUT]

G'day Babybird

No they are a great advertisement for their beliefs, just most people think that their beliefs are rubbish.

They are a bad advertisement for other Christian groups beliefs, because they are, by most people, all lumped in together.

[jmenges]

They are a bad advertisement for other Christian groups beliefs, because they are, by most people, all lumped in together.

That's absolutely not true, at least in Topeka. They picket every Sunday in front of a variety of "real" churches around town. No one I know lumps Westboro's insanity together with any other church groups beliefs.

JM

[c.d.]

Hi Jason

This is fine in principle...but does this then give them the right to turn up at funerals and loudly heckle the grieving relatives...to my mind freedom of speech involves responsibilities as well as privileges...and let's make no mistake, freedom of any kind is something that's been earned in a very costly fashion down the years, so it's definitely a privilege rather than a right.

"As far as I'm concerned if someone turns up at one of my family funerals and heckles, then they're quite free to express their opinion...if one of my family in turn decides to kick the miscreant's head/gonads in, then that too is a fair expression of opinion...after all if we're talking moral principles then the law of the land is surelyof no account at all...after all these people need to know that every action taken involves a consequence..."

Think it through...Is this seriously the kind of argument you're seriously condoning old mate?

All the best

Dave

Hello Dave,

The U.S. Supreme Court said that they have the right to turn up at funerals and express their views however hateful they may be. And if you were to assault them you would (sadly) be arrested.

c.d.

[pinkmoon]

Hi Jason

This is fine in principle...but does this then give them the right to turn up at funerals and loudly heckle the grieving relatives...to my mind freedom of speech involves responsibilities as well as privileges...and let's make no mistake, freedom of any kind is something that's been earned in a very costly fashion down the years, so it's definitely a privilege rather than a right.

"As far as I'm concerned if someone turns up at one of my family funerals and heckles, then they're quite free to express their opinion...if one of my family in turn decides to kick the miscreant's head/gonads in, then that too is a fair expression of opinion...after all if we're talking moral principles then the law of the land is surelyof no account at all...after all these people need to know that every action taken involves a consequence..."

Think it through...Is this seriously the kind of argument you're seriously condoning old mate?

All the best

Dave

Hi Dave,I think if somebody turned up to a funeral in England and started shouting abuse then the police would be summoned and the person or persons would be rightly arrested.