Westboro Baptist Church out of Kansas has won the Supreme Cout case in favor of the first amendment and the right to protest at solider's funerals. The members of Westboro have been protesting in favor of "God's Wrath" at the funeral of soliders who they claim to fight for the rights of gay citizens.
Ruling
The rhetoric of the membrs of the church are very frustrating and cause emotional distress on the ones they are encountering. There message is written load and clear on signs, shirts and materials about the disgust in the country's actions. Many do not like the actions of the church and are willing to physically take down them, but what they are doing is not breaking the law.
Attack on Westboro
Shelia Phelps is the daughter of Fred Phelps, founder of the church, and carries on his. She has also studied law and knows the restrictions and limits of their protest. She has been the cover person for the church's actions and has been, on many times, talking-head's broadcast fighting with the host.
Shelia Phelps on Fox News
Now that history of the members and church have been addressed, my opinion on the Supreme Court ruling is in favor of the ruling. The right to speak is a value part of our first amendment and has one of the remaining true testaments of time. I do not agree with the organization in any way, and speak against the ways, but as I have the right to do so, as do they.
If the court was to take away the right for one organization to speak would be dangerous move. Citizens protest are already at the cutting point with "free speech section," which totally takes away from the right to assemble. Everyone single person, no matter the belief, should have the right to speak freely and be prepared for counter motives.
With that said, I do not understand the ideology behind the church as a serious organization in any way. Their message, in my opionion, is the expansion of religious rhetoric spread in the country to more of an extent. To protest at a funeral setting of a person that has died in some act of combat should not be protested by an anti-gay organization. I understand they believe that the soliders are fighting for the rights of "fags," but the protest causes nothing but bitterness to their group. If the true meaning of the church was to spread this word, attack and slander would not play as big as part as it has. Westboro seems to seek the attention for the message rather than inviting members with documented reasons why an individual should follow their way.
Basically to conclude the topic, I am in favor of freedom of speech and believe that Westboro Baptist Chuch has every right to say, display and wear any messages on their personal, but with their acts of aggrevation, they have to expect retaliation.
