The Dallas Morning News had an editorial called "It's tough to stomach, but hateful speech is still free speech" that made me really think about First Amendment rights set into full effect. They talk about the members of Westboro Baptist Church in Topeka, Kansas. Its founder is Fred Phelps and many members are related to him. They are nationally well-known for their protests against homosexuals, Jews, Muslims, Catholics, Hindus and have even chosen to show up at U.S military funerals.
The editorial goes on to talk about how the members think that the "U.S. military deaths is God's punishment for America's intolerance of homosexuals." To make matters worse, they even showed up at Albert Snyder's son's funeral with their picket signs. His son got killed in Iraq in 2006. He ended up suing Westboro in federal court for "intentional infliction of emotional distress, intrusion upon conclusion, and civil conspiracy." Snyder actually won $10 million in trial court. That verdict got overturned by the Court of Appeals for the 4th Circuit. Mainly because they did not break any laws. They have the First Amendment on their side with this one.
What exactly is the First Amendment? It clearly states "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." This laid out freedom of religion, of speech, of press, and of protest. It also gave the people the right to petition against the government to make them pay back for some harm they might have done.
Words do hurt no matter what the old saying about sticks and stones says. But, no matter how much the words hurt, there is a thing called freedom of speech and protest. I do not agree whatsoever what the members of Westboro did. They are not the voice for all of the United States, but let's face it, there are quite a few Americans that will agree. There is prejudice out there in every race, gender, nationality, no matter what people say, but the First Amendment will protect what you say according to this editorial. Sad but so true!
