This page was last updated on March 6, 2011.
Church takes free speech too far; Michelle Walser; Beaver County Times; March 6, 2011.
Below is a detailed critique of the subject letter.
“I am disgusted by the Supreme Court decision upholding the right to picket the funerals of our lost soldiers.
“Freedom of speech should not be used as a method of infringing on the rights of another. We also have the right to burn a flag but that doesn’t mean I want to see it!
“A family should be able to grieve in peace. I think an offer should be made to the church members to hold their signs up in the streets of Iraq. They want a cause; let’s see how fast they scream for one of our soldiers to help them.
“As for their signs saying, ‘You should not kill,’ in Exodus 20:13, we are indeed given the command of ‘You shall not kill.’ Its intention was to prevent deliberate and premeditated killing of another in the act of murder, like those responsible for Sept. 11, 2001, Hitler and slavery!
“In Ecclesiastes 3:8, it says, ‘There is a time to love and a time to hate, a time for war and a time for peace.’ Where would this country be had we not taken arms against tyranny?
“Until those ‘church members’ figure that question out, they should stay away from our heroes and their families.”
[RWC] As disgusted as I am with the antics of the Westboro people, I reluctantly agree with the Supreme Court’s ruling. That said, I hope there is a special place in Hell for people who do what the Westboro people do.
As a reminder, “Punishing language” (3/10/10) concluded with “Will they [the five conservative members of the court] protect First Amendment rights or curtail them? It matters.” The five non-lefty justices voted 4-1 (including Chief Justice John Roberts) in favor of Westboro. It’s been four days since the ruling and the Times still has not commented.
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