What do you think about this ?

[pinoybaptist]

Dead Marine's father ordered to pay protesters' legal costs
By Emanuella Grinberg, CNN
March 30, 2010 11:06 p.m. EDT

excerpts

The father of a Marine whose funeral was picketed by the Westboro Baptist Church says an order to pay the protesters' legal costs in a civil claim is nothing less than a "slap in the face."
"By the court making this decision, they're not only telling me that they're taking their side, but I have to pay them money to do this to more soldiers and their families," said Albert Snyder, whose son, Lance Cpl. Matthew Snyder, was killed in action in Iraq in 2006.

and the perverts are laughing. what an insult to a guy who gave his all for his country.

Margie Phelps, the daughter of Fred Phelps and the attorney representing the church in its appeals, also said the money that the church receives from Snyder will be used to finance demonstrations. But she also said that the order was a consequence of his decision to sue the church over the demonstration.

"Mr. Snyder and his attorneys have engaged the legal system; there are some rules to that legal engagement," said Phelps, a member of Westboro who says she has participated in more than 150 protests of military funerals.
"They wanted to shut down the picketing so now they're going to finance it," she said.

did I hear a giggle-giggle from the hag ?

more....

Snyder's family sued the church and went to trial in 2007 alleging privacy invasion, intentional infliction of emotional distress and civil conspiracy. A jury awarded the family $2.9 million in compensatory damages plus $8 million in punitive damages, which were reduced to $5 million.
Westboro in 2008 appealed the case to the 4th District, which reversed the judgments a year later, siding with the church's claims that its First Amendment rights had been violated.
"The protest was confined to a public area under supervision and regulation of local law enforcement and did not disrupt the church service," the circuit court opinion said. "Although reasonable people may disagree about the appropriateness of the Phelps' protest, this conduct simply does not satisfy the heavy burden required for the tort of intentional infliction of emotional distress under Maryland law."

 

[matt wade]

I'm torn on the issue. I despise Westboro and Phelps. I think what they do is straight from Satan and they aren't even close to being Christians.

With that said, they do their picketting in accordance with the law. If we punish them, who's next? Will it set a precedent that holds over to anti-abortion picketters?

 

[Thinkingstuff]

I think its horrible. A funural is a private affair not a public option. A person by the nature of dieing hasn't consented to public attention like a mucisian or artist, or actor, or politician. Therefore I question if this is a constitutional issue of free speach or not. Its not a public arena but a private one. The offence is perputrated by the baptist church. They are free to publish articles about their beliefs. Even have sermons about it. They can even protest in the mall in Washington DC. However, to insult a person they know nothing about at a private funeral is a violation of that families right to bury their own in respect. The father should not pay legal cost and the church should not be viewed as practicing an option for freedom of speach. IMHO

 

[pinoybaptist]

I'm torn on the issue. I despise Westboro and Phelps. I think what they do is straight from Satan and they aren't even close to being Christians.

With that said, they do their picketting in accordance with the law. If we punish them, who's next? Will it set a precedent that holds over to anti-abortion picketters?

I understand what you're saying, matt, but I also think rights and privileges should stop where common decency begins.
Suppose the shoe is in the other foot.
Let's say this Margie or Phelps himself dies, and their neighbors hold a dance right in front of their church, in a public area, complete with permit, and all the legal requirements, and a big sign that says "Phelps is Dead, hoorah, hooyah, yip, yip, yip, hooray...toot your horn if that's okay" and a speaker on a soapbox preaching hatred for bigots like Phelps, would that be decent ?

And the comments made by this witch couldn't hide the gloating, too.

 

[matt wade]

I understand what you're saying, matt, but I also think rights and privileges should stop where common decency begins.
Suppose the shoe is in the other foot.
Let's say this Margie or Phelps himself dies, and their neighbors hold a dance right in front of their church, in a public area, complete with permit, and all the legal requirements, and a big sign that says "Phelps is Dead, hoorah, hooyah, yip, yip, yip, hooray...toot your horn if that's okay" and a speaker on a soapbox preaching hatred for bigots like Phelps, would that be decent ?

I agree...it wouldn't be decent at all. I wouldn't want to restrict those people from exercising their right to free speech though.

Restricting free speech is a slippery slope. Once you begin, your speech is likely to get trampled on.

 

[billwald]

>A funural is a private affair not a public option.

If this funeral had been a family affair the Phelps family would have not known about it. Anything publicized in the press in a public affair.

 

[windcatcher]

>A funural is a private affair not a public option.

If this funeral had been a family affair the Phelps family would have not known about it. Anything publicized in the press in a public affair.

Obituaries are regularly published: Its a way of notifying friends, relatives, and acquaintances. Funerals are private affairs, to honor the memory and repose of the deceased and to comfort the living. As public as it might be known, it is still a private affair and should be within the rights of family to determine with law enforcement the boundaries of trespass, imo.

IMO, if the judge saw any reason to justify the overturn.... he should not have passed the threshold of calling it a 'draw' as the Phelps put themselves in the position by their own free will.... while the family and friends of the soldier were in an appointed commitment bound by time and space.

 

[RAdam]

>A funural is a private affair not a public option.

If this funeral had been a family affair the Phelps family would have not known about it. Anything publicized in the press in a public affair.

I would expect nothing less from someone who doesn't believe in individual rights. If this was your son or daughter I doubt you would feel the same way. You know, the whole do unto others as you would have them do unto you thing.

 

[rbell]

I would expect nothing less from someone who doesn't believe in individual rights. If this was your son or daughter I doubt you would feel the same way. You know, the whole do unto others as you would have them do unto you thing.

Not to mention that billwald sees no difference between our military and Hitler's SS. (His views). He's to be pitied. Of course, our soldiers are better than he gives them credit for, and they are willing to defend his right to have such ridiculous views.

 

[tinytim]

O'reilly has offered to pay the father's court expenses....
http://www.newser.com/story/84858/oreilly-ill-pay-legal-bill-for-dead-marines-dad.html

And this link is a very liberal new's site.. and notice by the comments that even the liberals are cheering O'Reily on!...

I guess there are some things even Conservatives and Liberals can agree too...

 

[Jon-Marc]

Anyone who would picket a funeral (especially of a military soldier regardless of his sexual orientation) is not (in my opinion) a Christian.