The Supreme Court ruled this past week that the Westboro Baptist Church’s picketing of military funerals is considered free speech.
To many, the initial reaction to the ruling is one of shock and disgust.
How can the nation put an OK stamp on a group that waves signs saying “Thank God for Dead Soldiers”, who believe that the deaths of soldiers are rightful punishment for Americans “tolerating” homosexuality and abortion? The Supreme Court deemed that words and actions that inflict pain are protected under the First Amendment.
Justice Roberts wrote, “On the facts before us, we cannot react to that pain by punishing the speaker. As a nation we have chosen a different course – to protect even hurtful speech on public issues to ensure that we do not stifle public debate.”
It is an arguable point that the U.S. is a country of patriotism.
Oftentimes the apathy of citizens seems like a much more loud presence than the loyalty to our country and its causes. We can wave flags of red white and blue, but when it comes to taking a stand, the U.S. is certainly a country of quiet paradox; we have an emphasis on patriotism and freedom, yet that freedom is now being used to destroy and undermine the honoring of those who serve our country.
It calls to question the definition of opinion. We use ours everyday, whether via an interior monologue questioning if the dining hall chicken is edible, or out loud as we argue with friends about participating in May Day. Opinion is a highly influential yet incredibly malleable force; it defines us as individuals, but can be manipulated and pressured in an instant. Given this strong dichotomy, opinion is not to be taken lightly.
An individual holds the right to speak his or her mind. Freedom of speech is such a valuable and truly wonderful concept of this country.
Yet the Westboro Baptist Church takes it a step, or five, too far. They are abusing that concept in an effort to gain media attention and profit, and to simply mock the idea of “politically correct”.
Where do you draw the line on free speech? Are the opinions of Westboro Baptist Church even “fair” to soldiers serving our country?
Take a look at The Elm’s small opinion section, a diverse array of political and cultural voices of the student body. By reading these pieces every week, we can take opinion for granted, or worse, we become numb to their impact. And despite being a very small newspaper, The Elm has run into several instances where the line between opinion and libel is blurred, and we’ve been forced to examine the difference between free speech and intentionally hurting someone.
Is opinion still valid if its intentions are humiliation and shock?
If you’re only shouting for a reaction, you’re completely missing the point. Unlike other constitutional rights, freedom of speech isn’t given definite boundaries, but regardless, it demands integrity. Don’t peak out to simply offend, but to define yourself and your character.
And Westboro Baptist Church, you have none.
March 4, 2011
Volume LXXXI Issue 17
These people of Westboro Baptist Church have no right to hurt and harm other people. Now they about to picket funerals of Minnonite Children who died. What is wrong with these people and what right do they have to do hurt to hearts and minds of innocent families. They not Christians! Christians do not act such way! There is legal recourse for mental suffering because of these people…I would think? What happen to the law if it isn’t any recourse? Have our country sunk so low that to “honor ” a soldier that has lost his/her life is invalid . Or innocent minnonite childrens funerals are being picketed…for what reason?
How can any American take a step back and allow this to happen. They have no concious and I pray God will handle this matter with WBC cause man is too scared to have it stopped.
Re: Are There Boundaries for Free Speech?
Although at some point a line must be drawn between a person simply expressing their opinion on a public topic and someone taking advantage of their interpretation of the first amendment with an outright attack on an individual, punishing someone for expressing their opinion would simply lead to a slippery slope of opinion itself leaking into the judicial system when a more or less black and white view already exists. It could be argued that the church is simply seeking attention, but interpretation of reasoning behind actions isn’t the court’s job. The ruling was based on the fact that citizens have the right to speak out about public issues in any way as long as their actions don’t break any other laws. Had the protests been directed directly at the soldiers that were being remembered at the funeral services the ruling from the courts may have been different, but citizens do have the right to speak out on public issues. Although the majority of Americans would more than likely disagree with the actions of the Westboro Baptist Church, we all have the freedom of speech and that includes the worst of it.
The truth is, that the picketing and protesting of sickening remarks by the Westboro Baptist church is nothing more then their right of free speech. I understand how many people find the Supreme Courts ruling utterly disgustful and shocking, but free speech is “FREE” speech. If the Supreme Court were to give the Westboro church a sentence, then at what point would we consider speech illegal?
By no means am I supporting them, there’s no other word for them then crazy. Just a bunch of attention seekers making a huge scene. But penalizing them would be out of the question. Where do you draw the line at what is and what isn’t free speech? You can’t. If you were to say that at the point the speech got hateful or discriminating you should get arrested. You would be giving police and the law uncontrollable arbitrary power.
A democracy is not a democracy without the liberties of free speech. It’s obvious that Westboro church is out of line, but instead of people saying that they should be arrested. Five times as many people should just go and surround them with signs saying “Rest In Peace” or “God Loves Everyone”. The Westboro Church is like a needle in the hay stack in comparison to the majority of American people. Everyone disagrees with them, but if we stopped their freedom of speech, who’s would we stop next?