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Smackdown on Fred Phelps and the WBC
Nov. 2nd, 2007 09:47 amFred Phelps and the Westboro Baptist Church - the "God Hates Fags" people who protest at such venues as the funerals of babies who have died of AIDS related complications, military funerals, etc. - have just been held liable in a civil lawsuit for $2,900,000 in compensatory damanges plus $8,000,000 in punative damages. This more than bankrupts the organization - the compensatory damages alone would do that.
On one hand, I'm quite happy that the assholes have received a smackdown. I vehemently disagree not only with their message, but with their delivery.
On the other hand, the legal implications bother me a little. The idea of freedom of speech means that you're allowed to say something entirely unpopular yet be legally supported in doing so. This says that if your unpopular idea can be emotionally distressing, your speech might not be guarded.
Of course, from what I know of the WBC people, the likelihood is that they went far beyond polite picketing. These people likely went in for up-in-your-face verbal assaults, trespassing, invasion of privacy, and other forms of uncultured behavior. I don't have any details beyond that article, but I'd not be surprised if it turns out that they stepped over the line from "saying something unpopular" toward the classic "yelling fire in a crowded theater" public nuisance, or toward personal attacks and abuse. They don't seem to have a lot of respect, nor taste.
On one hand, I'm quite happy that the assholes have received a smackdown. I vehemently disagree not only with their message, but with their delivery.
On the other hand, the legal implications bother me a little. The idea of freedom of speech means that you're allowed to say something entirely unpopular yet be legally supported in doing so. This says that if your unpopular idea can be emotionally distressing, your speech might not be guarded.
Of course, from what I know of the WBC people, the likelihood is that they went far beyond polite picketing. These people likely went in for up-in-your-face verbal assaults, trespassing, invasion of privacy, and other forms of uncultured behavior. I don't have any details beyond that article, but I'd not be surprised if it turns out that they stepped over the line from "saying something unpopular" toward the classic "yelling fire in a crowded theater" public nuisance, or toward personal attacks and abuse. They don't seem to have a lot of respect, nor taste.
