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n0t_u wrote:It's probably legal as they end up all over the news and nothing happens about it. Perhaps some law should be put into place to stop them from doing this, they'd have to go elsewhere for their precious precious attention.

Agreed...they need to make a law disallowing protests during funerals...or at least push them like a mile away or something.

GG

KingCracker wrote:Really, I can not understand how their methods are not illegal. I understand the person assaulting them being the aggressor sure, but they are also OBVIOUSLY egging the aggressors on. Maybe its because Im not legal savvy, can some one explain this?

They protested at a funeral in the town I lived in a few years ago because of USM that lived here. I think it got violent if I remember correctly.

Ahem.....I say again good people of dakka, Its not a crime to be an asshat!


But it will get your ass kicked for sure.

Edit: I'd support a law that made it legal to assault someone that is protesting a funeral and telling the family how the dead person went to hell with signs and screaming, however its already been overturned by a federal judge....or at least a set of laws specifically targeting the actions of Westboro Baptist Church.

Attention whores. Hope they fall apart when Fred kicks it.
Whatever.

There could be a law put into place but then again it would go against the Constitution protecting our freedom of speech and expression.

All of these protests have to be cleared with local jurisdictions to get the proper permits to protest but as long as their goal isn't to incite riots they really can't be denied.

While some of their picket signs might be distasteful and downright mean, they aren't trying to purposely incite riots. Part of their attitude MIGHT be to try to get a rise out of people but part, maybe even the large part, of their purpose is they actually believe all this.

M.N. summed it up best. Anti-religious people use the WBB nutballs as a basis to judge all Christians on. Not one "SANE" Christian would, EVER, agree with their attitude about homosexuals even though the vast majority of Christians are against homosexuals and the lifestyle.

Just like not all Muslims want to take over the US and assimilate us into their way of thinking (debatable); it's just the wacky terrorist nutjobs who openly protest the US and try to blow stuff up that makes all Muslims look like terroristic half-wits.

Fateweaver wrote:There could be a law put into place but then again it would go against the Constitution protecting our freedom of speech and expression...
.

They already did it with abortion protesters..pushing them back to a certain distance.

GG

No they can still protest, just far far away from it.

generalgrog wrote:

Fateweaver wrote:There could be a law put into place but then again it would go against the Constitution protecting our freedom of speech and expression...
.

They already did it with abortion protesters..pushing them back to a certain distance.

GG

People were getting killed and buildings there were attempted bombings of clinics. That makes it a matter of public safety which puts it kinda outside the freedom of speach realm.

This is a pending lawsuit that was brought up by the father of a marine that was killed in Afghanistan in 2006. These donkey-caves showed up and protested. He is suing for $5 million dollars in damages for emotional distress.

http://www.scotusblog.com/case-files/cases/snyder-v-phelps/


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Freedom of speech is a sacred right, but therein lies the freedom to be a jackass while you're at it.

Peter Wiggin wrote:

Orlanth wrote:I don't understand the point to this particular protest. If you twist Biblical verses enough you can get to cover most of what the Westboro baptists think. However what is her 'sin'?

In their twisted view of christianity anyone that dies in America is concrete proof that God kills Americans because we harbor homosexuals. No joke....read up on their site. Its bizzare.

Persecute homosexuals. Live forever.

generalgrog wrote:Seriously guys...Ahtman has it. These people are professional emotion mongers. They are a family of lawyers, and the whole church is related to each other. They do this outrageous stuff, hoping to rile people up and get punched. That way.. they can sue the people that punched them.

Worse than that, they sue the jurisdiction where it happened for not providing adequate protection to have prevented it. Cities tend to have deeper pockets than people after all.

KingCracker wrote:Really, I can not understand how their methods are not illegal. I understand the person assaulting them being the aggressor sure, but they are also OBVIOUSLY egging the aggressors on. Maybe its because Im not legal savvy, can some one explain this?

It's not that hard. 'Because they said mean things,' does not give you legal justification to hit people.

I don't understand the logic behind them, really.

I mean, I'm Pagan, not Christian. But doesn't the bible teach to love everyone?

Wolfun wrote:.. But doesn't the bible teach to love everyone?

Of course it does...that doesn't mean that everyone claiming to follow the bible actually does.

GG

Wolfun wrote:I don't understand the logic behind them, really.

I mean, I'm Pagan, not Christian. But doesn't the bible teach to love everyone?

The Koran says to tolerate other religions, it all depends on who's doing the preaching.

That's why I don't understand these 'Religious' people.

If you're going to follow something, actually read what you follow.

Wolfun wrote:I mean, I'm Pagan, not Christian. But doesn't the bible teach to love everyone?

What, you worship Odin or something?

And, like others have suggested I don't even know if these fellows are religious at all. Maybe they are just trying to make a buck off suing others.

Emperors Faithful wrote:

Wolfun wrote:I mean, I'm Pagan, not Christian. But doesn't the bible teach to love everyone?

What, you worship Odin or something?

And, like others have suggested I don't even know if these fellows are religious at all. Maybe they are just trying to make a buck off suing others.

No, I worship Mother Earth. ¬w¬

Stormrider wrote:

Wolfun wrote:I don't understand the logic behind them, really.

I mean, I'm Pagan, not Christian. But doesn't the bible teach to love everyone?

The Koran says to tolerate other religions, it all depends on who's doing the preaching.

The Qu'arn says to tolerate Christianity and Judaism (ironic), the conversion and encouragement of more 'pagan' religions was considered essential. Christianity doesn't even do that much as far as I am aware.

Emperors Faithful wrote:

The Qu'arn says to tolerate Christianity and Judaism (ironic), the conversion and encouragement of more 'pagan' religions was considered essential. Christianity doesn't even do that much as far as I am aware.

In one place it says that, and in others it says slay the infidels.

GG

Wolfun wrote:No, I worship Mother Earth. ¬w¬

Is there some sort of ritual you have or....and why does that emoticon thingy look so sus?


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generalgrog wrote:

Emperors Faithful wrote:

The Qu'arn says to tolerate Christianity and Judaism (ironic), the conversion and encouragement of more 'pagan' religions was considered essential. Christianity doesn't even do that much as far as I am aware.

In one place it says that, and in others it says slay the infidels.

GG

What the bible?

Emperors Faithful wrote:

Stormrider wrote:

Wolfun wrote:I don't understand the logic behind them, really.

I mean, I'm Pagan, not Christian. But doesn't the bible teach to love everyone?

The Koran says to tolerate other religions, it all depends on who's doing the preaching.

The Qu'arn says to tolerate Christianity and Judaism (ironic), the conversion and encouragement of more 'pagan' religions was considered essential. Christianity doesn't even do that much as far as I am aware.

You could be right, it's been ages since I read the Bible (too dry to read very often).

Emperors Faithful wrote:

Wolfun wrote:No, I worship Mother Earth. ¬w¬

Is there some sort of ritual you have or....and why does that emoticon thingy look so sus?

Sus?
I don't really do anything much. Sometimes I do a ritual on the solstice.

generalgrog wrote:In one place it says that, and in others it says slay the infidels.

GG

By the way, according to the Isalmic definition Christians and Jews are not classed as infidels. Which just goes to show how ignorant the most zealous religious fanatics of any religion are of their own creed.


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Wolfun wrote:¬w¬

Wolfun wrote:
Sus?

That thingy. Don't know what it means. (in Aus Sus = Suspect/Suspicious)

I don't really do anything much. Sometimes I do a ritual on the solstice.

Fair enough.

Just do what the geeks at San Diego Comic Con did. Westboro showed up with their signs.


Then the geeks responded in kind....














This is the way to take out Westboro. Geek style.

Emperors Faithful wrote:

generalgrog wrote:In one place it says that, and in others it says slay the infidels.

GG

By the way, according to the Isalmic definition Christians and Jews are not classed as infidels. Which just goes to show how ignorant the most zealous religious fanatics of any religion are of their own creed.

Not sure why you're defending Islam..it's hardly a religion of peace. Even though there are Muslims that are quite peaceful in despite of it.

GG

generalgrog wrote:

Emperors Faithful wrote:

generalgrog wrote:In one place it says that, and in others it says slay the infidels.

GG

By the way, according to the Isalmic definition Christians and Jews are not classed as infidels. Which just goes to show how ignorant the most zealous religious fanatics of any religion are of their own creed.

Not sure why you're defending Islam..it's hardly a religion of peace. Even though there are Muslims that are quite peaceful in despite of it.

GG

I think the only Religion that hasn't been used for violence is Buddhism.
Ever hear of the Crusades?

n0t_u wrote:It's probably legal as they end up all over the news and nothing happens about it. Perhaps some law should be put into place to stop them from doing this, they'd have to go elsewhere for their precious precious attention.

Problem is the news media love this sort of thing, it creates conflict and helps sell papers on slow news days. Often when groups like Westboro or the KKK plan something, It is the news folks who spread the word and feed the hysteria in order to be Live-on-the-scene to boost their ratings.
Without all the rukus, I think these people would quit.

Wolfun wrote:

generalgrog wrote:

Emperors Faithful wrote:

generalgrog wrote:In one place it says that, and in others it says slay the infidels.

GG

By the way, according to the Isalmic definition Christians and Jews are not classed as infidels. Which just goes to show how ignorant the most zealous religious fanatics of any religion are of their own creed.

Not sure why you're defending Islam..it's hardly a religion of peace. Even though there are Muslims that are quite peaceful in despite of it.

GG

I think the only Religion that hasn't been used for violence is Buddhism.
Ever hear of the Crusades?

OK here we go......off the rails once again.

NM I'm not taking the bait.

GG

Ketara wrote:

Ok, that one, with the Spy holding the "God hates Sentries" Sign, made me Roflmao for a good 3 minutes.

All we can hope is that someone finds a genie and wishes them away guys, otherwise they won't be leaving anytime soon :/

generalgrog wrote:

Emperors Faithful wrote:

generalgrog wrote:In one place it says that, and in others it says slay the infidels.

GG

By the way, according to the Isalmic definition Christians and Jews are not classed as infidels. Which just goes to show how ignorant the most zealous religious fanatics of any religion are of their own creed.

Not sure why you're defending Islam..it's hardly a religion of peace. Even though there are Muslims that are quite peaceful in despite of it.



GG

What? I just pointed out the correct Islamic definition of an infidel. Islamic history is just as bloody as that of Christianity. Is there a problem?

I think the only Religion that hasn't been used for violence is Buddhism.
Ever hear of the Crusades?

You'd be mistaken. It's just that conflict in areas of the world where Buddhism is prevalent, let alone the majority, isn't well covered. Buddhist countries have experienced civil wars and other such nastiness. Nothing to compare to a Jihad, Crusade, Inquisition or anything so concentrated though.

Wolfun wrote:I don't understand the logic behind them, really.

I mean, I'm Pagan, not Christian. But doesn't the bible teach to love everyone?

The Qur'ran also doesn't tell people to fly planes into buildings. <shrug>