Saturday, March 12, 2011

Expensive Speech

The word has come down from the Supreme Court that Fred Phelps and his pious pustule posse at Westboro Baptist Church are supported in their right to picket military funerals with obnoxious, hurtful, and factually inaccurate signs (if God hated fags, he would never have made them so fabulous). What some people call hate speech is, from the church's point of view, an informational picket. For once I agree with the Roberts court. Our right to free speech is our best national idea and critical to our very glory. As a person who is likely to say something at any time that the ruling junta would find objectionable and smackworthy, I want to see it protected.

Interestingly enough, the court specifically upheld these protesters' speech as protected political speech. I am wondering if the same judicial consideration would be given to a rag-tag passel of funeral spectators in foam suits waving signs that said "MATTRESS SALE CLOSEOUT! LAST DAY!" If not, then there may be other ways of contending with the particular furuncle on the fanny of Freedom that is represented by Fred and his festering friends.

My inclination is to protect all speech, but there are lines to be drawn, and many of them involve what, exactly, is considered speech. Here in Oregon, for instance, nude dancing is defended as free speech, even though you're really expected to tip.

But at least nude dancers are demonstrably human. The case that I find really deplorable is the other Roberts court decision that allows corporations to spend as much as they want on political campaigns in the guise of it being free speech. But that's a mighty big G-string and it holds a lot of cash. Free speech is one thing; I don't think we should lay out the red carpet for expensive speech. If Corporation can somehow be barged in, squeezing between the buildings downtown and locating a spot in the public square he can stand in for a turn at the mike along with everyone else, fine. I personally would like to limit free speech to those entities who, I don't know, breathe, and fit on a bus.

And although there are laws against misrepresentation in effect, they do not, apparently, apply to political figures, who are free to say any fool thing they want, regardless of its proximity to the truth. And that is why James Inhofe's face has not yet been duct-taped shut. He recently pronounced that carbon dioxide is not a pollutant and should not be regulated as such, even it it's cooking our planet. The legal problem here is that it is still permissible to not yell "fire" in a flaming theater. So we'll have to come up with some other solution for Mr. Inhofe (R-Hell). I'm thinking of a counter-demonstration. Like carbon dioxide, water is a naturally occurring substance and thus, according to Mr. Inhofe's reasoning, not a pollutant. I submit we could hold the good senator under a bunch of it until he quiets down.

30 comments:

  1. If I ever get to counter-protest these people I'm DEFINITELY getting a t-shirt made that says 'Fag Enabler'.
    When they confound me with their hatefulness and their complete lack of similarity to any actual Christians I google the counter-demo that took place AT Google, where people carried signs that looked just like theirs but said things like 'GOD HATES KITTENS' and 'I WAS PROMISED DONUTS' so I can laugh again.

    They were supposed to come to a military funeral in our town that was being held in our fire department annex. Our chief planned to park our two largest engines across the front of the drive so that the families wouldn't see them....and charge the hoses. You never saw so many people volunteer to man the trucks. Fortunately they didn't come.

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  2. Yes, Murr, that corporations are people too thing is a horrible ruling. I think that free speech, as you said, is not the same as expensive speech. And don't even get me started on Inhofe! Your posts are always not to be missed.

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  3. Ack, that pustule is disgusting - the perfect metaphor for Westboro Baptist Church. This isn't just a free speach issue - those people ooze insanity, and this is nothing short of stalking, pure harassment. And they're not a church, not a baptist church, anyway. They ought to be sued for consumer fraud - false and misleading advertising. The FTC should hit 'em up with some hefty fines and our courts should be issuing cease and desist orders. Jeeza this makes us look like a nation of woosies.

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  4. As much as it pains me, I agree with the Supreme Court's ruling also. As someone wiser and funnier than I said, they bear about as much a resemblance to a church as Church's Fried Chicken.

    Still, if they ever protest a funeral here in ATX, I will be out there to stand between them and the mourners.

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  5. GoodNewsNetwork reported that the Patriot Guards motorcycle club which includes a lot of veterans are making themselves into a human shield at funerals.
    http://www.goodnewsnetwork.org/most-popular/vets-shield-soldier-funerals.html

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  6. I like your idea. Where are we meeting to do this?

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  7. ..."limit free speech to those entities who, I don't know, breathe and fit on a bus."
    Having a problem reconciling the transfer of unimaginable gobs of money to politicians as free speech? Money talks babe!

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  8. It pains me that Phelps is getting so much publicity. When he was "just" picketing gay pride marches, nobody cared. People cared a little more when he started picketing the funerals of people who died of AIDS, but now that he's everywhere, people are finally noticing him. I've been aware of and disgusted by him for 25 years.

    You should read the biography written by his son who "escaped" the compound. Horrible tales of brutality.

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  9. Causing a ruckus at a funeral interferes with the deceased's right the "the pursuit of happiness," in my opinion, and is therefore unconstitutional. The Supreme Court was incorrect in this ruling which allows politics and hate speech to be injected into what should be a private and sacred moment; it is the spiritual equivalent of being allowed to yell "Fire!" in a crowded theater that is not ablaze. This issue has nothing to do with free speech, as people are free to voice their opinions before or after the movie. Elaine

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  10. I'm a little fuzzy at the moment, but I read something recently that said the Supreme Court ruling actually opened the door to such demonstrations being shut down by local statute. By specifically stating it was a matter of "free speech" it somehow opened the door for local authorities to ban the demonstrations on many other levels. Sorry I can't be more specific but frankly, people such as Phelps simply aren't on my radar. I can't abide fools and outright idiots and don't have time for them.

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  11. I think we should watch for Westboro Baptist Church to have it's next funeral and ask every 'fag in drag' that is willing to the church's front door to hold signs stating "God hates Baptists" and "All Baptists are going to hell", or some such....you know, to practice free speech and all. AND, ship all those holding signs that say, "God hates the USA" to Cuba, Russia or the Middle East's war zones. BUT, I do realize, though they do not, that the soilder being buried died for their right to be where they are and would not want their rights taken away!

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  12. I agree with ME (which sounds a ego-centric, but it's the commenter from above). The next time the WBC has a funeral for one of their own, I'm going to round up all of my most flaming and fabulous fag friends, get on a bus, and have one helluva road trip. Then, since we happen to be in Kansas anyway, we're going to dress as characters from the Wizard of Oz, and parade around singing "Ding Dong, The Witch Is Dead." Who's with me?

    I agree with Elaine. Their right to be pustules on the backside of society does not outweigh the right of the families to say their final goodbyes to their loved one in a peaceful and sacred setting. Phooey on the Supreme Court.

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  13. I'm always so conflicted about the Free Speech thing. Screaming "Fire!" in a crowded auditorium isn't covered by free speech because it puts people in danger. But denying people the right to say good-bye to loved ones in a respectful manner is horrible in another way. But then I think if no one paid attention to them, they would slip off the radar. Hence, I feel like a Bobblehead, my head going back and forth.

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  14. There are no apostrophes big enough to put around the word "church" any more. It is such a shame that these insidiously clever cretins get the ink they do; they're working the media like Gepetto worked Pinocchio. In addition to their teeny little "church," they've got a large successful family law firm and they know exactly what they can get away with. Too bad their only agenda is hate and intolerance. However, working in a family law firm has got to be living hell, so I take some satisfaction from knowing they're probably miserable.

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  15. Check. Check. And, yes... check, again! Couldn't agree with these views more. The Citizens Unite case as atrocious as the decision that put Bush in office. Maybe more so. At least we eventually got rid of Bush. It will take an act of Congress to turn Citizens over and I don't see that happening. I say water-board them all.

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  16. You are not only completely right, you are smart and funny while expressing it. So glad you commented on my recent post so I could find you and put you on my favorites!

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  17. Our views on this are so parallel--the ruling about corporate free speech enraged me--still does. But I do agree with this last ruling, free speech by HUMANS should be protected, even when it's detestable.

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  18. Agreed, free speech for everyone whether you agree with them or not. Corporations are not people, recently I saw something about how to prove corporations are not people, they can't marry, adopt children, serve on a jury, several other things that I forget right now.

    Like the nude dancers pre-silicone!!

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  19. I agree with you, and wrote an entry about it recently. I had maybe one person speak up and disagree, but most agreed that as deplorable as these people are, they are protected under the law.

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  20. This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.

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  21. As a devout Capitalist, I am opposed to free speech. Everything should come with a price. If not, how will the market decide?

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  22. Murr,
    " But that's a mighty big G-string and it holds a lot of cash."...Oh, I am going to quote this all over the real world (maybe even the blogosphere) and I'll try hard to remember to give credit between taking my bows.

    ...and, Beth, heading over to read your version. I've all but lost it over these guys. I realize it's all about precedent with the Supremes, but, with this ruling and the Corporate individual ruling, they've set precedent that will finish us off as a country worth trying to live in.

    Good 'un, Murr. I love it when you turn that fabulous wit into political snark.

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  23. It just goes to show you that you don't need much in the brains department to be a member of congress, just some money... lots and lots of money.

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  24. It just goes to show you that you don't need much in the brains department to be a member of congress, just some money... lots and lots of money.

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  25. Agreed, free speech for everyone whether you agree with them or not. Corporations are not people, recently I saw something about how to prove corporations are not people, they can't marry, adopt children, serve on a jury, several other things that I forget right now.

    Like the nude dancers pre-silicone!!

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  26. Check. Check. And, yes... check, again! Couldn't agree with these views more. The Citizens Unite case as atrocious as the decision that put Bush in office. Maybe more so. At least we eventually got rid of Bush. It will take an act of Congress to turn Citizens over and I don't see that happening. I say water-board them all.

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  27. I'm always so conflicted about the Free Speech thing. Screaming "Fire!" in a crowded auditorium isn't covered by free speech because it puts people in danger. But denying people the right to say good-bye to loved ones in a respectful manner is horrible in another way. But then I think if no one paid attention to them, they would slip off the radar. Hence, I feel like a Bobblehead, my head going back and forth.

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  28. Ack, that pustule is disgusting - the perfect metaphor for Westboro Baptist Church. This isn't just a free speach issue - those people ooze insanity, and this is nothing short of stalking, pure harassment. And they're not a church, not a baptist church, anyway. They ought to be sued for consumer fraud - false and misleading advertising. The FTC should hit 'em up with some hefty fines and our courts should be issuing cease and desist orders. Jeeza this makes us look like a nation of woosies.

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  29. I was visiting my daughter and her family at Fort Riley during some big outdoor festival when the bikers roared down Officer's Row to form a human wall at the funeral of a soldier. The crowd went nuts, cheering them on, saluting them. Brought tears to this lesbian's eyes.

    BTW, they once picketed my church, the Episcopal Cathedral in Portland, and I've never seen so many self-hating queer folks in my life. That group needs serious mental health work.

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