Yesterday the Supreme Court ruled with an 8-1 majority that the Westboro Baptist Church has the right to protest military funerals, despite their blatantly repulsive rhetoric. In a cowardice, but constitutional ruling, the highest court in the most powerful country in the world decided yesterday to protect bigotry, hatred, and pure evil by hiding behind a roughly 220 year-old document. What exactly does this say about ‘the greatest country on Earth?’
An optimist would insist that we’re protecting the important right of all Americans to free speech, but the vile combination of words pouring out of those protestor’s mouths is not speech; it is pure venom with the potential to poison an increasingly accepting nation. And that shouldn’t be protected by any sort of constitution. The one dissenting voter, Justice Alito, shares this view as quoted by the New York Times: “Our profound national commitment to free and open debate is not a license for the vicious verbal assault that occurred in this case.” I wholeheartedly commend Justice Alito for having the courage to think outside his mandate as a Supreme Court Justice and rule in the interests of a society that fosters compassion and acceptance of all walks of life.
While it might seem obvious (at least I hope) that the preachings of the Westboro Baptist Church are irrefutably absurd, let’s not forget that ideas can be very powerful. All it takes is one person to say something like “God hates fags” and one person to listen for that obviously ridiculous notion (the God in which I believe loves everyone, no exceptions) to spread. So this post is a call to be the person who speaks out against that kind of hatred; and it doesn’t have to be that extreme to solicit an opposing response. Yes people deserve the right to free speech, but that is accompanied by the responsibility to respect their fellow man. If we are to ever become the holistically accepting and compassionate nation that am confident we have the potential to be, then that’s what needs to happen.
So, seriously, speak up next time you hear anything that smacks of intolerance. You really never know the difference it can make.
And to any member of the Westboro Baptist ‘Church’ who just so happens to be reading this (as I hope you someday are): your messages of intolerance and hatred are clear indications of your dangerously low level of humanity. Not only is every word you speak dripping of ignorance, but also the fact that you possess the audacity to express the immense evil you preach in the presence of your fellow man’s unimaginable grief displays an indisputable lack of any scrap of compassion or sympathy in your miserable consciousness. The WBC’s discourse of intolerance has absolutely no place in a country that prides itself on its diversity and your calls for bigotry will continue to fall on the deaf ears of a public that is ready to progress beyond the fanaticism you preach.
But that’s just what I think.
Very well written Brittany!
ReplyDeleteWrong. Obviously what these people are saying is vicious and the majority of the population thinks so. But censorship would set a precedent that could ruin this country. If the court can sensor these people, then what about other people in the future? Where is the line drawn to determine who can be censored and who cannot? That is a slippery slope. Think long term. We all share your disgust at the Westboro Baptist Church, but disregarding the first amendment is not the way to deal with them.
ReplyDeleteDuncan, I think you misunderstood what I'm advocating with this post. I agree with you that censorship is a dangerous road to travel down because it ultimately leaves the power to silence up to the Supreme Court. Instead I argued that there should be a law in place that would protect the sanctity of funerals. There is absolutely no reason people should be allowed to make political statements that are not only in the presence of another man's darkest hour, but also exploitative of his unimaginable grief. The current measures in place in no way adequately protect the people's right to mourn the dead and that's what's wrong.
ReplyDeleteThe other argument I make is that it's not censorship that will silence these people but a reasonable, civil opposition that makes it clear to them that their hate speech has no place here. I completely agree that they can't be silenced with censorship, that would likely only draw attention to them and that's the last thing I want. Instead the rest of us need to stand up for what's right and protect our gay and lesbian brothers and sisters, as well as our service men and women who don't deserve this awful treatment.
I hope that addresses your concerns with my post.