That’s a distinct possibility, maybe even a probability, and with the Phelps family track record, they’d make martyrs out of those children and milk that martyrdom for all it’s worth in a heartbeat.

Ugh! I so despise people who deliberately use their kids this way; they may already be brainwashing them into seeking out and relishing the prospect of getting hurt “doing god’s work.”

bernarda, I have done this too, and I do see your point. I, in all honestly, if it were one of my sons, I would have a hard time just “turning the other cheek.” To me, it is harassment and disturbing a private ceremony. If they want to protest somewhere, go protest outside the pentagon, or the White House.

The thing that is disturbing is that they are multiplying like rabbits (Shirley Roper has 11) and brainwashing their kids to take over the “cause”. AND they are putting their children in danger. Maybe someone should make a case about that? (I don’t understand why these god freaks keep making babies in a world they hate so much…but that’s another topic.)

I am still waiting for the day when some grieving family members go totally apeshit on their asses. When that happens, those kids are going to be in the line of fire.

I thought I had already answered that, at least implicitly. To be clear, what I may think in that case is irrelevant. If we base free speech law on individual anecdotal cases, we soon won’t have free speech.

Would I just walk by? I can’t say for sure, but probably. In this case I don’t see where they were threatening anyone, well maybe with hellfire.

In the past I have said nasty things in public places to army recruiters, bible-thumpers, and various wingnuts. Once I remember I pissed off a JW or Mormon or some such that one member of their group wanted to punch me. Maybe next time one might want to sue me for causing emotional distress.

As Frank Zappa said on tv debates and testimony before congress on censorship of songs, what we are talking about is words no matter how you want to frame it. On Crossfire in 1986. “We’re talking about words.”

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6HljzEXJvj8&mode=related&search=

anyhoo this particular show centered around a conservative homophobe that was forced to live with a gay man in san francisco. one part of the show featured phelps and his crew. are you ready for this? aside from any other random “church goers” with him, phelps had his THIRTEEN children with him, along with his FIFTY THREE grandchildren. he said on video he thought it was a homosexual’s right to hear his message that they were going to hell. yes i typed that correct. he thinks its THEIR right to hear HIS opinion…

i take back everything i said earlier. screw the law. they should be dragged into a dark alley, hogtied like farm animals, and well…you do the math. as far as im concerned, they shouldnt be allowed to reproduce, let alone protest ANYTHING.

Exactly! They need psychiatric help. And their children need protection from that sort of mental “corruption” the parents are inflicting upon them.

perhaps what we should be doing is beating them at their own game. they say “god hates fags” so, find a way to translate it to say “we hate fags”. if one can make the assumption that its THEM who “hate fags”, then all the sudden they arent peacefully assembling. they are getting together to propogate hate speech. and that my friend, is certainly punishable by law

benjamin, you’ve made some good points. The Phelps family members DO hate fags. Their support and promotion of the message that their god hates fags reflects personal opinion and so they are basically already saying that.

the real issue is to determine to what extent their actions should be outlawed. its trying to determine where the line is, which is much more difficult. the law doesnt say its illegal to walk around with signs and protest something simply because a funeral is going on nearby.

my point is, if you REALLY want to put a stop to it, you have to find something thats black and white. simply concluding that the answer is to ban assembly outside a funeral is too close for comfort. perhaps what we should be doing is beating them at their own game. they say “god hates fags” so, find a way to translate it to say “we hate fags”. if one can make the assumption that its THEM who “hate fags”, then all the sudden they arent peacefully assembling. they are getting together to propogate hate speech. and that my friend, is certainly punishable by law