Even though I DO NOT agree with the W.B.C.'s way of doing things, I agree with this Supreme Court ruling. Voltaire said it best: “I do not agree with a word that you say, but I will defend to the death your right to say it”.
I love America and free speech and if any one says you can abuse free speech they are wrong free speech is what makes America Great. Vote Ron Paul 2012!
Oh man, this thing again. I called good old Ben Franklin back in time to ask him what did he think about abusing freedom of speech, and he said: "Those who desire to give up freedom in order to gain security will not have, nor do they deserve, either one." So there you have it, Bill'O. Can you explain that?
This wasn't his answer when Coulter was protested right out of Canada. They were on the charge saying Canada has no free speech because it hinders here. In fact, Canada does have free speech, it just has the limitations Billo is crying for here. Another day another hypocrisy.
I don't get it... Isn't picketting a funeral punishable by law in the first place? Disturbing the peace alone comes to mind. And under US law, it would make sense to me that every infraction warrants greater punishment. Just bleed those WBC bastards dry.
As much as I hate to say it, I agree with the Supreme Court. Our Constitution is there to protect American citizens from the government, even these retarded inbred scumbags deserve that same protection. That said, I wish someone would run their van or bus (or whatever they use to travel to protest) off the road. I doubt there's a jury in this country that would convict them for doing so.
if the 1st amendment protects the rights of the wbc, then we could be assured that it defends our rights as well. i may disagree with what they say, but i'm glad their rights are protected because it assures that my rights will be assured as well.
@angrywhenroused This is outrageous! The Westboro's are not Christian at all! The Bible clearly says that homosexuality is an abomination and that homosexuals should be stoned to death, not yelled at to death. So those false Christians are not following the Bible literally, as Bill'O supports, and that's what angers him so much.
@MastermindX all regigious people how can't keep there beliefs to themselves are as bad as each other. I don't like what the westboro lot say but it's just a different tune on the same violin as far as I am concerned.
I'm an athiest and dont believe in the bible, but in the old testiment of the bible it does say, gays and people that fight in wars should be killed so technically the westboro baptist church is right. Anyone can go look it up, im not lying. Oh and FUCK BILL O'REILLY
I was dreading this decision, because I knew this is how this would turn out. I'm no fan of Bill O'Reilley 99% of the time, but he's spot on here. Our society is not based on common sense (if it ever was). If this decision is preserving the common good, then we've more than just lost our way...we're just plain lost. I don't understand giving the Phelps Cult free license to terrorize our citizens any more than I understand giving Neo-Nazis the right to demonstrate in public.
you know, Bill O'Reilly can be a pompous windbag at times, but this is one of many things that i totally agree with him: The Westboro Baptist Church are scumbags who are pretty much trying to copy the mannerisms of the Nazi regime.
its not about 'personal destruction'. westboro are entitled to their views. they're hate mongering bible bashing idiots jus like o'reilly But atleast o'reilly shows compassion.
with the katie holmes thing and all the paparazzi's antics, i say slandering a person for financial gain should illegal.
I wonder how far free speech will carry... can people now insult and disparage anyone anywhere without reprisal? I think not. If certain people are pushed too far they WILL lash out.
I really hope none of the children get hurt or killed but the adults of this group are eventually going to be a direct target of violence of a much more brutal kind. Just because a group has a right to make a statement, it doesn't make it right in saying it. I do not wish violence on these people. I wish it to end
I hate Bill O'Reilly. "Free speech can be abused". Then it's NOT free speech, is it?
You never thought you would hear that from Bill O'Reilly? Wow, that's shocking. Everything about him is evil and vile. He's part of an agenda to destroy our free speech.
@DavidLynch007 You are 1000X a douche bag as he is, you parasite. You, along with your Westboro whores are no lower than microbes who should be sterilized from this world.
"Our profound national commitment to free and open debate is not a license for the vicious verbal assault that occurred in this case"....actually that is exactly what it is. It is the protection of free speech regardless of who thinks they can decide what is appropriate or not. Yes, I believe that the Westboro baptist church are a bunch of cuntrags, but we don't get to decide what is "enough" free speech for someone to have. Period.
@Yuri92001 So you believe that free speech should be upheld in the most extreme cases? This includes hate speech, racism, homophobia, anarchist rhetoric and the uncovering of state secrets.
@TheBlooglet Look....I deleted my other looong reply because in the end it's not worth getting into. Suffice it to say that the time when a people need protection the MOST for their free speech is when no one agrees with them (no matter how right or how utterly inhuman they are) and when everyone wants to silence them. It's not about what you agree with what they are saying....it NEVER is (and never was meant to be). I KNOW they are vile...I KNOW they are terrible...
@TheBlooglet I do. Free speech is not nice: Free speech is ugly and it can be painful. However, it is the most beautiful freedom we have. Once we start limiting it purely to tailor to current fashions and fads of what is or isn't publically acceptable.
@TheBlooglet I do not condone the actions of the Westboro Baptist Church, however, I believe they have the inalienable right of free speech. If I deny them that right, who is to guarantee that somewhere along the future, my rights won't be denied? To give way to bigotry is to tear down the very foundations of our society that our founding fathers built.
@TheBlooglet Yep, I do. Because when you start censoring one thing, other things soon follow. For example: The australian goverment said that they'de censor child-pornography off the internet to protect people. It was then found umong this, they also censored sights which did not seem to corelate with CP or any other thing they said they were going to censor.
Even though I DO NOT agree with the W.B.C.'s way of doing things, I agree with this Supreme Court ruling. Voltaire said it best: “I do not agree with a word that you say, but I will defend to the death your right to say it”.
destroyOCTS 3 months ago
I love America and free speech and if any one says you can abuse free speech they are wrong free speech is what makes America Great. Vote Ron Paul 2012!
1Death4All 5 months ago
This Church with less than 100 members is constantly getting national media coverage. And yet we continue to wonder why the world is laughing at us.
davitodude 5 months ago
it's funny to hear billy talk down about "bullying tatics" and "hatespeech"
Kfoll001 5 months ago
If people would stop believing in Bronze Age Mythology....I wouldn't have to listen to Bill or the Westboros.
staturne 6 months ago
@staturne ...But then Fauz News and Friends wouldn't kill a brain cell in my head everytime I watch then.
SDBPR 6 months ago
Oh man, this thing again. I called good old Ben Franklin back in time to ask him what did he think about abusing freedom of speech, and he said: "Those who desire to give up freedom in order to gain security will not have, nor do they deserve, either one." So there you have it, Bill'O. Can you explain that?
MastermindX 6 months ago
There are two positions on free speech: For and against it. No further comment.
EclecticSceptic 6 months ago
This wasn't his answer when Coulter was protested right out of Canada. They were on the charge saying Canada has no free speech because it hinders here. In fact, Canada does have free speech, it just has the limitations Billo is crying for here. Another day another hypocrisy.
Xwowplaya 6 months ago
Free speech stand above all arguments
roguekie 6 months ago
I don't get it... Isn't picketting a funeral punishable by law in the first place? Disturbing the peace alone comes to mind. And under US law, it would make sense to me that every infraction warrants greater punishment. Just bleed those WBC bastards dry.
VexonCross 6 months ago 2
As much as I hate to say it, I agree with the Supreme Court. Our Constitution is there to protect American citizens from the government, even these retarded inbred scumbags deserve that same protection. That said, I wish someone would run their van or bus (or whatever they use to travel to protest) off the road. I doubt there's a jury in this country that would convict them for doing so.
jeffl0385 6 months ago
if the 1st amendment protects the rights of the wbc, then we could be assured that it defends our rights as well. i may disagree with what they say, but i'm glad their rights are protected because it assures that my rights will be assured as well.
jkjmodemail 7 months ago
the thing is WBC are only doing what it tells them to do in some old book, one O'Reilly supports too
angrywhenroused 7 months ago
@angrywhenroused This is outrageous! The Westboro's are not Christian at all! The Bible clearly says that homosexuality is an abomination and that homosexuals should be stoned to death, not yelled at to death. So those false Christians are not following the Bible literally, as Bill'O supports, and that's what angers him so much.
MastermindX 6 months ago
@MastermindX all regigious people how can't keep there beliefs to themselves are as bad as each other. I don't like what the westboro lot say but it's just a different tune on the same violin as far as I am concerned.
angrywhenroused 6 months ago
I'm an athiest and dont believe in the bible, but in the old testiment of the bible it does say, gays and people that fight in wars should be killed so technically the westboro baptist church is right. Anyone can go look it up, im not lying. Oh and FUCK BILL O'REILLY
23eirish 9 months ago
This has been flagged as spam show
The GOP are the biggest bunch of pussies in AMerica - FUK THESE ASSHOLES
58tkdmike 11 months ago
Comment removed
Yuri92001 11 months ago
I was dreading this decision, because I knew this is how this would turn out. I'm no fan of Bill O'Reilley 99% of the time, but he's spot on here. Our society is not based on common sense (if it ever was). If this decision is preserving the common good, then we've more than just lost our way...we're just plain lost. I don't understand giving the Phelps Cult free license to terrorize our citizens any more than I understand giving Neo-Nazis the right to demonstrate in public.
turbo7568 11 months ago
you know, Bill O'Reilly can be a pompous windbag at times, but this is one of many things that i totally agree with him: The Westboro Baptist Church are scumbags who are pretty much trying to copy the mannerisms of the Nazi regime.
figment1988 11 months ago
its not about 'personal destruction'. westboro are entitled to their views. they're hate mongering bible bashing idiots jus like o'reilly But atleast o'reilly shows compassion.
with the katie holmes thing and all the paparazzi's antics, i say slandering a person for financial gain should illegal.
skubersteve24 11 months ago
I wonder how far free speech will carry... can people now insult and disparage anyone anywhere without reprisal? I think not. If certain people are pushed too far they WILL lash out.
I really hope none of the children get hurt or killed but the adults of this group are eventually going to be a direct target of violence of a much more brutal kind. Just because a group has a right to make a statement, it doesn't make it right in saying it. I do not wish violence on these people. I wish it to end
TAOtheGod 11 months ago
I hate Bill O'Reilly. "Free speech can be abused". Then it's NOT free speech, is it?
You never thought you would hear that from Bill O'Reilly? Wow, that's shocking. Everything about him is evil and vile. He's part of an agenda to destroy our free speech.
Bill is a giant douche bag.
DavidLynch007 11 months ago
@DavidLynch007 You are 1000X a douche bag as he is, you parasite. You, along with your Westboro whores are no lower than microbes who should be sterilized from this world.
brokensoul8390 11 months ago
"Our profound national commitment to free and open debate is not a license for the vicious verbal assault that occurred in this case"....actually that is exactly what it is. It is the protection of free speech regardless of who thinks they can decide what is appropriate or not. Yes, I believe that the Westboro baptist church are a bunch of cuntrags, but we don't get to decide what is "enough" free speech for someone to have. Period.
Yuri92001 11 months ago
@Yuri92001 So you believe that free speech should be upheld in the most extreme cases? This includes hate speech, racism, homophobia, anarchist rhetoric and the uncovering of state secrets.
TheBlooglet 11 months ago
Comment removed
Yuri92001 11 months ago
Comment removed
Yuri92001 11 months ago
@TheBlooglet Look....I deleted my other looong reply because in the end it's not worth getting into. Suffice it to say that the time when a people need protection the MOST for their free speech is when no one agrees with them (no matter how right or how utterly inhuman they are) and when everyone wants to silence them. It's not about what you agree with what they are saying....it NEVER is (and never was meant to be). I KNOW they are vile...I KNOW they are terrible...
Yuri92001 11 months ago
@TheBlooglet I do. Free speech is not nice: Free speech is ugly and it can be painful. However, it is the most beautiful freedom we have. Once we start limiting it purely to tailor to current fashions and fads of what is or isn't publically acceptable.
billydeeuk 11 months ago
@TheBlooglet I do not condone the actions of the Westboro Baptist Church, however, I believe they have the inalienable right of free speech. If I deny them that right, who is to guarantee that somewhere along the future, my rights won't be denied? To give way to bigotry is to tear down the very foundations of our society that our founding fathers built.
CupcakezandLollipopz 11 months ago
@TheBlooglet yes
froggymicwop 10 months ago
@TheBlooglet Yes, of course.
Madfoot713 9 months ago
@TheBlooglet Yep, I do. Because when you start censoring one thing, other things soon follow. For example: The australian goverment said that they'de censor child-pornography off the internet to protect people. It was then found umong this, they also censored sights which did not seem to corelate with CP or any other thing they said they were going to censor.
zwillredeye 6 months ago