SC to hear case of Marine father against Westboro

Personally I find the Westboro Baptist Church reprehensible...but....read on..I've cut and pasted the entire article. Why? because I felt like it. Come on people those of you that know me, bloody well know how contrary and pugnacious I can be. :)


October 06, 2010 10:04 AM EDT
WASHINGTON (AP) — The father of a Marine killed in Iraq is asking the Supreme Court to reinstate a $5 million verdict against members of a fundamentalist church who picketed his son's funeral with signs like "Thank God for Dead Soldiers" and "God Hates the USA."

The court is hearing arguments Wednesday in the dispute between Albert Snyder of York, Pa., and members of the Westboro Baptist Church of Topeka, Kan. The case pits Snyder's right to grieve privately against the church members' right to say what they want, no matter how offensive.

Westboro members, led by the Rev. Fred Phelps, have picketed many military funerals to make their point that U.S. deaths in Afghanistan and Iraq are punishment for Americans' immorality, including tolerance of homosexuality and abortion.

They welcome the attention the protests have brought, mocking their critics and vowing not to change their ways whatever the outcome at the Supreme Court.

"No American should ever be required to apologize for following his or her conscience," said Margie Phelps, a daughter of Fred Phelps and the lawyer who is arguing the case for the church.

Fundamentalist church members turned out in advance of the argument Wednesday morning, to march in front of the court with placards of the type they've been carrying to military funerals. One young boy held up a sign that reads, "God Hates You."

A line of people who trying to get into the argument stretched around the corner of the high court atop Capitol Hill.

Snyder undertook the lawsuit after the Phelpses picketed the funeral of his son, Lance Cpl. Matthew Snyder, in March 2006. The Marine was killed in a Humvee accident.

Snyder won an $11 million verdict against the church for intentional infliction of emotional distress, among other claims. A judge reduced the award to $5 million before the federal appeals court in Richmond, Va., threw out the verdict altogether, citing the church's First Amendment rights.

For Snyder, the case is not about free speech but harassment. "I had one chance to bury my son and it was taken from me," Snyder said.

Forty-eight states, 42 U.S. senators and veterans groups have sided with Snyder, asking the court to shield funerals from the Phelpses' "psychological terrorism."

While distancing themselves from the church's message, media organizations, including The Associated Press, have called on the court to side with the Phelpses because of concerns that a victory for Snyder could erode speech rights.
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Do I think anyone should have their right to free speech abrogated? Obviously not. Be that as it may..I may be wrong for saying this, but I equate what Foul Phelps do at soldiers funerals to yelling "FIRE!" in a crowded theatre. Not in that it causes a panic mind you, but because the psychological and emotional distress it causes to those trying to bury their sons and daughters.
Those families and loved ones are already in emotional distress so WHY pray tell me, are these neolithic nitwits adding to it? So yes.. I'm sorta hoping that the Supremes find it in them to re-instate the $5 million judgement against the Phelpses and their ponzi scheme.
Oh and as to why I call it a ponzi scheme...
There was a story recently, or maybe it was a commentary [I'll go do some google fu and see if I can find it] that stated that one of the reasons Phelps does what he does is to get money. See he and his family protest somewhere, get told to F.O., get assaulted as it were, be it physically or verbally and then have the absolute gall to sue the person they've been harrassing. They also get a lot of free media coverage out of all this, which allows like minded cromagnon maggot infested retards who think as they do, to find Phelps and his "church"

Here's just one example of that from April, still involving Mr. Snyder

http://www.ydr.com/westboro/ci_14780513

They sent a bill to a man who they harrassed and terrorized emotionally and mentally. What The Hell?!

Here's a blogpost I found from a journalist
http://kanewj.com/wbc/

And here's one that blows my mind..they protested at Ronnie Dio's funeral? Seriously?
http://www.metalinsider.net/regrettable-life-decisions/westboro-baptist-church-to-protest-dios-funeral

Another thing they protested at recently was at Comic Con in San Diego a few short months ago.
Here's just a few links that describe what a fiasco THAT was for Westboro.
http://www.urlesque.com/2010/07/23/comic-con-westboro-baptist-church-counterprotest-signs/

http://www.comicsalliance.com/2010/07/22/super-heroes-vs-the-westboro-baptist-church/

Honestly. Phelps and his family have no couth, no class, no social graces. Then again neither do I. Because my own proposed solution to people like Phelps is akin to a fathers solution to boys in the 8 Rules to Dating My Daughter...."I have a shotgun, a shovel and several acres out back." That one is Rule..6 IIRC.
Hmmm..I may have to post the 8 rules sometime in the near future for the sake of some amusement. If I ever get married and have kids and those kids are daughters...I almost feel sorry for anyone who dates my girls but I digress.......

I'd suggest that solution for his entire family/church but I'd be called a homicidal barbarian. The very youngest of the children involved might be able to be deprogrammed, but for those in their teens it's probably too late. Sigh...even with years in a psychologists care and treatment.

Sad, maddening and infuriating isn't it?

I now return you to your regularly scheduled inanity and insanity.