Westboro Church Protestors -- Ignore Them

I am both stunned and outraged, to say the least of the U.S. Supreme Court ruling of First Amendment rights expressed by today's majority ruling in the Westboro Baptist Church in a eight (8) to one (1) decision. I most certainly understand that the U.S. Constitution, and the clarity of our Freedom of Speech Rights... I also understand the doors that would open, in the Supreme Court Justices would have ruled differently in this decision. As a U.S. American citizen we have no choice but to accept this decision, and live with it... I have family serving in the U.S. Armed Services, and for me, I don't have to like this decision... This decision is just plan wrong, and shows how out of touch politics is out of touch with the people of the United States. There are probably hundreds of laws in our three state area where I live that restrict Freedom of Speech in "Hate Crimes". If these protests do not fall under "Hate Crimes", then what does...? I really feel like this Sinful behavior of Protest should not only fall under a "Hate Crime", but also be unlawful under the "Patriot Act". The very Freedom that our United States Armed Services provide for the safety of the people of our country, has been severely tarnished today with this Supreme Court Decision. My God have Mercy on us, for such a unpatriotic act by our Supreme Court Justices, and may they never have to fall victim of these unsymmetrical protests... God Bless the U.S.A. Charles / UC (03/02/2011)

Anybody have an address for this church? I'd like to start a picketing group against them, and go to the funerals of their followers....

"Hayseeds from Kansas?" Very few, if anyone, I know in Kansas is anything but supportive of this group of kooks led by Phelps and his kin. Please stop indicating that they are what Kansas is. Why not place Eisenhower, Chrysler, the Menningers and many others as the normal Kansans? At least you people in the Media would be honest for a change.

PD and the media are painting a funny picture considering that they sent Amici Curiae (friends of the court) briefs supporting the Westboro Groups right to protest during the Snyder hearing? Shame on the Westboro group and shame on the media for supporing them.

I think this reporter did a good job exposing how the media encourages them to go to the next event simply because their motive in being there is media coverage. dont give them what they want and they go away

The Southern Poverty Law Center has long ago designated this "group" a hate group. They are not a Christian Church, neither baptist nor any other. If anything, they are a study in the question: Is mental illness (or just "cussedness") contagious? Or, a study on how hatred is passed on. This collection of people, mostly related to Fred Phelps, the "pastor" [another co-opted term used incorrectly], all show the same collection of hatreds. There is a text in the bible that says: Train up a child until he is 7, and he will not deviate from it. This group is no different that the white supremicist family whose three year old thild knew all the nazi era slogans, salutes, etc. Another generation wasting their lives on hatreds that accomplish nothing. The Westboro group spends its time, and whatever money gullable people send them, running around with sickening banners that sane people recognize as fueled by hatred, and best rejected.

I truly hope that the Supreme Court finds in favor of the father of a young Marine killed in war whose funeral was totally disrupted by these people. No matter what the issue, a funeral ought to be neutral territory by law. This is not the time to protest laws, condemn the one who died, or any other, point out that some stupid decision may have cause the person's death, or for any other reason. A family gets ONE change to bury a member of the family. This is the last memory of that person they will ever hold. There is no do-over. NO ONE should have a funeral turned into a circus. If we as a nation can't get to the basic civility of understanding that there is a time and place for things, and some things and some places are not to become embroiled in dispute, then we need to give serious thought as to whether we are really civilized at all.

Pr Chris

I wish they would take 'Baptist' out of their name. They are not like any Baptist I've ever known.

I have always wondered where they get thier money to travel to all these funerals. From what I have read, they are a very small church consisting mainly of family members. They must receive funding from some source other than the collection plate. Follow the money and it might be possible to bankrupt them.

As much as I love to hate this group. I agree, let's quit giving them attention.

I see no problem with the media getting together to not show FDR's wheelchair and I see no problem with the media telling these guys to take a hike. I think the media is doing this because they agree with them. The media decides what is or is not newsworthy. Not the public.