Quote:
Originally Posted by Sydney's Mom
Absolutely. But I thought they were keeping them pretty far away. That is the new trick - have to ensure safety for the protestors, so we have them so far away, no one sees it. It is easier to protect them that way.
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There's so much sad irony in all of this. The people who support Westboro will happily cry "1st Amendment" all day long, but they would be the last people to support an artist being suppressed. (I'm not talking about the people who defend their rights, I'm talking about those who agree with their sick message. Two different things.)
As much as a I dislike Westboro and the vile things they say, the tactic you describe is not much different than telling an author he can write and release any book he pleases, he just can't sell it here, here, or there or anywhere else people might see it. I'm not referring specifically to either of the current debates going on with Pedobook or Kyle's novels, but I can see it potentially ending up that way.
I have a friend who wants Westboro to be "disappeared". She thinks their web site should shut down, their protests to be shut down, everything. She told me that people filled with hate shouldn't be seen or heard. I pointed out that just the previous day, she posted a comment on a web site filled with her passionate dislike of a prominent politician. She claimed it's different. I said it's not. When I wouldn't agree with her, she deleted the entire conversation from Facebook. Naturally, the irony was lost on her.
Fortunately, especially in cases like Westboro, the 1st Amendment provides a built-in recourse. Where they are allowed to spew hate, we're allowed to show up and drown them out. For every awful but legal act they perform, we're allowed to do the same. But we're not allowed to just shut them up, nor should we be.
It sucks, but the 1st Amendment doesn't play favorites - only people do that. I despise Westboro. They make me sick. I have a feeling that there will come a point when the brains of their operation can no longer control their intent, and they will screw up in a way that's illegal. At least, that's my hope.