The slow advance of facism is upon us. Even with the recent election, many conservatives still support the Iraq fiasco and vote for stupid laws like the one you cite. It says something about us. It's frightening. In fact, it's fear that is driving a lot of this supposed defense stuff. Security at airports. Now limits to the right to peaceful assembly?
The only way to show how we feel about an unjust 'law' is to break the law. Sit ins and teach ins helped with the Civil Rights Movement. Civil disobedience is our duty.
If we allow ourselves to be legislated into a corner, then what ever trouble that visits us, we deserve, don't we?
It's shameful to erode the First Amendment! Yes, this 'law' is wrong and goes too far! I would hope that Kansas and other states would be challenged in this case. But, Kansas still thinks that Darwin is wrong. How do you deal with that sort of stupidity?
Are we sheep being led to the slaughter? Are you? Am I?
What's next?
2006-11-15 19:07:49
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answer #1
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answered by vertically challenged 3
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I think that the law is protecting the rights of the bereaved. No one has a right to protest just anywhere. If anyone wants to have any group activity, they generally need a permit from the local government. And demonstrators have no right to trespass on privately owned land. They may do so only with permission of the owner. No cemetery is going to allow this sort activity to disturb people who are already feeling such loss.
You have no respect for the rights of others if you think it's OK to disturb a funeral, wake, burial, or memorial service. That's sick!
If you tried such a thing with my family under those circumstances, I would feel driven to retaliate through physical means.
Picketing by a church sounds like Klan tactics to me.
2006-11-15 18:57:43
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answer #2
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answered by Susan M 7
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As a resident of Topeka, KS I am ashamed of these people and they DO NOT represent the views of this City or State. They should be banned from picketing at funerals. They are there to agitate and use a sensitive time to deliver their message and they will provoke someone someday into doing harm to them. At their "compound", which consists of pretty much a whole block completely fenced around and owned by them and thier people, they fly and american flag below the canadian flag and both are upside down. TOTAL DISRESPECT FOR THIS COUNTRY. They use the same laws that these soldiers are dying to protect to their advantage. They have a banner on the back of their house that says www.godhatesamerica.com. Fred Phelps has to wear a bullet proof vest when he goes out in public because of the threats on his life. And this is god's work? Why should someone have to fear having bodily harm done to them if they're truly spreading god's message. And why is it that they're the only country in the WORLD that is doing this. But yet it's god's message.
2006-11-15 19:00:58
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answer #3
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answered by Anonymous
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This is a very good question. While I feel we need the 1st Amendment rights of the protesters, we also need to protect the right of the family to mourn. Most of the laws I've seen don't say you can't protest, but that you have to be xxx feet/yards away, and cannot interfere with the service.
I think this is very similar to laws about protesting abortion clinics. The protesters are still allowed to protest, but they are not allowed to block the entrance and deny anyone their right to enter the facilities.
2006-11-15 20:54:00
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answer #4
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answered by Mutt 7
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Any kind of protest is disrespectful at a funeral. Especially a Military funeral.
I agree that having laws enacted against it, is not the right thing to do because it infringes on the people's right to voice their opinion but people should have the decency to know that at a funeral, it is wrong to do it.
2006-11-15 20:27:12
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answer #5
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answered by MSJP 4
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ANY protest at a funeral should result in an automatic naight in jail. Funerals are final moments and tributes reserved for family and friends. NOBODY has the right to do that. It should be considered sacred and not a forum to address views on anything.
2006-11-15 19:16:59
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answer #6
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answered by kitty fresh & hissin' crew 6
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Smarypants said it all.
Put yourself in the position of the family. You are the parent of a boy or girl in their late teens, who out of patriotism, desire to get out of town, or whatever, joined the military service. Your child, who it seems was just born, has been killed in action in service to his country. Your friends, the people from your town or neighborhood who knew your kid, your relatives, your co-workers have all assembled at the funeral home, heard the eulogy, participated in the prayers, and have driven to the cemetary. There a bunch of anti-war protesters have assembled to make their feelings known. Imagine the hurt and anger of the bereaved family. Not only has their child made the ulitimate sacrifice, a bunch of clowns have decided to denigrate your child's death. Instead of reverence and the respect warranted, they have chosen to kick you when you're down. Except for the terrorists who killed your kid, would you think that there is anyone on earth lower than those people? Wouldn't you resent the local, state and federal authorities for not protecting you from such hate-mongers?
Sorry for going on so long. Smartypants made all the points, just thought that I'd make them more concrete and less theoretical.
2006-11-15 19:10:40
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answer #7
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answered by mattapan26 7
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I think they are just and appropriate. We are blessed with certain freedoms and rights in this country, but these rights are not absolute. For example, you have the right to bear arms, but you can't walk into a McDonald's and point a pistol at the cashier while placing your order. We have freedom of speech, but you can't yell "FIRE" in a crowded theater. We are granted innumerable rights, but have historically, and rightfully, placed some restrictions on these rights in order to protect the interest of all citizens, not only a select few.
I think these idiots who protest at funerals are complete scumbags and disgraceful human beings. Setting aside personal feelings, limiting protests of any sort at a funeral, in my opinion, is a very minor limitation on free speech and is in the best interest of our society as a whole.
2006-11-15 19:05:41
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answer #8
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answered by Michael H 4
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Yes they should be outlawed. Firstly, people should have respect for the dead and the surviving families. Secondly, this person died so that you can get on the Internet and ask questions like this. People who protest wars to soldiers tend to forget that it is thru soldiers and many lives that they even have the opportunity to protest anything. I grew up in the Marines, my father was a Drill Sargent. I think protest to war is like generalizing all people into one category, it is unfair and stupid. Total lack of respect to protest at a military funeral. Downright disgusting. Those men died to keep us free. People need to remember that their rights and privileges came at a price.
2006-11-15 18:58:01
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answer #9
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answered by Anonymous
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I agree with the law. There is a time and place for everything and the funeral is not the place or time to protest.
2006-11-15 18:58:22
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answer #10
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answered by winkcat 7
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