Yelling fire in a movie theater is not protected free speech. Should....?

Question

Protesting soldier's funerals be protected or no? Weigh the rights of the family against the rights of the protestors, and give an honest opinion.

Oh yeah, and this question is to get people to think about it and form opinions or back up already formed opinions. I have yet to reveal my opinion on the subject

Answer 1

Hell no they shouldn't be granted that freedom.

There are several ways to measure if and how certain freedoms should be granted, but the most obvious and probably the best way is if the action being discussed has any immediate benefits for either the people acting or people affected by their actions, and in this case, I would say there are no significant benefits for anyone involved, at least not significant enough to disrupt a funeral service.

In sum, the ACLU represents mostly idiots and should stand for

A ctivists for the
C ause of
L iberating the
U nlawful.

Answer 2

Protesting any funeral is not only disrespectful, but a big sign of ignorance. A soldier puts his life on the line, for morons to actually have the right to protest his putting his life on the line? Perhaps, but only in the most inane sense. As I have two brothers in active duty, one in Iraq as I type, I have a strong opinion. I believe that protesters should focus on those in charge, i.e. the Queen Bee, and not worry about the workers, as they do what they are supposed to do, and that is blindly follow legitimate orders.

While morons have every right to protest funerals, legislatures have the right to outlaw any actions they deem illegal. In turn, those protesters have the right to fight the constitutionality of the law. So in theory, if every state were to outlaw protesting at funerals, and the WBC or some other retards decide to fight those laws, then by the time appeals and everything are done, Bush's Iraq War should be over and there would be no funerals to protest.

I prefer the Vets on Motorcycles showing up to drown out the protesters. Either way, its a distraction that USG loves to keep floating around, so we don't see how they are raping us.

Answer 3

I don't think it should be protected, it serves no useful political purpose, it is slanderous speech, they are not protesting to their elected officials, it is pretty much just degrading and has no real purpose, what they are protesting against could easily be taken somewhere else, and not be harmful, while maintaining the same message. The Supreme Court has consistently stated that no freedom is absolute, freedom of religion would not protect child sacrifices, or freedom of speech would not protect someone who yelled fire in a movie theater(falsely) as you said, therefore as this speech is only slanderous, and infringes on the rights of those at the funeral, it should not be protected.

Answer 4

If the theater is on fire, please yell. If you yell and it's not on fire and I still get to finish watching the movie after they cart you off, I don't care. :o)

If you want to protest a war or soldier, that is your privilege as an American. Personally I think it's disgusting, completely disrespectful, and intolerable as a human being to protest at a funeral. Especially a soldier's.

You don't have to agree or show any honor. No one is expecting that from a protester anyway. But don't dishonor yourself by causing more pain and heartache to the families and friends. It's unnecessary and doesn't get your point across.

Answer 5

Like I said in my last response, in my state, the protestors have a right to protest BEFORE a funeral, but not during, and have to be a certain distance away.
As far as yelling 'fire' in a crowded theater, the point of that is people's lives would become endangered from trying to evacuate. not the same with a protest.

Answer 6

For the life of me I cannot imagine why anyone would protest a funeral. What could possibly come of such activity? Do they think that by protesting that the dead shall be raised? Do they think that by protesting that some major policy shift within the government will take place? Do they think that by protesting that the family will abandon the funeral and join the protesters? The devil is a busy critter.

Answer 7

I've seen those protests and they deeply disgust me but maybe that's when my belief in free speech is really tested.
I'm not sure on this,I believe very strongly in free speech and know how easy it is to go in the wrong direction, but for now my opinion is that those protests should not be covered by free speech.
They can protest in the street on any day but not when a family is grieving.Free speech is about protecting the expression of idea's even if those idea's are disgusting but it should be possible to limit the place where certain types of free speech are allowed.
You can't forbid their idea's or for them to express them but not at funerals.
Porn is protected by free speech but there are laws prohibiting its presence in public and distribution to minors for example.

Answer 8

Those with alternative motives or just non thinking followers use free speech to inject there false motives. Using your example of military funerals, the soldiers choice to perform in the military is not a private venture as is the entertainer's world who wants left alone at random intervals by there choice. Sorry it doesn't work that way in a "free" society. If you choose to be in the public eye whither military or entertainer you will get the public opinion, like it or not.

Answer 9

It's protected speech. Abhorrent yes, but shouldn't be restricted. The people who protest the funerals are doing it because they think they know it all. Judge not lest ye be judged. I'm sure they couldn't put up with the scrutiny they give others. They should be pitied, not restricted. Forgive them Lord, for they know not what they do.

Answer 10

Well Alex let me tell ya.

Freedom of speech is highly overrated. Evidence the majority of people in this YA community.

Protesting is protected speech. But what these people are doing is not protesting, they are harassing and that is illegal. What are they protesting about the funeral itself? Nothing they are exemplifying the tragic death of an American to further their own whacked out ideology. That is not and should not be protected speech.

The founding fathers of this country set out to prevent persecution not license it.