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The ACLU defends Baptist Protests

Discussion in 'Political Debate & Discussion' started by Ben W, May 5, 2006.

  1. Ben W

    Ben W Active Member
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    Interesting!

    - ACLU: Kentucky Funeral-Protest Law is Unconstitutional
    Category: Free Speech

    Fred Phelps' Westboro Baptist Church is one of the most notorious anti-gay hate groups in the country. Consisting primarily of members of Phelps' family, it has traveled the country for years picketing funerals--most notoriously, Matthew Shepard's--and many other events that mourn for, celebrate, promote, or acknowledge the lives of lesbians and gay men. Not satisfied with this notoriety, Phelps' clan has taken to picketing the funerals of U.S. soldiers with bullhorns and signs reading "THANK GOD FOR IEDS" [improvised explosive devices] and "THANK GOD FOR DEAD SOLDIERS." Phelps' logic--to whatever extent that it can be called logic--is that soldier deaths (and the civilian casualties of 9/11) are signs of God's wrath against Americans for not persecuting lesbians and gays enough.

    It is difficult to imagine an advocacy group that has less in common with Westboro than the American Civil Liberties Union, which since 1920 has worked to secure and preserve the civil rights of all Americans. The ACLU's Lesbian and Gay Rights Project, in particular, works to end discrimination based on sexual orientation, to make marriage rights available to same-sex couples, and to support hate crime legislation that extends specific protection to sexual minorities.

    But the ACLU is also in favor of protecting the First Amendment, which sometimes means that it must protect the rights of groups whose values run contrary to its own.

    http://civilliberty.about.com/b/a/257496.htm
     
  2. Daisy

    Daisy New Member

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    The ACLU is for principles rather than parties.
     
  3. Magnetic Poles

    Magnetic Poles New Member

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    While the Phelps cult is dispicable, the ACLU is correct. Popular speech is not what is in danger of being supressed. It is unpopular, and yes, even offensive speech, that must be protected. Otherwise, who knows when OUR speech will be deemed offensive.

    Along these lines, and I have posted it before, is the famous words of German pastor Martin Niemoller, who opposed Adolph Hitler. He wrote:

     
  4. carpro

    carpro Well-Known Member
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    The greater goal of the aclu in this instance is try to be sure that protests occur at the funeral of slain soldiers.

    All part of their anti American agenda.
     
  5. Magnetic Poles

    Magnetic Poles New Member

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    Carpro, I doubt that very much. I believe their goal is protecting freedom of speech. There is no evidence to support your statement that they endorse such protests.
     
  6. carpro

    carpro Well-Known Member
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    Of course, you do.
     
  7. Magnetic Poles

    Magnetic Poles New Member

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    So, let's not make this about me. Let's stick to the issue. Where is your evidence?
     
  8. carpro

    carpro Well-Known Member
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    No evidence needed.

    It is my opinion that the aclu has never abandoned it's communist roots and is determined to destroy America's institutions using our own laws and constitution to do it.

    Such institutions include, but are not limited to: family, marriage, religion, and the military.
     
  9. Magnetic Poles

    Magnetic Poles New Member

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    Evidence is always needed to support a claim. Your saying none is needed doesn't override your burden of proof.

    Plus, would you say that in cases where the ACLU has defended the religous freedom of Christians, that fits into an anti-religion agenda? For example, the street preacher they defended last year whose rights to free speech was being trampled upon.
     
  10. Magnetic Poles

    Magnetic Poles New Member

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    Carpro, for example, I can say you have an agenda to make it legal to abuse women and own slaves. To substantiate that claim, I would need to provide evidence to support that. I cannot merely say, "no evidence needed". Of course, evidence is needed, or my statement has no support and should be discounted.
     
  11. carpro

    carpro Well-Known Member
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    I have been under the assumption that you would know the difference between a "claim" and an "opinion".

    Apparently, I was mistaken.
     
  12. Magnetic Poles

    Magnetic Poles New Member

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    You stated it as a fact. You are indeed entitled to your opinion, however unsupported it may be. It should be made clear that is your opinion only. Just like you don't see the Op-Ed pieces on the front page presented as news. (Yeah I know, all news is biased to a degree, but you get the idea).

    So yes, no evidence needed for your opinion. Glad to see you admit you have nothing to back it up with.
     
  13. Kilad

    Kilad New Member

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    [​IMG] [​IMG] [​IMG] [​IMG] [​IMG]

    Now that is the funniest thing that I have heard in a long time. Thanks for the laugh daisy
     
  14. Daisy

    Daisy New Member

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    You're welcome, Kilad.

    Now, would you care to dispute that with facts or are you like carpro, preferring evidenceless opinion?
     
  15. carpro

    carpro Well-Known Member
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    We've had discussions about the aclu before, Daisy.

    My "facts" do not faze you and your "facts" do not faze me, so why bother?

    You will not change my mind and I will not change yours. We will just have to agree to disagree on this one. But I will continue to state my opinion about the aclu as will you.

    Live with it. I will.
     
  16. SpiritualMadMan

    SpiritualMadMan New Member

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    The ACLU ONLY takes cases that support their long term goals...

    Which is, IMHO, to re-create America as a godless socialist regime with them in charge...

    If you examine the case deeply enough you will see that supporting the harassment of War Heroes Families supports that goal..
     
  17. Magnetic Poles

    Magnetic Poles New Member

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    Another opinion without support, but at least SMM clearly labeled it as such! [​IMG]
     
  18. carpro

    carpro Well-Known Member
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    Agreed.

    But sometimes, if there is no readily available client for an issue they wish to engage on, they will troll for one. ;)
     
  19. Daisy

    Daisy New Member

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    Perhaps so; I don't recall.

    The only "fact" that the anti-ACLUers have that's factual is that the founder was a commie. You're correct that that doesn't faze me.

    I wasn't bothering with you - my challenge was to Kilad.

    You know your own mind best; if you say it is impervious to facts and reason, I believe you.

    You might if you had sound arguements and convincing evidence - something more than, "That's my opinion".
     
  20. Joseph_Botwinick

    Joseph_Botwinick <img src=/532.jpg>Banned

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    Freedom of Speech is not in danger. They just can't do it to disrupt the grieving family. They can protest somewhere else all they want. IMO, their protesting at the gravesites is the same as inciting a riot.

    Joseph Botwinick
     
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