Westboro and the First Amendment

1st Amendment protects military funeral protesters

The Supreme Court ruled Wednesday that the First Amendment protects fundamentalist church members who mount anti-gay protests outside military funerals, despite the pain they cause grieving families.

The court voted 8-1 in favor of the Westboro Baptist Church of Topeka, Kan. The decision upheld an appeals court ruling that threw out a $5 million judgment to the father of a dead Marine who sued church members after they picketed his son's funeral.

Chief Justice John Roberts wrote the opinion for the court. Justice Samuel Alito dissented.

Roberts said free speech rights in the First Amendment shield the funeral protesters, noting that they obeyed police directions and were 1,000 feet from the church.

"Speech is powerful. It can stir people to action, move them to tears of both joy and sorrow, and — as it did here — inflict great pain. On the facts before us, we cannot react to that pain by punishing the speaker," Roberts said. "As a nation we have chosen a different course — to protect even hurtful speech on public issues to ensure that we do not stifle public debate."

Alito strongly disagreed. "Our profound national commitment to free and open debate is not a license for the vicious verbal assault that occurred in this case," he said.

Matthew Snyder died in Iraq in 2006 and his body was returned to the United States for burial. Members of the Westboro Baptist Church, who have picketed military funerals for several years, decided to protest outside the Westminster, Md., church where his funeral was to be held.

The Rev. Fred Phelps and his family members who make up most of the Westboro Baptist Church have picketed many military funerals in their quest to draw attention to their incendiary view that U.S. deaths in Afghanistan and Iraq are God's punishment for the nation's tolerance of homosexuality.

They showed up with their usual signs, including "Thank God for dead soldiers," "You're Going to Hell," "God Hates the USA/Thank God for 9/11," and one that combined the U.S. Marine Corps motto, Semper Fi, with a slur against gay men.

The church members drew counter-demonstrators, as well as media coverage and a heavy police presence to maintain order. The result was a spectacle that led to altering the route of the funeral procession.

Several weeks later, Albert Snyder was surfing the Internet for tributes to his son from other soldiers and strangers when he came upon a poem on the church's website that attacked Matthew's parents for the way they brought up their son.

Soon after, Snyder filed a lawsuit accusing the Phelpses of intentionally inflicting emotional distress. He won $11 million at trial, later reduced by a judge to $5 million.

The federal appeals court in Richmond, Va., threw out the verdict and said the Constitution shielded the church members from liability.

Forty-eight states, 42 U.S. senators and veterans groups sided with Snyder, asking the court to shield funerals from the Phelps family's "psychological terrorism."

While distancing themselves from the church's message, media organizations, including The Associated Press, urged the court to side with the Phelps family because of concerns that a victory for Snyder could erode speech rights.

Roberts described the court's holding as narrow, and in a separate opinion, Justice Stephen Breyer suggested in other circumstances, governments would not be "powerless to provide private individuals with necessary protection."

But in this case, Breyer said, it would be wrong to "punish Westboro for seeking to communicate its views on matters of public concern."

Margie Phelps, a daughter of the minister and a lawyer who argued the case at the Supreme Court, said she expected the outcome. "The only surprise is that Justice Alito did not feel compelled to follow his oath," Phelps said. "We read the law. We follow the law. The only way for a different ruling is to shred the First Amendment."

She also offered her church's view of the decision. "I think it's pretty self-explanatory, but here's the core point: The wrath of God is pouring onto this land. Rather than trying to shut us up, use your platforms to tell this nation to mourn for your sins."

Cut'n'pasted

Compare and Contrast

Let's compare and contrast the 'Draw Muhammad Day' that the internet staged back in May, and the new 'Burn the Qur'an Day' coming up on September 11th.

First off, let's review Draw Muhammad Day. This 'event' was an attempt by a some folks on the internet who felt they needed to stand up for the freedom of speech - because of the death threats against the South Park creators Matt and Trey, death threats to cartoonists in Holland, and the arrest of a cartoonist in Denmark.[1] were getting out of hand. The community was standing up for the freedom of speech, in defiance of Islamic sensitivity that threatened death. It was 'our' decision that no one should ever be restricted in what they can say... no matter how insensitive, crass or rude it is. Even blasphemous . (shameless self promotion)

Predictably, the 'Draw' day, did not create a peaceful environment for both parties to pause and reflect upon their ways... nay, instead there was a blowback that tried to get participating websites censored for their blasphemous transgressions. Most notably Facebook. The public responded by using their right and showed a restriction of rights for sensitivity to offense of others was not going to stand. People do not have the right to not be offended - at least, not in the West. And not on this issue.

'Burn a Qur'an Day', on the surface, appears to be nothing more than some racists in Florida getting out the message that they hate Islam. Deeper down, it's a huge publicity stunt. A stunt-fund raiser. Sure beats Sally's Car Wash suggestion. One can imagine that impressionable Christian extremists might feel that burning a Qur'an is the same as standing up to extremist islam-o-terrorism? Nothing like a good book burning to show that an idea, right gang? What these folks in Florida are broadcasting is that Islam, and apparently Holy Books that are not their own, are not welcome in their neighborhood. I'll even say that they might be trying to say that Islam isn't welcome in their country or even on the entire planet. Apparently Jesus didn't teach anything about loving your neighbor? Well, not in their church anyway. And they didn't pass their eight grade Constitution tests, either. The right they are using to express this opinion during this event, the first amendment to the Constitution, is the exact same right that guarantees the right of the Islamic population in the U.S.A. to practice their religious expression in their country as well. Which is similar, but not equal to the 'Draw Muhammad Day.'

Both are hypocritical, maybe even ironic. But, the two events are entirely different and in some ways opposite of each other in terms of expressing freedoms. For instance, it is ridiculous for people of Muslim faith to expect people not of Muslim faith to abide by rules of their religion. They can avoid pork, wine, and be misogynistic to their women all they want - I guess - and that's their deal. But if they even suggest, by force of death, that I can't have bacon? Well, in the immortal words of Bugs Bunny, "Of course you know, 'dis means war!" Let's make a deal - I'll leave you alone in your pursuit of happiness, as long as you provide me the same courtesy.

However, I'm not so crass as to burn their Holy Book in a church parking lot on September 11th.

“That was mere foreplay. Where they have burned books, they will end in burning human beings.” (German: “Das war Vorspiel nur. Dort, wo man Bücher verbrennt, verbrennt man am Ende auch Menschen.”)
~ Heinrich Heine, Almansor (1821)

"Evangelist" and "Disinformation"

When asked why 18% of Americans believe President Obama is Muslim ...

"... is because we have people who are supposed to be responsible public leaders, like Franklin Graham, who are spreading what seems to me like a sort of disinformation campaign... What Franklin Graham should say: 'Barack Obama says he's a Christian, he's a Christian, end of story."

Prothero also pointed out that Obama prayed with Franklin and his father, America's most famous living evangelist, Rev. Billy Graham, in May but Franklin still repeatedly used the "if" word to answer King's questions Thursday on whether Obama has accepted Christ.

Prothero said:

"Franklin Graham doesn't seem to be interested in focusing on preaching the gospel of -- of Jesus. He wants to be spreading misinformation about the religion of Islam.

... Why are we listening to Franklin Graham?"

Why indeed?

Besides -- and let me be clear -- ALL THIS 'OBAMA IS A MUSLIM' CAME FROM HILLARY CLINTON, not the Republicans! (Link)

To all that is good about scientific theory, we sure have a short attention span. All of this 'Secret Muslim crap came out of Hillary Clinton's Iowa campaign headquarters. Remember when she FIRED her people for doing it, but wouldn't come out and say that Obama wasn't a Muslim? In fact, she said the exact thing this creep Graham was saying. Here's the transcript from 60 Minutes:

CLINTON: Of course not. I mean, that's--you know, there is not basis for that. You know, I take him on the basis of what he says. And, you know, there isn't any reason to doubt that.

KROFT: And you said you'd take Senator Obama at his word that he's not a Muslim.

CLINTON: Right. Right.

KROFT: You don't believe that he's a Muslim or implying? Right.

CLINTON: No. No. Why would I? No, there is nothing to base that on, as far as I know.

KROFT: It's just scurrilous --

CLINTON: Look, I have been the target of so many ridiculous rumors. I have a great deal of sympathy for anybody who gets, you know, smeared with the kind of rumors that go on all the time. [Emphasis added]

Doesn't anyone remember that silly headdress Obama was in when he visited Kenya? They even made a New York Times cover with him on it? That was only two years ago, people?!

Anyhow, it doesn't matter anyway. What does matter is that The USA Today has a section called Faith & Reason...

How does THAT work? Do they also have a Fairy Tales & Logic section in their comic book they call news?

Siding, Windows and So Much More!

"Honey, I think we need new windows - oh, and we need to end "secular socialism."

"No dear, we're going with the Hindu guy. He's got a buy one get one deal, and he promotes religious tolerance in his ad."

"Okay, which ever is cheaper and reflects our values better."

Voodooists Attacked by Nutjob Evangelicals

Evangelical crowd attacks Voodoo practitioners in Haiti, as religious tensions rise

Voodooists attacked at ceremony for Haiti victims... because there's not enough problems there.

PORT-AU-PRINCE, Haiti — Angry crowds in a seaside slum attacked a group of Voodoo practitioners, pelting them with rocks and halting a ceremony meant to honor victims of last month’s deadly earthquake. How Christ-like. At least throwing rocks is a time honored tradition from the Bible.

The victim Voodooists gathered in Cite Soleil where thousands of quake survivors live in tents and depend on food aid. Praying and singing, the group was trying to conjure spirits to guide lost souls when a crowd of Evangelicals started shouting. Some threw rocks while others urinated on Voodoo symbols. When police left, the crowd destroyed the altars and Voodoo offerings of food and rum. They ruined the food and Rum!? You bastards!

“We were here preparing for prayer when these others came and took over,” said Sante Joseph, an Evangelical worshipper in Cite Soleil, near the capital’s port, who joined the angry crowd in a concrete outdoor civic center.

Tensions have been running high since the Jan. 12 earthquake killed an estimated 200,000 people and left more than 1 million homeless. More than 150 machete-wielding men attacked a World Food Program convoy Monday on the road between Haiti’s second-largest city of Cap-Haitien and Port-au-Prince. There were no injuries but Chilean peacekeepers could not prevent the men from stealing the food, UN spokesman Michel Bonnardeaux said.

Religious tension has also increased: Baptists, Catholics, Jehovah’s Witnesses, Scientologists, Mormons and other missionaries have flocked to Haiti in droves since the earthquake to feed the homeless, treat the injured and jockey for souls. Some Voodoo practitioners have said they’ve converted to Christianity for fear they will lose out on aid or a belief that the earthquake was a warning from God. For crying out loud, who's been showing the 700 Club to the Haitians?

“Much of this has to do with the aid coming in,” said Max Beauvoir, a Voodoo priest and head of a Voodoo association. “Many missionaries oppose Voodoo. I hope this does not start a war of religions because many of our practitioners are being harassed now unlike any other time that I remember.”

Voodoo, or Vodou as preferred by Haitians, evolved in the 17th century when the French brought slaves to Haiti from West Africa. Slaves forced to practice Catholicism remained loyal to their African spirits in secret by adopting Catholic saints to coincide with African spirits, and today many Haitians consider themselves followers of both religions. Voodoo’s followers believe in reincarnation, one God and a pantheon of spirits. Voodoo leaders say that although they do not believe in evil spirits, some followers pray for the spirits to do evil.

“There’s absolutely a heightened spiritual conflict between Christianity and Voodoo since the quake,” said Pastor Frank Amedia of the Miami-based Touch Heaven Ministries who has been distributing food in Haiti and proselytizing.

“We would give food to the needy in the short term but if they refused to give up Voodoo, I’m not sure we would continue to support them in the long term because we wouldn’t want to perpetuate that practice. We equate it with witchcraft, which is contrary to the Gospel.”

Thanks to reader Milo for sending this in. Here's his source, which was heavily cutn'pasted here.

My question is, who in their right mind would eff with a Voodoo leader?

All the Angles

This table is very well done and sums up most of the usual argumentative angles used by creationists. Have fun!

Thanks to the The Atheist Missionary who sent it our way!

Jesus Receives Oral

Oral Roberts has finally been killed by God for not raising enough money.

Oral Roberts was a pioneer of televangelism, and he profited handsomely from it. Born into poverty in Oklahoma, he suffered from tuberculosis as a child... which taught him a very important lesson: desperate amd sick people are willing to part with their money in exchange for some hope. You can make a good living this way if you travel around and take cash directly. Roberts' innovation was in lying to hundreds of thousands—millions!—of people at a time through the miracle of television, and taking checks in the mail.

His show "Oral Roberts Presents" was a forum for healing the sick and dispossessed through God's power, but God doesn't work for free. Roberts famously told his viewers in 1987 that God was going to "call him home" if he didn't raise $8 million. The death threat worked: After climbing up into a "prayer tower" and going on a hunger strike—a "fast"—until he got his money, Roberts hit the $8 million mark. Funny, I don't remember Jesus doing that.

But like Jesus, he did have the rare ability to raise the dead. When someone died in the crowd at one of his revivals, he told an audience once, "I had to stop and go back in the crowd and raise the dead person so I could go ahead with the service." Sadly, he couldn't pull the trick off when his son Ronald committed suicide in 1981 after struggling with drug problems. We'd feel bad writing glibly about the death of the man's son if not for the fact that hundreds of thousands of people who suffered similar tragedies sent Roberts more money than they could afford to based on his toxic and preposterous lies.

Other toxic and preposterous lies: A 900-foot-tall Jesus appeared before him and commanded him to raise $120 million to build a hospital. The devil tried to strangle him in his bedroom, only to be driven away by his wife. Special holy water sprinkled on a billfold will bring prosperity. God told him he would return from the dead to rule over the Earth.

In addition to a legacy of fraud and theft, Roberts left us Oral Roberts University, a Christian educational institute that served as a playground for his son Richard, who ran it, and his wife. According to a 2007 lawsuit, Richard's wife spent school money to remodel their home 11 times in 14 years, employ her "underaged male" friends, run up $800 cell phone bills, spend $39,000 a pop on clothes at Chico's, and fly their daughter to Orlando for spring break on a private jet. The couple also allegedly forced professors and students to do their daughter's homework.

Anyway, he's dead now. If there's any justice in the Universe, he's already been reborn as a dung beetle in India.

And from Wonkette, she suggests the best way to remember Oral Roberts is to listen to his words: "The waste matter comes out of the body as poison, and he penetrates that part of the body in homosexuality. It's not to be put in the mouth of the man, or the mouth of the man or the woman…. It is the male organ, penetrating the vagina of the woman, the male and the female."


(cut n pasted from Gawker, and Wonkette)