In Defense of Free Speech

2 Comments to “In Defense of Free Speech”

1. 

   Cavan CoxApril 2, 2010 at 10:42 pm

   A few days ago I read an article similar to this one:

   http://abcnews.go.com/WN/court-rules-father-westboro-baptist-church-case/story?id=10261741

   Detailing the Westboro Baptist Church which goes around protesting at military funerals–not 30 feet from the mourners. They believe that all soldiers are evil for defending a country which tolerates homosexuality, and protest at the funerals of all soldiers regardless of their sexual orientation. Signs include items like “Thank God for IEDs” “Semper Fi Fags” and “God Hates You.”

   In a story that might well have been pulled from the Book of Job, a father whose son had been killed in Iraq found these people at the funeral. Ultimately he sued them for Intentional Infliction of Emotional Distress and won (not surprisingly) an astronomical jury verdict of $10 million, reduced to $5 million by the trial judge. However, the case was overturned on appeal–free speech–and the father was ordered to pay the Westboro Baptists legal fees to the tune of $16,500. He outright refused. (Who wouldn’t? I mean seriously, come and get it.) I must mention that numerous people, including notably Bill O’Reily, volunteered to reimburse the fees if the father had to pay them. Its on appeal to the Supreme Court now.

   Recognizing that words should generally be fought with words, sometimes I’d rather exchange blows.

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2. 

   pilaApril 5, 2010 at 4:59 pm

   I would match their free speech with art. A little performance art piece I like to call “Me whoopin’ that ass.”

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