How To Fight Fred

[lame54]

http://www.michaelmoore.com/words/mike-friends-blog/how-fight-fred

October 12th, 2010 12:26 PM
How to Fight Fred

By Michael Moore

...right now the Supreme Court is deciding a critical First Amendment case in which Fred and his family are (Aggggggh! I don't want to write this...) on the right side.
After Lance Cpl. Matthew A. Snyder was killed in Iraq in 2006, the Phelps family showed up in their usual vile, disgusting manner at his funeral in Westminster, Maryland. There they followed the rules, stayed 1000 feet away from the church, and held up their incredibly hateful signs.
Soon afterward the Snyder family sued Phelps for defamation, invasion of privacy, and intentional infliction of emotional distress. A jury awarded Snyder's father $10.9 million. Later appeals reduced the damages and then overturned the verdict. Now it's up to the Supreme Court.
And the Supreme Court should uphold the lower court's verdict finding that Westboro's protests are covered by the First Amendment. That's what we have it for. As I believe Voltaire once said, "I disapprove of what you say, but I will defend to the death your right to say it, even if you're a sick old man who's probably so obsessed with gay sex because he's secretly gay himself." (Voltaire didn't actually say that last part, but I think it's implied. Nor am I referring to anyone in particular.)
Am I suggesting we just ignore this kind of hate speech? Not at all. I'm just saying... (More Moore)