Hah!

[Lucifer]

http://www.kansascity.com/115/story/1044016.html

[Sage]

Ah, good. Those people are twisted. Our government turned them away once before, as well.

[Pinky]

Banning people for having views that others don't like is a disturbing act. If you're not free to be unpopular then you're not free at all.

[Sage]

So you think it's okay to hate gay people or Muslims, etc?

No, I think you're just trying to stir the shit pot.

[Belle Hibiki]

I think it's fine to hate gays or Muslims.

That's not to say it's not ignorant to do so, but I'm not going to say you CAN'T have those views, however much I disagree with them.

There is, however, a limit of good taste in how you can express them. Interrupting funerals to broadcast your message is not good taste, and shouldn't be allowed, IMO.

[Alexander Trafford]

"The Phelpses have become notorious in the U.S. for carrying provocative banners with the phrase “God Hates Fags.” They have picketed the funerals of U.S. servicemen who died in Iraq and Afghanistan because they believe their deaths were the result of the government’s tolerance of gays."

I don't understand this connection, I'm quite vexed by it.

[Jack]

Anti-gay people don't care anymore, they just know they hate gays. I think the "reasons" they give are mainly for their own amusement, they have to be, they don't make ANY sense.

[Lucifer]

Banning people for having views that others don't like is a disturbing act. If you're not free to be unpopular then you're not free at all.

The fact that governments are able to do this means you're not free at all, silly.
Freedom is one of those non-words that are used to win votes and justify unpopular actions.
Nobody really has or wants it, there'd be chaos. It's just a nice way of softening things.

[Rem-13]

I think they are disgusting individuals. They aren't doing anything illegal though, so nothing can or should be done.

[Kokukashin]

I am glad Britain refused them entrance. Maybe the Phelps will realize that the U.S. Constitution does not back them everywhere they go. I was just reading their site, and the following quote amused me.

"In 1991, WBC took her ministry to the streets, conducting 39,932 peaceful demonstrations (to date) opposing the fag lifestyle of soul-damning, nation-destroying filth"

I love how they fit "Peaceful", "Soul-damning", and "Nation-destroying" all into the same sentence. Ha, just read another sign on their website saying "God Hates the UK". I think that it is quite obvious by now that "God" hates anyone who opposes the Phelps .

Who knows, maybe they will put one of these "God Hates X" shows on in somewhere like Congo or Afghanistan. That would be interesting to watch on the news.

The sadest thing about this is that her children have all been brainwashed into this cult, and they will probably do the same thing to their children. It all started with Fred...

[Kami]

There was a huge ordeal at my former high school when the theater department tried to put on a production of the play those fools were trying to protest. It ended with the Theater teacher resigning and suing the school district. Tons of people came out to protest. I really wanted to launch a drive by shooting campaign and kill them all.

[Pinky]

The fact that governments are able to do this means you're not free at all, silly.
Freedom is one of those non-words that are used to win votes and justify unpopular actions.
Nobody really has or wants it, there'd be chaos. It's just a nice way of softening things.

I'd prefer to opportunity of chaos, especially when the alternative is the certainty of living under some government's boot heel. If politicians get comfortable with this asymmetrical speech oppression against foreigners (this guy wasn't advocating or instigating violence, or any other serious crime... unless it's a crime to hate in the UK?) it's only a matter of time before they openly use it against natives under some pretense of social justice or maintaining civil order. Really, how funny would it be if this authority was used against *your* politics instead of being used to promote it? One small step for man, one giant leap towards an Orwellian dystopia.

[Sage]

Hate-speech is a crime in Canada. That's the justification our gov't used to deny the Phelps' entry Just... fyi.

Actually, I sort of assumed it was a crime in America, too. I guess not? O.o

Besides, Lucien's right. Anyone, be it the UK, Canada, America, wherever. We're not free. We're just less oppressed than a lot of other people.

[Rem-13]

Right to Free Speech tends to deflect alot of those laws. Not always.

[Pinky]

No, there are no hate speech laws in the US. You have to actually do something for it to be a crime here. We have the right to be offensive, because even the worst open debate is preferable to a governmental fiat over which ideas are allowed to be discussed in public.

[Josh]

Hate-Speech as a crime is essentially a thought crime, it's like saying "It's illegal to think this way". By saying it's wrong to openly disagree and speak your negative opinions about something is terrifying and I can't believe we have such a ridiculous and rights offending law in Canada.

Yeah I don't agree with them, and I think they are ignorant, but you can't just silence one side of the debate because you don't like how it sounds. Gays, Blacks, all sorts of different people spoke loudly and fought for free speech and now they are spinning around and trying to take it from others because they don't like the way other people sound?

That's hypocritical bullshit, and it's monstrous to think any government would allow it.

[Vad]

The problem with Free Speech is the fact that so many take "Free Speech" to it's extreme and fall back on the basic meaning to protect them.

I mean, yes, the amendment does protect all forms, but the law should include something to put a limit on how far you can take it.

The press in the US has one. It's called Defamation.

[Pinky]

If you incite others to violence or other criminal activity, then that is a crime in itself. However, you have no room to simply tell people what they can and can't talk about. That's insane.

[Waffuru]

The government always has the right to refuse people entry regardless of reason. In this case it was to avoid bad press. It's not like these people were already in the country and were removed for having unpopular opinions.

[Sage]

Hate-Speech as a crime is essentially a thought crime, it's like saying "It's illegal to think this way". By saying it's wrong to openly disagree and speak your negative opinions about something is terrifying and I can't believe we have such a ridiculous and rights offending law in Canada.

Yeah I don't agree with them, and I think they are ignorant, but you can't just silence one side of the debate because you don't like how it sounds. Gays, Blacks, all sorts of different people spoke loudly and fought for free speech and now they are spinning around and trying to take it from others because they don't like the way other people sound?

That's hypocritical bullshit, and it's monstrous to think any government would allow it.

Actually... I have to admit, you make a good point. I guess I never considered the potential to abuse the law... and I have to grant that the potential's pretty large.

Still... I don't know. I guess I'll have to consider this one more carefully when I have time.