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LonDom61 -> RE: Fred Phelps church BANkRUPT (11/11/2007 5:32:08 AM)
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SeeksFemSlave: re your "sorry, folks, but what he says is in the Bible"...yep. Pretty sure it's in Leviticus.
re your later point about the media, that's a great idea. Constitution guarantees free speech; doesn't guarantee anyone'll publish your words or promote your agenda. But yes, hate sells. And expecting cohesion by the media (worried about being scooped by other outlets) is too much to expect. Actually, that's a good thing. If they DID all say "let's agree not to cover this...and that...and...", now THAT would be scary.
Of course, some folks figure they've already been doing just that for years.
As objectionable as we all find his practices (yes, me too), several points of interest:
1. It's quite likely the decision will be overturned on appeal. And that, rather than having to pay anything, the nasty man and his nasty church will be awarded "costs". Being a bunch of lawyers, they weren't out of pocket for legal fees...but they would then be able to bill for their time. AND they'll be interviewed all over the place & will crow about it (so, as they have in the past, they'll profit both financially and PR-wise as a result of what they've baited people into doing).
2. Phelps wasn't always this awful. Apparently, back in the day, he was almost single-handedly responsible for getting Jim Crow laws repealed in his state. I don't have specifics on that, but got it from some very well informed atheists who were basically "giving the Devil his due" (just an expression; they don't believe in the Devil either).
3. What he's doing IS reprehensible. But the first ammendment doesn't say: "...as long as it's not objectionable". There's a good quote that goes something like this. "I disagree strongly with what you say...but I'll defend to the death your right to say it."
A crazy homeles guy can wear a foil hat and rant at the top of his lungs how he's Napoleon's clone and the furry aliens will arrive soon to make him King of the World. He has the right to say it. We have the right to ignore him. The media has the right not to offer him a platform.
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