Recently there was a Supreme Court decision that the Westboro Baptist Church was within its First Amendment rights to protest a military funeral. This is a very interesting case because the First Amendment not only protects free speech but also the idea that the government can not do anything that favors one church over another. This case is about free speech and the government is not doing anything to endorse the ideas and hatred that the Westboro Baptist Church is preaching. If this was another church doing the protesting, then the Supreme Court would have ruled the same way and this is why they are not endorsing this specific church. The great thing about this case is that the freedom of speech was upheld. Do not get me wrong, I do not agree with the Westboro Baptist Church in any way, shape or form. Actually, I think that Fred Phelps is an evil man. However, the freedom of speech also allows me to write this blog without fear that the government will feel the need to shut me down. The freedom of speech does provide us with a great freedom, and it should not be taken for granted. There are many people that I am sure that we all would like to silence, but what happens when they come to silence you or me?
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/03/02/westboro-baptist-church-w_n_830209.html
The other part of the First Amendment stating that Congress should not make any law respecting the establishment of religion brings about some very interesting questions in this case. What would this country be like if the practices of the Westboro Baptist Church were the standard religion? Would this church have been able to come into existence without our freedom of religion and the separation of church and state? I think that the mentality of the Westboro Baptist Church can be very dangerous. The reason why this church is scary is that many people believe that all they need to do in order to get into heaven is simply believe in Jesus Christ and in the meantime do any nasty act they wish, however it seems that they do most of their protesting just for the publicity. This church is a great example of how crazy some religious people can get. Ultimately, if this was the one true way to worship a god, I would actively choose not to worship him for I do not find the god of the Westboro Baptist Church is simply not worth worshiping.
Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances.
http://www.usconstitution.net/xconst_Am1.html
