Phelps Banned From Uk

[Hassan]

[quote name='Aloysius' post='1787320' date='Feb 21 2009, 01:20 PM']it'd be cute if you were calling it libel because they wrote it on picket signs, but I'd think it more like slander and even that it's not LEGALLY slander, merely insulting people is not a crime. libel is when a newspaper misrepresents the facts about someone to destroy their reputation in a way that causes them damage, if I'm not mistaken. I don't see any crime of "libel" here. next thing you know elementary school kids will get charged with libel or slander for calling a classmate q.ueer or something...

I do NOT concede to the governments of western civilization the authority to define "inciting hatred", Canada has already gone over the deep end with that such that calling homosexuality immoral in Canada can be considered "inciting hatred"; now, inciting riots would make sense, except that they're not doing that... they're assembling to voice a stupid and unpopular viewpoint. I do not accept the idea that a stupid and unpopular viewpoint being expressed in a public demonstration qualifies as "inciting a riot"... again, this is not because I like what the WBC says, but because I do not like the governments using their power against unpopular opinions.

I would like to see an example from the US where this was grounds to deny travel visas... I'd consider that unconstitutional in principal. the president of Iran's comments could've sparked riots because of how angry they made people; but he came to the US where he was free to say such things.[/quote]

There have been studies that suggust the Bush administration used anti terror laws to bar foreign acadamics with critical view points from entering the country.

[Archaeology cat]

[quote name='Hassan' post='1787366' date='Feb 21 2009, 07:07 PM']There have been studies that suggust the Bush administration used anti terror laws to bar foreign acadamics with critical view points from entering the country.[/quote]
I found an article speaking about one such academic. Now, I have no idea how accurate this website generally is, but [url="http://www.alternet.org/columnists/story/93361/respected_academic_denied_entry_into_u.s./"]here's the link[/url].

[Aloysius]

...freedom of speech is dying everywhere...

[Tinkerlina]

Thank God. That guy is just evil. Picketing funerals? Dispicable. I can't believe that interfering in [i]anyone's[/i] funeral is even allowed in the US. -Katie

[Tinkerlina]

[quote name='Aloysius' post='1787382' date='Feb 21 2009, 03:34 PM']...freedom of speech is dying everywhere...[/quote]

Phelps doesn't just [i]say[/i] ridiculous things, I think what he does is blatantly infringing upon the rights of others-failing to respect funerals is just low, imo. -Katie

[Aloysius]

what ever happened to the concept of "I may not like what you say, but I'll defend to the death you're right to say it"?

when it comes to picketing outside funerals, authorities should do their best to deny permits for public assembly in such locations, that's quite acceptable. Though in this particular case they were planning to picket outside a play I believe, and as stupid as their position is, they ought to have had the right to do so if they wish. or are plays sacrosanct?

actually, I'd think their presence there would highlight the point of that particular play, which is a play about the town where Matthew Shepherd died I believe... It'd be like having a group of Captain Hook supporters protesting outside a Peter Pan play (sorry, lol that was a silly analogy, but the first thing that popped into my head)

I am unwilling to concede to these governments which I do not trust the authority to decide which minority opinions are kosher and which are not... because you'd better believe they're coming for us eventually on the same grounds.

[Tinkerlina]

[quote name='Aloysius' post='1787389' date='Feb 21 2009, 03:46 PM']what ever happened to the concept of "I may not like what you say, but I'll defend to the death you're right to say it"?

when it comes to picketing outside funerals, authorities should do their best to deny permits for public assembly in such locations, that's quite acceptable. Though in this particular case they were planning to picket outside a play I believe, and as stupid as their position is, they ought to have had the right to do so if they wish. or are plays sacrosanct?

actually, I'd think their presence there would highlight the point of that particular play, which is a play about the town where Matthew Shepherd died I believe... It'd be like having a group of Captain Hook supporters protesting outside a Peter Pan play (sorry, lol that was a silly analogy, but the first thing that popped into my head)

I am unwilling to concede to these governments which I do not trust the authority to decide which minority opinions are kosher and which are not... because you'd better believe they're coming for us eventually on the same grounds.[/quote]

Good point-I think the picketing of the play it self, while I consider it reprehensible, is within their rights. I think the UK does have good reason for banning them given their funeral activities in the US-I guess it might call into question what else they would do in the UK. -Katie

[Jesus_lol]

man, if you can get barred from entering the states for smoking pot once, 20 years ago...

its like when we canadians didnt let that domestic terrorist from the states into canada.


if they did this at one of my relatives funerals, i would almost definitely beat the croutons out of them.

[Selah]

lol. Someone should call them and say, "you're not going to UK, nah nah nah nah nah..."

[Noel's angel]

America didn't let Yusuf Islam in and he did nothing wrong...he's just a singer!

These people are turning people away from Christianity, and I don't particularly want to encourage that to happen...

I have to laugh because that woman Phelps had a child outside marriage, yet she's condemning basically the whole world.

[jeffpugh]

[quote name='Jesus_lol' post='1787409' date='Feb 21 2009, 03:15 PM']man, if you can get barred from entering the states for smoking pot once, 20 years ago...

its like when we canadians didnt let that domestic terrorist from the states into canada.


if they did this at one of my relatives funerals, i would almost definitely beat the croutons out of them.[/quote]
That's what they want you to do



























y'know, so they can take legal action against ya.

[Tinkerlina]

[quote name='Noel's angel' post='1787458' date='Feb 21 2009, 06:09 PM']These people are turning people away from Christianity, and I don't particularly want to encourage that to happen...[/quote]

Very good point. They are projecting the image of a Christian to the world and this isn't the image I want people to have. -Katie

[Aloysius]

the issue is not whether we agree with them or want them to shut up or not, we all clearly do... but to grant governments the power to restrict and censor those whose opinions we ourselves despise is to grant them the power to restrict and censor us ourselves.

reality check: to MANY of athiestic secularist tendencies, the Roman Catholic Church's teaching on homosexuality is JUST as hateful, JUST as inflammatory, JUST as wrong and in need of censorship as the WBC. NEWSFLASH: All of you are somebody's WBC. We are all somebody's WBC. And those somebodies are in charge of most of the governments of the world.