When Free Speech Attacks!

On this busy third day of hearings for the new Court, Snyder v. Phelps is creating a circus at 1st and East Capitol today.

There is a legal line of demarcation somewhere between a citizens' right to say whatever distasteful thing they want and where common decency should apply. This question gets dangerously close to "legislating morality" or where an activist Court could inject their opinion in a harmful way against the Bill of Rights.

But I think we can all agree that this type of speech is not appropriate in most settings, much less a funeral! For as much as I believe in anyones' right to speak their mind in whatever venue they choose, the funeral of a solider who died protecting my right to speak my mind and live my life in the greatest country on earth is *not* the appropriate venue for the Westboro Baptist folks to air their fringe views.

So if we want to argue the merits of one lifestyle over another, one political party over another, or even one faith over another, let's do it in a respectful and cogent manner. Not in a way that offends the everyday American family who's child gave the ultimate sacrifice so we can continue our debate.

This will be an interesting and potentially monumental opinion. For the desired effect, the holding will have to be very narrowly tailored to a specific set of circumstances. Otherwise it could infringe on many other, possibly unexpected, scenarios of justified Free Speech.

But until we have an opinion, there is always the option to counter-protest!

Very brave and very cold.