Grandpamike and the First Amendment

<p class="MsoNormal"><font color="#999999" size="1"><span style="FONT-SIZE: 7pt; COLOR: #999999; FONT-FAMILY: Verdana">Associated Press | November 01, 2007</span></font></p>

The sad thing is, Phelps and his gang of inbreds will fight that to the bitter end. I really hope that the father of the fallen soldier receives true justiceand that the Phelpians lose everything. It would be just desserts for them to end up having to ask for a handout from [i]real[i] Christians. Certainly theywouldn't "lower" themselves to asking for help from people of other faiths.

That's a tough one Lane. There's information missing that could affect my opinion so I'll have to give more than one.<br><ul><li>The funeral was on public property - the protesters were exercising their 1st amendment rights.</li> <li>The funeral was on private property and the protesters were on public property - the protesters were exercising their 1st amendment rights.</li> <li>The funeral was on private property and the protesters were on that property but the property owners <span style="font-style: italic;">did not</span> ask them to leave - the protesters were exercising their 1st amendment rights.</li> <li>The funeral was on private property, the protesters were on that property and the property owners <span style="font-style: italic;">did</span> ask them to leave - the protesters were violating the privacy of the bereaved.</li></ul>There is also the issue of whether the funeral was advertised in the "Public Notices" section of a newspaper. The family could not reasonablyexpect privacy if it was no matter where it was held. If it was in the "Funeral Notices" with the statement "public welcome", the samewould be true.<br><br>If we assume the trial was fair, then we also have to assume the jury did the right thing. However, if the judge allowed personal feelings to cloud the mannerin which he conducted the trial and give jury instructions, then the jurors may not have known their rights and voted as instructed. There is also thepossibility that the jurors let their own prejudices get in the way of a constitutionally correct verdict.<br><br>While I absolutely think the defendants are, well, misinformed, they certainly have the constitutional right to make their views visible to the public at largeproviding they do not violate the constitutional rights of others.<br><br><blockquote> you enjoy the benefits of being an American but like to work the system to your advantage.</blockquote>I'm really not sure exactly what you mean by that. It sort of looks like two parts of the same thing. I've been thinking about a partialanswer but will save it until I know more. The "work the system" part has me baffled.<br><br>Gramps<br><br>

Gramps and I don't always agree on issues, but I don't think he "works the system" to his advantage. Gramps is a believer in theConstitution, that is all.<br><br>Steve

Steve, to say I'm "a believer" in the constitution isn't quite correct. At this point in time, and for the last 230 years, the constitutionis and has been the root of the government we have. In order to keep government from getting totally out of control (it's only 99% out of control now), theconstitution must be followed. Once the government is returned to it's constitutional levels, only then can we realistically begin the process ofcompletely removing government interference from our lives. What I do believe is that the complete absence of government and religion is absolutely necessaryfor a totally civilized and peaceful world. That is not to say that the absence of government and religion would automatically and immediately result in acivilized and peaceful world but it would be a giant step in that direction.<br><br><br>"To be governed is to be watched, inspected, spied upon, directed, law-driven, numbered, regulated, enrolled, indoctrinated, preached at, controlled,checked, estimated, valued, censured, commanded, by creatures who have neither the right nor the wisdom nor the virtue to do so."<br>Pierre-Joseph Proudhon<br><br>"There are men in all ages who mean to govern well, but they mean to govern. They promise to be good masters, but they mean to be masters."<br>Daniel Webster<br><br>"The essence of Government is power; and power, lodged as it must be in human hands, will ever be liable to abuse."<br>James Madison<br><br>"Religion is regarded by the common people as true, by the wise as false, and by the rulers as useful."<br>Seneca<br><br>"We cannot resolve the problems of the world by using the same techniques that have created them."<br>Albert Einstein<br><br>"If ye love wealth better than liberty, the tranquility of servitude better than the animating contest of freedom, go from us in peace. We ask not yourcounsels or arms. Crouch down and lick the hands which feed you. May your chains sit lightly upon you"<br>Samuel Adams<br><br>Gramps

Heh, Gramps, right after I posted that I knew you would correct me. What I should have said is "given the current order of things, Gramps simply believesthat the Constitution should be followed."<br>How about that?

Gramps and a Republican candidate may have more in common than you think:<br><br>www.ronpaul2008.com<br><br>Stupid yuku still won't let me do links on a mac...sorry!

That particular republican is the first candidate for anything I've ever supported. I've donated to his campaign and will again tomorrow. I'll beparticipating in the "money bomb" organized by the good doctor's supporters that hopes to raise $10 million for his campaign in one day. Theypicked November 5th because of it's historical significance. The movie "V For Vendetta" probably had a lot to do with it too. Very importantmovie.<br><br>Gramps<br>

I agree....Ron Paul is the first "real" republican and conservative candidate I have ever had a chance to vote for. He gets my money tomorrow aswell.<br><br>And V is a great film...engaging, scary, and all too real. Mandatory viewing....<br><br>And as far as the above example of funeral protestors goes.....as much as I abhor their seemingly hateful and hypocritical message I'll let Noam Chomskysay it because he says it so well:<br><br>"If we don't believe in freedom of expression for<br>people we despise, we don't believe in it at all."<br>-Noam Chomsky

Here ya go Dave...hope all is well. Say hey to Andrea and Dad!<br><br><a target="_blank" href="http://www.ronpaul2008.com/">http://www.ronpaul2008.com/</a>