Thursday, March 03, 2011  Westboro Baptist Church and Freedom of
Speech  In the middle of every silver lining there is a big
black cloud.  The Supreme Court upheld the rights of freedom of
speech for the Westboro Baptist Church to say all of the
offensive, mean-spirited, hate-mongering things they are prone
to say.  (See: CNN Anti-gay church's right to protest at
military funerals is upheld)  That's the silver lining.  Then
there's the cloud.  In Wednesday's case, 48 states and dozens of
members of Congress filed an amicus brief in support of the
Snyders.  Fourty-eight state governments do not understand the
right to freedom of speech?Which two did understand this right,
I wonder? They deserve to be recognized and honored for this
fact.  Dozens of members of Congress?  Plus, we have one
(fortunately, only one) Supreme Court Justice himself who does
not understand the right to freedom of speech - Justice Samuel
Alito, the descenting voice in the 8-1 decision.  [F]ree and
open debate is not a license for the vi