Freedom of Speech, yea right....

While there is no doubt there has been some serious over reacting by virtually all involved in this situation some groups must also recognize they invite trouble by showing up where there is a legitimate chance they will not be welcome. I doubt singing songs is going to do anything to change a persons sexual preference and I doubt doing so in any way negatively affected the **edited** pride gathering either.

Edited by Ajreaper

    I'm glad they lost. I hate christians like that with the high and might additudes that think they have a right to tell everyone that they are living wrong. I mean, technically they do because of the first amendment but still, I hate it. I mean, if you are dumb enough to go into a large crowd of people and tell them that their very way of life is wrong and not expect trouble you need to be taken outside and beaten among other things. And personally I could justify every charge against them. Evangelists annoy me more than g.ay people do.

I'd hate to jump on any band wagon...you shouldt have to have the exact same opinons as everyone else, you should be allowed to have your own.  But what theses bible huggers did was just stupid...

Not correct, tippy.  The articles have said that they were interfering with the scheduled event, and failed to obey police orders to relocate.

There is also that charge of ethnic intimidation that I am curious about...

And this story is overwhelmingly reported on conservative/religious sites.  I had to look hard to find a neutral story like the Philly paper.  The one "g ay-side" story I found was just a repeat of a generic story.

The facts are not yet in on this one, but the available facts, IMO, subtly suggest that the hymn-singers were not all that innocent.

My basic reason:  I am not a conspiracy theorist.  While innocent people may get charged, I generally do not believe that the police/prosecutors/judges are out to "get" anybody.

If somebody is charged with a crime, there is usually a reason.  They may later be found not guilty, but it will take a lot for me to believe that there is some political motivation for criminal charges.  Police and prosecutors are just people doing their jobs.

Secondly, the facts as presented appear to imply that the defendants were not merely standing on the curb singing hymns, but activily trying to interfere with the event  - either by physically inserting themselves, or by selecting particularly inflammatory sermon concepts.

The Klan is welcome to think black people are inferior, and to say so - they just can't do it in the middle of an NAACP rally.  Similarly, you can't go on about how evil homosexuality is at a g.ay rally.  They were (apparently) asked to go to a different area and refused.

People were arrested at both the Democratic and Republican conventions last year - not because their opinions were 'invalid,' but because they were being disorderly about it.

The substance of almost any speech is always ok.  The presentation not necessarily so.

 

EDIT - but I haven't read the actual charges - I can't find them.  I don't necessarily believe them guilty yet, I am only having a slight leaning in that direction.

Edited by Clark Kent

^^^They really did.

And I agree Clark, There usually is a reason when people are charged.

I wonder who is next when **edited**-bashing gets old?  I hope it's not fat people...

WGP guy wrote: Weren't the protests against Bush hate crimes then?

Maybe you should ask that question of the mass arrest victims at the time of the republican national convention.

Nice skewed viewpoint on that article.

Enos Shenk wrote: WGP guy wrote: Weren't the protests against Bush hate crimes then? Maybe you should ask that question of the mass arrest victims at the time of the republican national convention. Nice skewed viewpoint on that article.

They were Anarchists, Enos.  FAUX News said so.  Besides, protesters make Baby Jeebus cry.

Hades wrote: Maybe this will teach some people that their message isnt always welcome. I know which side I am routing for.

Yea.  Homosexuals message just isn't welcome.

On a more serious note.  If that thing about the homos going into the church is true, and they were not arrested....


Edited by WGP guy