First Amendment Dilemma for Tea Party

The recent Supreme Court decision regarding the Westboro Baptist Church and their freedom to protest at funerals of slain soldiers presents somewhat of a problem for tea party members like me. The decision protects the church’s first amendment rights, free speech and freedom to assemble, and as one who believes in as strict interpretation of the Constitution, it is hard to argue with that. But then there is the other side of the argument which is that of respect.

Those of us involved in the tea party movement have a tremendous amount of respect for those who serve and have served in our armed forces. And when they are killed in the line of duty, they deserve respect and dignity at their funerals. What the members of the Westboro Baptist Church do is neither dignified nor respectful. But, as the Supreme Court has ruled, it is legal.

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I remember the first tea party rally I attended and there were a couple of college kids who decided it would be a good idea to burn a flag in front of us. Fortunately  they were unable to light it but it certainly got a rise out of the crowd, especially the veterans. But again they have the right to burn the flag. It doesn’t mean they should, but they can.

So how does the tea party movement handle people such as this? The first argument you will hear is “Just because it’s legal, doesn’t mean it’s right.” The argument which always comes out is the shouting fire n a crowded theater one, but I think we all have to agree this isn’t the same, there is no danger to life involved here. Who decides what is right? What you and I think is right and the correct way to behave, doesn’t mean that others feel as we do. I have found through the years that groups, especially fanatical religious groups such as the Westboro Baptist Church, only believe in what they do. I heard the pastor’s daughter on a talk radio show the other morning and there is no way anyone is going to convince her or her group they are wrong. They won’t listen to any rational argument, they are blinded by their passion, as misguided as we may think it is, they believe it. Really is it any different than what tea partiers think about our principles? True I like to think we will at listen to the other side, but we have to admit we are passionate in our beliefs.

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Even if we use the moral argument, and claim that protesting at a funeral is morally wrong, we can’t win. Why? Who determines what set of morals we use? There is no common set of morality, look at the abortion debate or the debate over the death penalty. Each side thinks they are morally right.

How is the Westboro Baptist Church protesting at a funeral any different from the tea party movement holding counter demonstrations against the Wisconsin union supporters? Had the unions filed an injunction or enlisted the Police to stop the tea party from rally (although there is some question if the Police turned a blind eye to union violence against the tea party) would we not be fighting for our First Amendment rights?

 I have a saying which is “Just because we have the right to be offensive, doesn’t mean we have to be.” If only everyone thought like I do, but they don’t.  I don’t have an answer, but we can be sure it is a matter which will be brought up again.