America betrayed

America was betrayed today by the supreme court. We were betrayed by those whose responsibility it is to serve and protect our individual rights and freedoms. Those who bear the highest responsibility and are entrusted with the final verdict of justice have betrayed this nation and their sacred responsibility once again.

The supreme court ruled today, that the deviant and perverted minds of the Westboro Baptist Church of Topeka Kansas, have a constitutional right under the first amendment clause of free speech, to protest at and defile the funerals of our honored dead. These deviant and disgusting religious zealots now have the supreme court's seal of approval to attack and vilify private citizens further.

Free Speech Protected Funeral Protest

By BARBARA LEONARD

The Westboro Baptist Church was protected by the First Amendment when it picketed the funeral of a Marine killed in Iraq with signs that read "Thank God for dead soldiers" and "Fag troops," the Supreme Court ruled on Wednesday. Justice Samuel Alito, alone in his dissent, condemned the church, which he said should not be cleared from the $5 million verdict originally awarded to the Marine's family. "Our profound national commitment to free and open debate is not a license for the vicious verbal assault that occurred in this case," Alito wrote.
Writing for the majority, Chief Justice John Roberts also had strong words for the church, while defending its right to peaceful protest.
"Westboro believes that America is morally flawed; many Americans might feel the same about Westboro," Roberts wrote. "Westboro's funeral picketing is certainly hurtful and its contribution to public discourse may be negligible. But Westboro addressed matters of public import on public property, in a peaceful manner, in full compliance with the guidance of local officials.
"Speech is powerful," the majority opinion continues. "It can stir people to action, move them to tears of both joy and sorrow, and - as it did here - inflict great pain. On the facts before us, we cannot react to that pain by punishing the speaker. As a nation we have chosen a different course - to protect even hurtful speech on public issues to ensure that we do not stifle public debate. That choice requires that we shield Westboro from tort liability for its picketing in this case."

The full ruling and commentary, including the concurring opinions are posted in the link above. Every American should take the time to read these opinions and to look into the warped sense of justice that eight of these justices carried out today.