Urgent! Contact the Governor!

[phillyd2]

Sorry it took so long

BTW, what do we want when we say call the "Governor's office urging him to do something". What is the something? How about a law listing all approved places of protest? While we are at it, maybe just one or two issues that are not allowed to be protested? I'm sure we can trust the government not to abuse this new power over our liberty.

BTW II, US Constitution concerns citizens, well actually it concerns the limits of what the government can do, and the Detainee Detention Act concerns enemy combatants as classified by the POTUS.

BTW III, yeah I agree - freedom is a bitch.

So maybe not so busted.

[Lougotzz]

I have to agree with diego on this one. That's 2 time in about 36 hours.
Oh sh!t....


This group of wacko's does not represent the true god. god does not hate gay people. He doesnt hate anyone. he has his rules and if broken he offers forgiveness. he always extends a loving hand of mercy. look how the amish are talking about forgiving the shooter of these inocent young kids.

[TASCAR]

Philly,,,,Why so much rage???

[LorDiego01]

Again Philly,

more than upholding their Freedom of Speech, this group is engaging in malicious activity.

IF they were planning a protest outside of cityhall, and people on this board were running up and down contacting the governor to not let them do it, then I'd be with you on this one.

But its beyond freedom of speech, its about common sense, ethics adn respect to one another.

[Siobhra]

How about the free speech of others. You want to make a speech and I have the freedom to listen or NOT listen. A funeral or a wedding or any event is a form of speech and should be protected. It is not just the ones with the loudest voice. A funeral is the family and friends of the dead speaking in words and actions their feelings of loss. The protesters are trying to stomp on that right by saying their rights (and ideas) are all that is important.

Weather it is a funeral, gay wedding or a gay pride event it is still the free speech of the group holding the event. They are speaking of their loss at a funeral and their love at a wedding or their pride of identity of who they are.

These people and a few other Christian Groups will show up at any and all Gay Events and try to push their way in to protest and block the event. That too is the suppressing of the free speech rights of others.

[Archiver]

Originally Posted by TASCAR

Philly,,,,Why so much rage???

Because I know Dave, myself and friends at another forum have been the victim of people who refuse to grasp the WHOLE concept of the Constitution first hand.

Each and EVERY Amendment protects the ENTIRE document and is You simply CANT limit any of the Bill of Rights to suit your own views or political agenda...its EXTREMELY DANGEROUS! SHAME on anyone turning to empowering and idiot like Rendell to "solve" the problem....he's the biggest threat to our 2nd Amendment Rights in DECADES and yet people on here look to HIM for "help"??!? SHAME!!!

When I saw the news saying the protesters were coming the FIRST thing I personally said to myself is "what can I do?" Did I call the legislature, governor..? Nope I got off my fat arse on the couch at Midnight before the funeral and did some research about where to go so I could counter protest. I had heard about the Patriot Guard before and went to their website and after seeing all the good folk who had commited to being there breathed a sigh of relief. The entire family is now committe dto joining them at a future event. I'll also enlist the gun club and neighbors!
Personally I HATE those religious "people" and was extremely grateful to the Patriot Guard Riders for protecting the family.....if you go to their site they make quite a sacrifice of their time...riding all night...at times in cold and during scorching heat. Their solution is one of NON violence and not shamefully looking to "Big Brother" to get in their life.

What SHOULD have alarmed EVERYONE who values the Constitution was the agressive tone of Law Enforcement on the news where they vowed to stop the protests because the land was "private all around the funeral home." Wasnt anyone concerned that these LEOs were out to harrass the protesters on the PUBLIC Highway/right of way? You SHOULD have been VERY alarmed! I fully understand the Leo's gut reaction as personally my gut reaction is to take a couple of these religious wackos aside myself and exercise my "digits"...but not by calling the governor. However, I can contain that impulse because I value the Constitution MORE! Such should have been the case of Law Enforcement...they need to see the bigger picture.
You can quote laws about disrupting flow of traffic, endangering the public by protesters being on side of highway, etc but their RIGHT to protest should NOT be infringed no matter how ridiculous and insulting their point is! Thats what Sgt Hartman and our soldiers are fighting FOR!!! May she rest in Peace.

[dmg1969]

I have to chime in on this one because I was one of those who contact the governor's office.

First and foremost, I whole-heartedly agree with their right to say whatever they want. As others have said, if they want to march down Main Street, USA and spout their religious rhetoric, that is their right as U.S. citizens. They are not hurting anybody. People may disagree with their viewpoint, but anyone who does not can simply turn their back or not be there at all. The same goes for when the KKK and radical pro-lifers comes to town. The bottom line...you can choose to be where they are rallying or not to be.

However, when they arrive at a FUNERAL where they KNOW the family will be, they are intent on causing emotional distress. What is the purpose of this action but to INFLAME people? By inflaming people at such a time of grief and sorrow, bad things can happen. In my opinion, this could be considered either disturbing the peace or disorderly conduct. Why? Because it is a voluntary act MEANT to cause a disruption of the event.

Just my take on the topic.

Dave G.

[LorDiego01]

Originally Posted by phillyd2

BTW II, US Constitution concerns citizens, well actually it concerns the limits of what the government can do, and the Detainee Detention Act concerns enemy combatants as classified by the POTUS.

Just to clarify my smartasstically quote of the D.D.Act, I meant to say quote that to protect these freaks because I belive protesting at a funeral to be considered "torture" to the grieving familiy members. And we know that is all well and legal with the Bush Admin.

Secondly, the D.D.A does NOT only concern enemy combatants, its encapsules everybody, enemy, immigrnat, or U.S. Citizen.

=Sorry to derail the thread, please, lets get back to our scheduled programming.

[ChamberedRound]

Originally Posted by Siobhra

How about the free speech of others. You want to make a speech and I have the freedom to listen or NOT listen. A funeral or a wedding or any event is a form of speech and should be protected. It is not just the ones with the loudest voice. A funeral is the family and friends of the dead speaking in words and actions their feelings of loss. The protesters are trying to stomp on that right by saying their rights (and ideas) are all that is important.

Weather it is a funeral, gay wedding or a gay pride event it is still the free speech of the group holding the event. They are speaking of their loss at a funeral and their love at a wedding or their pride of identity of who they are.

These people and a few other Christian Groups will show up at any and all Gay Events and try to push their way in to protest and block the event. That too is the suppressing of the free speech rights of others.

Well put, Siobhra. Well put.

[Archiver]

Originally Posted by dmg1969

I have to chime in on this one because I was one of those who contact the governor's office.

First and foremost, I whole-heartedly agree with their right to say whatever they want. As others have said, if they want to march down Main Street, USA and spout their religious rhetoric, that is their right as U.S. citizens.

In my opinion, this could be considered either disturbing the peace or disorderly conduct. Why? Because it is a voluntary act MEANT to cause a disruption of the event.

Just my take on the topic.

Dave G.

Sorry Dave...but those two points I find contradictory....you cant have it both ways. I'm not a fan of "permits" to exercise your Civil rights either...which is something marching down mainstreet would need. Yes I understand that some think more permis and Police presence is necesssary to prevent violence...yet the Patriot Guad has shown time and time again that their peaceful yet somewhat intimidating presence is Excellent. Their solution is one of being committed to PEACEFUL counter protest and are PROTECTING our Ciil Rights NOT restricting them like you favor!
ANY protest is meant to cause a "disruption" and could by your reasoning be "disturbing the peace" or "disorderly conduct"...thats where the DANGER lies regarding the ENTIRE Bill of Rights! I agree that its NOT the time or place to harrass the family and I find those protesters SCUM in my book...... But if you prevented their right to protest I'd be the among the first with a flag standing betweeen the Cops and the Scum protesters preventing them from harrassing them!