So here's the short version. Disgusted by the picketing of soldiers funerals by the Westboro Baptist Church, Congress passed the "Respect for America's Fallen Heroes Act". Basically you can't hold demonstrations within 300 ft. of the entrances to our national cemetaries 1 hour before of after a fallen soldier's funeral. Penalties include up to 1 year in prison and a $1,000 fine.
I have discussion questions for this for my speech project as I am presenting this for my current events project. I got four of them easily, but had trouble with two of them. Tell me what you think.
Discussion questions:
1. Do you think Congress's decision to prohibit demonstrations at military funerals at national cemeteries is a violation of the First Amendment?
2. If Congress passed an act designed to protect fallen soldier's funerals, do you think all funerals should be protected?
3. Do you think messages such as the Westboro Baptist Church's should be protected under the First Amendment?
4. Do you think the Westboro Baptist Church would have had such an impact with their message if the government had left them alone?
5. The WBC has very focused religious beliefs which include a message which is offensive to the majority of the populace. Do you believe the Act has gray area in protecting some for religion while prohibiting others from practicing theirs?
6. Do you think the penalties for picketing at soldier’s funerals will stop groups who are as radical as this group is?
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1 comment:
Yeah, the Civil Liberties Union said that while the protests are distasteful and EXTREMELY inapprpriate, the act was a violation of these people's first amendment rights. Cemeteries are, however, private and federal property to an extent, so the picketing can't go on inside. It's the 300 ft from the entrance thing that gets dicey.
Do you think my discussion questions are good? I'm close to the first person to go.
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