1st Amendment Protected

This topic shows that the “Sticks and Stones” theory is relevant in today’s society.   The 1st Amendment was protected once again.  A father of a fallen soldier, Albert Snyder, was met with opposition at his son’s funeral.    The Westboro Baptist Church picketed the funeral of Matthew Snyder in 2006.   The picketers were carrying signs like “Thank God for Dead Soldiers”, “God Hates Fags” and “America Is Doomed”.

Mr. Snyder sued the Church for invasion of privacy, emotional distress and violation of his rights to free exercise of religion and peaceful assembly.  According to the Washington Post, the Supreme Court overturned a $5million lawsuit protecting a church’s right to picket a funeral in an 8-1 vote.  The Court agreed that Westboro followed all laws that protected their freedoms of speech.

I think this article is worth reading and researching more about.   It brings drama and emotion to the reader whether you are on the side of the father or the Church.  It makes you question compassion, tact, government and religion all in one read.

Sticks and Stones

Sticks and Stones is an English language children's rhyme. It persuades the child victim of name-calling to ignore the taunt, to refrain from physical retaliation, and to remain calm and good-natured. The most common version, as used in that work, runs:

Sticks and stones
May break my bones
But names will never hurt me.

An alternate version is:

Sticks and stones
May break my bones
But words will never hurt me.

This sentiment is reflected in the common law of civil assault, which holds that mere name-calling does not give rise to a cause of action, while putting someone in fear of physical violence does.

(Source)