Yesterday Hot Air reported on the decision by the Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit to have Albert Snyder pay the Court costs of his lawsuit against Fred Phelps.  Fred Phelps is the founder of the group from the Westboro Church, based in Topeka, Kansas, that protests military funerals with protest signs saying the deaths of American troops are God’s punishment for America allowing homosexuality.  The Westboro Church protested at the funeral of Albert Snyder’s son, and Mr. Snyder sued Fred Phelps for the emotional distress caused by the disruption of the funeral.  The legal question is ‘where do a person’s First Amendment rights end?’  The case will probably make it to the Supreme Court.  I am not a lawyer, and I don’t understand how the legal aspect of this will be settled, but I believe something needs to be said about the total inappropriateness of protesting at a funeral.  Mr. Snyder has lost his son, I do not believe that the Westboro Church was acting with compassion when they turned the funeral into a circus.

Just a personal note on this.  I was in Jacksonville, North Carolina, in January of 2009 when Mr. Phelps brought his act to town.  Jacksonville is the town adjacent to Camp Lejeune, the largest Marine base on the east coast.  The military knew he was coming and simply avoided the area of town where he was protesting.  The Marines responded to his appearance with class and dignity.  Unfortunately, both those qualities are alien to Mr. Phelps.  Mr. Phelps has been allowed his First Amendment rights with very little interference.  There is no need to bring his circus to funerals; he has other places where he can protest.  A little respect for the feelings of the people who have suffered a great loss would be appreciated.