Where Does the Right to Speech End?

The cornerstone of American Democracy is the First Amendment to the Constitution. The guaranteed protection to peacefully assemble and protest is essential to the preservation of our democratic ideals. The mere fact individuals can scream their belief without fear of arrest is the beauty of our ever-changing country.

Our republican experiment of giving citizens freedoms rests upon the people practicing their citizenship in a responsible manner. It is unlawful to yell fire in a public building because our courts have ruled in favor of protecting the majority when a minority uses speech in a harmful way.

In the spirit of protecting people, the judicial branch must examine the issues surrounding protesting of fallen soldiers funerals. A public park, legislative building, etc., are appropriate ways to protest government policy. Staging demonstrations at funerals is disgraceful and I call on our government to pass legislation banning protests at cemetaries. I would expect that our court system would find this legislation to be constitutional.

The families of our fallen soldiers deserve privacy and respect in their time of grief. Democrat, Republican, or whatever political philosophy one subscribes, should be able to pass legislation in a bi-partisan manner to give our soldier's families the peace to bid a fallen patriot farewell.

As a Democrat, I would be proud of party in taking the lead on such an honorable and patriotic effort.