The freedom of speech is something that I feel we all have access too and should not be hindered in using in any way. In regards to the Westboro Baptist Church (WBC), they have the right to protest in the ways they do and they take full advantage of this right. However, it seems that their use of this right verges on the edge of abuse at times. Protesting a nine-year-old shooting victim's funeral and saying that this is "God's punishment for America's lack of morals" seems to be more of a tactic in hateful torment than expressing legitimate concerns. The radical views and actions by WBC against homosexuals, various political groups and almost every religious sect have even the KKK calling them a group of "hate mongers." I found it interesting that a Miami University professor would invite such a group to speak in their publicly funded classroom. If the WBC is invited to speak, then why not invite another group with similar caustic tones, perhaps the neo-Nazis? Calling attention to a group such as this does nothing but provide fuel to their fire and furthers the hateful messages they wish to spread. Messages that do not seem to fall in line with Miami's call for "love and honor."
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