Is Speech Too Free?

     It has been a big week for free speech, both in the United States and across the pond.
     First, in the United States. Many people have heard of the tiny church from Topeka, Kansas, known as Westboro Baptist because of their favorite slogan, "God Hates Fags." They believe that American men and women are dying overseas because of our tolerance of homosexuals. When they protested the funeral of a fallen soldier, Matthew Snyder, Snyder's family decided to sue for intentional infliction of emotional distress. This week, the case ended in the Supreme Court, which ruled 8-1 in favor of Westboro Baptist.
     Contrast this with the case of John Galliano, the famous fashion designer. Galliano was videotaped in a Paris bar having an altercation with some Parisians. "I love Hitler." Galliano said. "If it were up to me, you would be dead. Your mothers and fathers, gassed." So-called Hate Speech is illegal in France, as well as many other European countries and Canada. Galliano faces up to 6 months in prison plus thousands in fines.
     Who has it right? Should all speech, even speech which any sane person would call vile, be protected? Freedom of speech is protected in the 1st Amendment of the United States Constitution. It is the basis from which all other rights sprout. All speech deserves it's place in the free market of ideas. It was not so long ago that few people would have disagreed with the notion that God hates homosexuals, but attitudes have changed, thanks to ideas that were considered vile at the time.
     What about the venue for Westboro's protest? Picketing a soldier's funeral may sound extreme, but there may come a time when such actions are needed, when a nation's foreign policy has strayed so far from the desires of the population that any measures seem appropriate.