Freedom of Speech?

I believe in one’s right to free speech as well as their right to do so without being silenced. By the same logic, the Westboro Baptist Church (WBC) should have the legal right to express their views without repercussions. Whether I vouch for their cause or disapprove, I show far more concern for their civil rights. As many who feel that they’re right or wrong, the fate of their rights to free speech shouldn’t be quantified by popular demand but always remain free.

Moreover, I believe that for one to truly understand free speech, one must know the conditions in which the first amendment was meant to prevent; to prevent repression of ideas. If we suddenly shut down the members of WBC from their constitutional right to free speech, the same result that we’ve seen several times before will happen again. When a certain side's disagreeable ideas are near subjugated, the imbalance often results in more hate which verges on the edge of violence. In essence, I believe that we all have the right to hate the hater but not to the extent of completely silencing one another.