HUM 176 Speech Controversy

Speech

And Society

Hum 176

Media and American Culture

The freedoms that the United States prides itself on came at a cost, and it continues to require a sacrifice from those members of the military and their families to protect the country. A controversy regarding the freedom of speech that has been covered recently by the media is the protests that the Westboro Baptist Church performs outside of military funerals. According to Fama (2012), "The church links the deaths of service members to America's acceptance of gays and has a webpage full of press releases highlighting the picketing schedule of military service member funerals" (para. 11). This church group is considered a hate group by most people and highly controversial because they shout...