Freedom of Speech?

I was at the Earth Fair in San Diego today. We took the whole family - me, wife, and kids 7 and 10. We thought it would be fun.

There were two booths at the fair passing out literature for the anti-abortion people. I won't publicize them by mentioning the group name. I'll just say they are the ones who apparently think it is is a good idea to ambush doctors who do abortions and to blow up clinics where abortions are sometimes done - no matter who is there.

The group displayed pictures that I believe most people would find inappropriate, sick, disrespectful, apalling, and offensive in almost any setting, and especially at an event where kids of all ages were present. The pictures were of newborn babies covered in blood, and apparently dead. These pictures were about 5 feet by 7 feet in size, clearly visible from many yards away, and pretty much unavoidable if you passed anywhere within 20 yards of the booths.

I'm a staunch believer in freedom of speech and freedom of expression, whether I agree with the message, or not. The display of these pictures was not that, and does not deserve protection under freedom of speech, in my opinion. It was simply a visual assault and completely inappropriate for display where children are present.

It crossed my mind that these anti-abortion people couldn't possibly have children or they would have known that. Any sane parent would know that these pictures were inappropriate for kids to see.

The displays did have an effect, though. They brought to my attention how stupid, sick, socially ignorant, abhorrent, and repulsive the anti-abortion people are. We have never had an abortion, and I never paid much attention to the anti-abortion people before now. As of today, I will strongly oppose anything they attempt to do - ever. How's that for negative advertising?