The Fred Phelps of T-shirt design
Many of you have probably heard of the Flagstaff man who exploits dead soldiers’ names, at the grief and pain of their families, to make his political statement and exercise his free speech. He has stated time and time again that he will not stop. Basically he does not give a damn about the excruciating grief and crushing pain these families live with everyday and that he has contributed to. It would make one think that a t-shirt is more important to him than common decency and consideration.
A Tennessee family is now suing him. It’s obvious that with people like Frazier, and like the Phelps whackos, civil court will be the only way to shut them down. They refuse to show an ounce of mercy when families beg to be left alone. So, the courts will be where these families need to turn in order to have their complaints considered.
I hope more suits follow and I hope the courts recognize how this man’s actions have caused an added burden to the heavy grief this family lives with everyday.
Tennessee family sues maker of war T-shirt
Lindsey Collom
The Arizona Republic
Apr. 25, 2008 12:00 AM
(excerpt)
LINK to entire articleA Flagstaff man is being sued by the parents of a Tennessee soldier killed in Iraq for using their son’s name on anti-war shirts that list names of soldiers killed in the war.
The lawsuit accuses Dan Frazier of intentionally inflicting emotional harm by including Spc. Brandon Michael Read’s name on a casualty list printed on “Bush lied - They died” T-shirts without permission and by ignoring a demand to remove Read’s name.
Robin and Michael Read of Greeneville, Tenn., are seeking $10 million in compensatory and punitive damages. They also want Frazier to be barred from using their son’s name.
Brandon Read, 21, died when a roadside bomb exploded near his vehicle on Sept. 6, 2004.
Last year, the Arizona Legislature passed a law making it a misdemeanor to profit from using names of the war dead without permission from surviving family members.
U.S. District Court Judge Neil V. Wake later issued an injunction shielding Frazier from criminal prosecution pending a final ruling on a challenge filed by Frazier on First Amendment grounds.
In his ruling, Wake acknowledged that Frazier’s use of soldiers’ names may increase the hurt of loved ones but said the shirts are political speech and thus protected by the Constitution.
I don’t want to see any one’s rights taken away — even when I do not agree with what they say or print. His rights should be defended, BUT the judge has openly acknowledged that the actions of Frazier could “increase the hurt of loved ones.” This is about the consequences of Frazier’s repeated insensitivity toward grieving families, and how his direct actions have caused them added grief. He knows that the shirt is hurtful because other families have confronted him and asked him to remove the name of their loved one. This family is taking it a step further. Maybe more families will follow their lead. How many names are listed on that shirt? More than he would care to contend with in Court.
Phillips said a $10 million judgment would “devastate” his client.
Try having your son killed in war and then having to watch helplessly as his name is being used in a way that you feel dishonors his memory, and in a way you know he would not want it used. What’s $10 million compared to a parent grieving a lost son? Obviously Frazier cares about his own hardship, but doesn’t give a crap about the added grief he has heaped on military families.
“They get by on a very minimal income, and both he and his wife are peace activists and motivated by strong political and religious beliefs about the war,” Phillips said.
“This has never been about making money. The shirts barely pay for themselves.”
This is not about the money for the family either. This is about preserving the memory of their son who lost his life in battle. Frazier has had numerous chances over the past few years to stop printing the t-shirts. He has been told time and time again that they are hurtful to the surviving families. He made it clear that he would continue printing the t-shirts, and so this family was forced to take the next level of action. It was Frazier’s choice.
It’s apparent now that the pain he has put families through is not as important to him as his “strong political and religious beliefs about the war.” His strong beliefs are not an ounce more important than the beliefs of the people who bore that son, raised that son, loved that son, buried that son, and now have to posthumously defend that son. He obviously does not care about the peace of these families.
I personally do not see the actions of Frazier as being much different than the actions of the Fred Phelps cult who protest the funerals of dead soldiers. They both use the flag covered casket as their soapbox, and they do so at the expense of devastated and grieving families.
These shirts are war profiteering of the worst sort.
In times gone by people like Frazier were put up against a wall and shot.
Whatever happened to the good old days?
Personally I’d like to see a list of his customers.
I have a few words of my own I’d like to relate.
Out of common respect and decency, one might think this man would contact families and get permission to use the name of their loved one. But this is America, land of freedom of speech. This man has chosen to ’speak out’ with the T-shirts, resulting in anguish and frustration for surviving family members. Let’s see how the court rules on this.
Al, I am only hoping that this controversy does not give him more business. I was reluctant to post this because of that very fact. I just had to say something though. The parents of that fallen hero are living through our worst nightmare. What ever happened to mercy or common decency?
Cathy, he has inspired some state laws (in about 5 states). One law that is currently being scrutinized by the State Supreme Court in AZ would force anyone to obtain written permission before using the name of a fallen soldier. The saddest part is, what has any of this accomplished other than bringing a lot of added grief to already hurting people?
Claire: The Left has no common decency or respect.
It’s time some good ole boys taught them some.
This makes me cry, the very thought that someone would do this. Religious beliefs…I’m sorry I just don’t see charity, mercy or empathy at work there.
/spit (best I can do with no cuss words)
Cathy, Phillips has actually already been ordered by a judge to contact the family members & obtain permission to use the solders’ names. He claims that it would basically shut things down. TS. That is probably the purpose of the judge’s ruling. Now, if someone would just enforce it.
I’m sure that he’s getting more business through the publicity. I also pray that other families will join in and ask $10M also. Personally, I hope he and his wife lose it all, including their house. Vindictive? Maybe. No mercy? Yup.
Claire, he’s too caught up in his own self-righteousness to know what common decency is any more, if he ever knew.
Susan, I read somewhere that he has been granted an immunity from prosecution by the State Supreme Court until they rule whether or not the law is violating his right to speech by adding too big a burden to him by having to contact the family members. I am with you …. TS and double TS! Here they are worried about creating a burden for him…. what about the burden he is putting on grieving families? Does anyone care about them? Furthermore, if this is such a huge conviction for him then he shouldn’t mind having to sacrifice == but like other whackos in his camp, sacrifice is something OTHER people do. They just enjoy the ride.