A dear friend posted this on facebook and I just had to comment...
No matter how atrocious the language is, and in my opinion, this is pretty damn bad...Freedom of Speech is one of the most important rights we enjoy in this country. Without it, we are doomed. As a people and a nation. We are Americans.
Be glad, as I am, that we aren't FORCED to sit through this kind of garbage because we have allowed others to take away our right to say what we will. Good or bad...
While I abhor these comments, I hope people will understand this man is NOT following the teachings of the God I believe in. He is pandering to his own homophobic fears, along with the beliefs of many, if not all, of the people in this church.
Having said this, remember, some of your wives and husbands, sons and daughters, my husband is included in this list, served this country proudly for over twenty years as a member of the United States of America Armed Forces. Our military men and women defend our Constitution. Proudly. They defend all of our rights. Proudly. The defend us. Proudly.
Just so fearful idiots like this can be heard, sadly, by people who agree with him.
I have no doubt, if we advocate, then demand someone take away this Preachers right to speak his beliefs, we then willingly advocate the loss of our own right to Freedom of Speech.
No matter how appalling we find that speech to be, he has the right to say what he will. Just as you have the right to say you find what he says to be offensive.
And it is offensive. Even so, it is obvious he has those who believe as he does from the "amens" you can hear in the background. Otherwise, why would these folks park their butts in those pews when he preaches his hate-mongering homophobic fear at them?
I have learned through my years, (courtesy of the service of my husband) as an American and as a military wife, I cannot always pick and choose the speech that is "acceptable" to my mind.
Unless the speech calls for the physical harm to another person, it is not illegal. And I must admit, each time I turn on the television, I hear a lot people speaking. And I find their words terribly offensive. But, I still believe they have the absolute right to say it.
I constantly have to remind myself that I would die, yes, I said die for their right to speak out. I will take up arms to defend the garbage they put forth, because it a fundamental right of ALL Americans. Even people like him. Even as he spews his hate out into the air with no thought to the harm his words can, and do, cause others.
No matter how appalling we find that speech to be, he has the right to say what he will. Just as you have the right to say you find what he says to be offensive.
And it is offensive. Even so, it is obvious he has those who believe as he does from the "amens" you can hear in the background. Otherwise, why would these folks park their butts in those pews when he preaches his hate-mongering homophobic fear at them?
I have learned through my years, (courtesy of the service of my husband) as an American and as a military wife, I cannot always pick and choose the speech that is "acceptable" to my mind.
Unless the speech calls for the physical harm to another person, it is not illegal. And I must admit, each time I turn on the television, I hear a lot people speaking. And I find their words terribly offensive. But, I still believe they have the absolute right to say it.
I constantly have to remind myself that I would die, yes, I said die for their right to speak out. I will take up arms to defend the garbage they put forth, because it a fundamental right of ALL Americans. Even people like him. Even as he spews his hate out into the air with no thought to the harm his words can, and do, cause others.
So, I will restrain myself from screaming hate in a like manner and calmly tell him, "Sir, you are wrong. If you doubt me, ask the peoples who survived the Nazi death camps, if they would ever consider, for a millisecond, advocating such a thing as this. Even if they agree with you, they would never call for such horror."
Oh, wait. Hold on a second...I'd be willing to bet a whole American dollar that he doesn't like anyone who is different. And he certainly would not like anyone who would dare to espouse a thought that opposes his beliefs.
I guess my point is this;
As Americans, we have the freedom to speak out against those we disagree with, without fear of punishments, imprisonment and or death. To me, this right is sacrosanct. This, unfortunately, means we are stuck with fools like this man. We have no choice but allow him to continue to spout out his blatant hatred and ignorance. Especially if we want the right to turn around and call him out on the foulness he dishes out...
Thanks for "hearing" me out...
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