Free Speech… Only for Progressives These Days?

'Duck Dynasty' Star Phil Robertson Has Been Suspended Over His Remarks in a GQ Interview About His View On Homosexuality

The right, guaranteed by the First Amendment in the U.S. Constitution is for everyone to express beliefs and ideas without unwarranted government restriction.

By Marion Algier - AskMarion

It is easy to stand-up and support freedom of speech when you agree with what is being said.  It is tough, but necessary when you disagree!!  But, every regulation on the freedom of speech makes each of us just a little less free!!

One of America’s most outspoken fighters for freedom, Sarah Palin, who has personally (as well as her children) been directly attacked by members of the progressive left with false and vile comments, contrived lawsuits, and downright lies, believes the backlash over "Duck Dynasty" star Phil Robertson's anti-gay comments is a threat to freedom of speech… and she is right!  You can’t have it both ways.

"Free speech is an endangered species; those 'intolerants' hatin' & taking on Duck Dynasty patriarch for voicing personal opinion take us all on," Palin tweeted. She took to Facebook to voice her opinion Wednesday, Dec. 18, 2013.

On her Facebook page, Palin posted a picture of herself with members of the Duck Dynasty family.

Sean Hannity and others have also spoken up in defense of freedom of speech in the Duck Dynasty suspension.  Sean Hannity said it was a "slippery slope" to begin firing or suspending people over things they said or believe, adding he never advocated for the firings of liberals -- including Alec Baldwin and Martin Bashir -- who got in trouble for controversial comments.

"You should be able to say what you want short of inciting violence," Crowley said. "A&E, though, has certain standards in practices. As an employee of A&E, A&E then has a right to say 'what he said doesn't suit us.'" said Monica Crowley

“Although he didn’t use the kindest words, Phil Robertson is a Christian man and his opinion is an ongoing debate between fundamental Christians and the Gay and Lesbian Community…” …Megyn Kelly

Even liberal commentator Tamara Holdern said that nobody should be fired for speaking their mind.  Robertson didn’t state his case in the best way and certainly wasn’t politically correct, but that is exactly what people like about him and the show.

It is either freedom of speech for everyone or no one. But through political correctness and application of a double standard, using Alinsky tactics, people on the left like Martin Bashir (who was not suspended or fired) can say just about anything and jour’no’lists can conspire to destroy someone on the right. And the mainstream media can irresponsibly report about candidates, politicians or events (Benghazi) without facts or vetting that make or break people or the outcome of situations and damage our country without reprisals.  Just ask Barbara Walters…

But if someone on the right like Megyn Kelly or Phil Robertson give their opinion or speak their mind, they are ridiculed, bashed by the left, called haters and then are often fired or cancelled. Attacks on conservative political opponents, the religious right or conservative media personalities like Palin, Cruz, Paul, Beck, Hannity, Limbaugh and pretty much the entire Fox network is part of the Progressive playbook employed by the Obama administration and their media minions since day one.

67-year-old duck hunter made headlines when GQ published an interview in which he discussed morality and sin, and juxtaposed homosexuality with bestiality.

“It seems like, to me, a vagina -- as a man -- would be more desirable than a man’s anus," he told the magazine. "That’s just me. I’m just thinking: There’s more there! She’s got more to offer. I mean, come on, dudes! You know what I’m saying? But hey, sin: It’s not logical, my man. It’s just not logical.”

After the quotes were published, GLAAD spoke out against Robertson's comments, calling them vile and misinformed. A&E ultimately suspended him from "Duck Dynasty" with an indefinite hiatus, saying his views do not align with those of the network.

But many are coming out in defense of Robertson, like Palin, who believes Robertson is being persecuted for merely practicing his First Amendment right.

Another controversial fight for freedom of speech was when Larry Flynt, one of the world's most well-known publishers of pornography, published an unflattering parody of Jerry Falwell in Hustler, Falwell waged a suit that eventually went to the U.S. Supreme Court. The court ruled in Flynt's favor, citing the First Amendment's protection of freedom of speech, which was depicted in the film, The People vs. Larry Flynt [Blu-ray]. Funny how the left is happy when the law works for them and wants to ignore when they disagree.

Freedom requires tolerance of everyone’s opinion… not just for the speech and opinions of those you like or agree with!

*Many feel that Robertson will likely appear in season four of Duck Dynasty, which premieres on Jan. 15, as production is largely wrapped.  Robertson’s suspension has sparked a ‘Stand With Phil’ campaign: See the Support Flooding the Internet for Suspended ‘Duck Dynasty’ Star.  #IStandWithPhil and #IStandWithPhilRobertson are all over Twitter and the Internet today.  This is one of those situations and comments that might have better been ignored by the left for it could just spark the debate that has been left in the closet up until now, creating a far greater backlash for them than for Robertson in the long run.

Graphic: Gulag Bound

Technorati Tags: Duck Dynasty,Homosexuality,Opinions,Bible,Free Speech,Bill of Rights,Progressivism,Political Correctness,A&E,Speech-Police,Double Standards,GQ,Supreme Court,Larry Flynt,Bashir,GLAAD,Faith Community,Sin,Alinsky,Barbara Walters,Progressives,Conservatives

"Eat Mor Chikin" while Rahm eats crow!

Threats to Chick-fil-A 'height of stupidity'

Legal team warns city officials, like Chicago’s Mayor Rahm Emanuel, who promise trouble for restaurants:  “Make My Day”

Rahm Now Clarifies His Chick-fil-A Stance… Like His Former Boss Spends a Lot of Time Walking Off-the Cuff Comments Back

Free Chick-Fil-A Coupons Save w/ Top Chick-Fil-A Coupons! Free Chick-Fil-A Coupons.

Sign Petition Supporting Chick-fil-A, freedom of speech and freedom of religion HERE

The issue before us is not an anti-gay issue.  It is a pro-freedom of speech and freedom of religion issue.  Chick-Fil-A does not discriminate against gays.  But Chick-Fil-A is a private company whose owner stand-up for their Christian beliefs.  Hello, this is America where that is allowed.  And America is still the land of the free, governed by a Bill of Rights and Constitution, where the majority of people are Christians.

Chick-fil-A President Dan Cathy said he believes in the natural, biblical view of marriage as being between one man and one woman.

How, in America, could that viewpoint possibly be considered controversial or discriminatory?

Have our nation’s values and culture collapsed that far?

Apparently, liberal politicians like Chicago’s Mayor Rahm Emanuel think so. Upon hearing of Cathy’s stand, radical pro-homosexual organizations and sympathizers immediately began calling for boycotts, “kiss-ins,” and other types of protests against the family-friendly national chain of restaurants.

Then, government officials from major U.S. cities like Chicago and Boston said they plan to prevent Chick-fil-A from opening new restaurants in their jurisdictions.

Demanding a public apology from Cathy, Chicago Alderman Joe Moreno said that he will deny Chick-fil-A from opening a restaurant in Chicago’s Logan Square. Boston Mayor Thomas Menino told the Boston Herald that he would block Chick-fil-A from opening a restaurant in the “Cradle of Liberty.”

Never one to “let a good crisis go to waste,” Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel followed suit. Emanuel’s statement that “Chick-fil-A’s values are not Chicago’s values” was both legally ignorant and ill-advised. Emanuel, the former Chief of Staff at the Obama White House, surely knows that viewpoint discrimination violates federal Civil Rights statutes!

++These threats of action and discrimination against Chick-fil-A because of the viewpoint of its owner are not only illegal – they are toxic to every business and businessman in America!

To deny business permits or zoning approvals to Chick-fil-A because the president of the privately-owned family business expressed his biblical view of natural marriage is outrageous.

Any city trying to ban Chick-fil-A will not win this battle. If this discrimination is challenged in court – Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel and Boston Mayor Thomas Menino will be eating crow, and in large portions! Even the ACLU condemned the knee-jerk announcements by ultraliberal Mayors Emanuel and Menino!

These government officials ought to be ashamed. For a public official to threaten denial of a right to do business because the president of a private company supports natural marriage is the height of stupidity and intolerance.

Unfortunately, their response is typical of intolerant homosexual activists. They will go to any lengths to silence the majority of Americans who believe that children do best when raised in a natural family with one mom and one dad.

A legal team that specializes in religious and civil rights and the Constitution says city officials who are promising to punish Chick-fil-A restaurants for the religious beliefs followed by their chief are asking for trouble.

“These government officials ought to be ashamed. For a public official to threaten denial of a right to do business because the president of a private company supports natural marriage is the height of stupidity and intolerance,” said Mathew Staver, chief of Liberty Counsel.

“Unfortunately, their response is typical of intolerant homosexual activists. They will go to any lengths to silence the majority of Americans who believe that children do best when raised in a natural family with one mom and one dad,” he said.

The issue has turned into a firestorm over the last couple of days. Among the results? The Henson Co., creator of the Muppets characters, said it no longer would work with Chick-fil-A. The mayor of Boston publicly bashed the restaurant chain. Chicago officials said they would not want the company to operate in their wards. And “kiss-in” protests were announced in front of company outlets on college campuses.

Boston’s mayor reconsiders his position on Chick-fil-A expansion in his city.

All brought on by advocates for homosexual behavior because Dan Cathy, whose father, Truett Cathy, founded the $4 billion-plus a year business, gave an interview to the Baptist Press.

“We are very much supportive of the family – the biblical definition of the family unit. We are a family-owned business, a family-led business, and we are married to our first wives. We give God thanks for that,” Cathy said.

In a separate radio interview, Dan Cathy said, “I think we are inviting God’s judgment on our nation when we shake our fist at Him and say, ‘We know better than you as to what constitutes a marriage. I pray God’s mercy on our generation that has such a prideful, arrogant attitude to think we can try to define what marriage is all about.”

Earlier today, Billy Graham, the longtime dean of Christian leaders in the United States, expressed his support for the Cathy family

“I want to express my support for my good friends Truett Cathy and his son Dan Cathy, and for their strong stand for the Christian faith,” he said in a statement released by the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association.

“I’ve known their family for many years and have watched them grow Chick-fil-A into one of the best businesses in America while never compromising their values. Chick-fil-A serves each of its customers with excellence, and treats everyone like a neighbor. It’s easy to see why Chick-fil-A has become so popular across America,” he said.

Liberty Counsel noted the city officials who are on thin ice include Chicago Alderman Joe Moreno, who “said that he will deny Chick-fil-A from opening a restaurant in Chicago’s Logan Square. Boston Mayor Thomas Menino told the Boston Herald that he would block Chick-fil-A from opening a restaurant in the ‘Cradle of Liberty.” Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel followed suit.”

“There is absolutely no evidence that Chick-fil-A has discriminated against anyone,” Staver continued. “The intolerance displayed by these government officials ought to serve as a wakeup call to the majority of Americans who support the commonsense understanding of natural marriage.

“If given the chance, these intolerant officials would silence anyone who supports natural marriage. They have placed extreme ideology over freedom,” Staver said.

“To deny business permits or zoning approvals to Chick-fil-A because the president of the privately owned family business expressed his biblical view of natural marriage is outrageous. Any city trying to ban Chick-fil-A will not win this battle,” Staver said.

Liberty Counsel is an international nonprofit, litigation, education, and policy organization dedicated to advancing religious freedom, the sanctity of life, and the family since 1989, by providing pro bono assistance and representation on these and related topics.

But as WND reported, hundreds of thousands of people across America are pledging to support Chick-fil-A restaurants.

A Facebook campaign has been launched by Gov. Mike Huckabee seeking to build support for the chicken-sandwich chain famous for closing its stores on Sundays so employees can attend church if they choose.

Huckabee, a 2008 Republican presidential candidate, invited Americans to join him Wednesday, Aug. 1, for a “Chick-fil-A Appreciation Day.” Some supporters are advocating showing support every Wednesday.

He noted the company now is a $4 billion a year effort with more than 1,600 stores.

“The militant homosexual advocates have launched an all out assault on Dan Cathy and Chick-fil-A, pushing for a boycott because the Cathy family has contributed to traditional marriage organizations. The attempts to hurt or destroy Chick-fil-A is nothing short of economic bullying. In the name of ‘tolerance,’ there is an effort being mounted to put pressure on people to stop eating at Chick-fil-A. Even worse is the vilification of the company and its employees. The Christian world view of Dan Cathy is being met with intolerance and vicious hate speech,” Huckabee’s announcement said.

“I ask you to join me in speaking out to your constituency via Facebook, Twitter, email, broadcast, etc., to make Wednesday, August 1 ‘Chick-fil-A Appreciation Day.’ No one is being asked to make signs, speeches, or openly demonstrate. The goal is simple: Let’s affirm a business that operates on Christian principles and whose executives are willing to take a stand for the Godly values we espouse by simply showing up and eating at Chick-fil-A on Wednesday, August 1.”

John Hayward at Human Events said the attacks are reaching unhealthy levels.

“The name of the game being played against Chick-fil-A involved ending the discussion, by ruling one side of this important social debate completely out of order, and dismissing their beliefs as unworthy of respect. All resistance to gay marriage is instantly transmuted into personal hatred of gay people. On the other hand, criticism of traditional marriage proponents cannot be viewed as hateful, no matter how angrily it might be expressed. It’s a rigged heads-we-win, tails-you-lose game,” he said.

Chick-fil-A appears to have taken itself off the soapbox, at least for now, with a corporate statement that said: “The Chick-fil-A culture and service tradition in our restaurants is to treat every person with honor, dignity and respect – regardless of their belief, race, creed, sexual orientation or gender. We will continue this tradition in the over 1,600 restaurants run by independent owner/operators. Going forward, our intent is to leave the policy debate over same-sex marriage to the government and political arena.”

Related:

Can it be un-American to be a Christian? 

Rahm Emanuel chickens out on Chick-fil-A ban

'The View' Co-Hosts Defend Chick-Fil-A After Chicago Alderman Announces Ban

Biggest name in Christianity defends Chick-fil-A

Liberty Action Counsel Stands with Chick-Fil-A

See what the biggest companies in the nation are doing to promote homosexuality.

Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel (and Former Obama Chief of Staff): Chick-Fil-A should be banished for Christian marriage beliefs

• God You Think You Know The Bible Well? Test Yourself With Our Trivia Game www.BibleTriviaTime.com
• Chick-Fil-A Franchise Find out about owning a franchise. Get the info you need fast & free! www.FindaFranchise.com

 

Announcing the Chick-fil-A Appreciation Day on August 1 

July 26, 2012
Christian-owned Chick-fil-A has come under assault once again, this time because CEO Dan Cathy recently affirmed his personal view that the Biblical view of marriage should be upheld.

The "Big Gay" machine has ramped up an un-relenting and vicious public attack against Chick-fil-A. Homosexual activists are spewing hate-filled bigotry and intolerance toward the company in unprecedented fashion.
Chick-fil-A Appreciation Day is our way of showing our support for a company whose leaders believe in marriage as that of one man, one woman. http://66.210.221.105/index.html
Join millions of others in showing support for Chick-fil-A by visiting your local Chick-fil-A on Wednesday, August 1, 2012. The plan is simple. At least once on August 1, eat a meal at Chick-fil-A and politely let the staff and management know you appreciate the company's Christian value system.

Let us know you're supporting Chick-fil-A Appreciation Day by signing up today! We'll let Chick-fil-A know to expect record sales on August 1! http://66.210.221.105/index.html

"Eat Mor Chikin" while Rahm eats crow!

Thanks to patriotic Americans of all stripes from Billy Graham to the ladies of The View, Chick –Fil-A’s media coverage and sales are up!

Technorati Tags: Bill of Rights,Freedom of Speech,Freedom of Relgion,privately owned companies,freedom,Christianity,Chick-fil-A,religion,gay marriage,traditional marriage,individual freedoms,The View,Billy Graham,Liberty Counsel,Mike Huckabee,judeo-Christian values

California District Creates Primary School Gay Curriculum

Many parents are condemning the lesson plan as sex education in disguise and are angered

Elementary school teachers in Alameda, Calif., will introduce lesson plans to their educational curriculum beginning next year that address gay and lesbian issues, KCBS News in San Francisco reports.

Kindergarten through grade 5 students throughout the county will be exposed to same-sex educational material aimed at promoting tolerance and inclusiveness.

The curriculum –– which will include lessons to introduce students to  GBT” (lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transsexual) issues –– will be designed to discourage bullying and teasing based on gay and lesbian stereotypes. The plan will be implemented despite objections by parents who complain children are too young to be exposed to the material.

Many parents are condemning the lesson plan as sex education in disguise and are angered that they will not be allowed to exempt their children from the lessons. Opponents decry the curriculum plan as an effort to advance the gay, lesbian and transgendered agenda.

Those opposed to sexual orientation lessons for children are so upset they are threatening to sue the school board, ABC News reports. Promoting gay, lesbian and sexual orientation should be a parents' rights issue, parents say, and is not an appropriate topic for school children.

The Alameda school district's legal counsel, however, recommended the plan because the curriculum does not deal with health or sex education, which are topics that do require opt-out provisions.

“It was the opinion of our legal counsel that this curriculum was not health or sex education curriculum,” school board president Mike McMahon told CNS New.

“If a student responds that one family in the book is made up of a mother, a father, and two children and a cat, you may acknowledge that some families look like this, but ask students for other examples of what a family can look like.”

School Board Member Trish Spencer, who voted against the plan, said she worries that its implementation could lead to the harassment of students who have religious objections to homosexuality. She cited that bullying due to religion is a bigger problem for the district than bullying based on homosexuality.

Also adamantly opposed to the plan is Randy Thomasson, president of the Campaign for Children and Families.

“This will be done whether parents like it or not, and it shows the hostility against parental rights and traditional family values,” Thomasson, told CNS New.

Last month, the California Supreme Court upheld Proposition 8, the voter-approved initiative to make same-sex marriage illegal that passed in November.

The Alameda school board said it will review its decision to implement the curriculum at the end of next year’s school session.

By: Rick Pedraza - Newsmax