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The RFRA Battle Exposed A Dangerous Truth
Townhall.com ^ | April 8, 2015 | Tony Katz

Posted on 04/08/2015 11:11:34 AM PDT by Kaslin

The opponents of the Religious Freedom Restoration Act in Indiana were loud and organized. They received support from media, and from major money players like Salesforce and Apple. Aggressively, and without apology, they moved their narrative on RFRA and forced a "fix" that, in essence, guts the law's original intent. They won the battle, and they are happy. And, in the process, exposed their new view on freedom, equality and acceptance.

Jonah Goldberg is right. Liberal Fascism is very real.

Words like fascism, in today's America, end conversation before it can really begin (the same is true for words like totalitarianism, despotism, authoritarianism and absolutism.) But how else to explain the response we have witnessed on RFRA other than, "...a system...having complete power, forcibly suppressing opposition and criticism, regimenting all industry, commerce, etc?"

Consider Memories Pizza. The owners (a father/daughter team, both devout Christians,) when asked by a local TV affiliate their thoughts on RFRA and if they would service a same-sex wedding, said they approved of RFRA and (shockingly?) "No;" They would not provide service for the wedding, but people who were gay could, of course, eat in their establishment.

The response from the anti-RFRA crowd wasn't, "We disagree with you." The response wasn't, "Fine. We'll take our business elsewhere, and tell our friends not to eat here." The response was to destroy their online reputation, threaten to burn down their establishment and to threaten their very lives for not agreeing with this newest doctrine of diversity.

Alix Bryan, a social media director for a CBS affiliate in Richmond, VA, reported a GoFundMe page - built to raise money for the owners after they were forced to close due to repeated threats of violence - for fraud. She had no proof of any fraud, but reported the page anyway, as she put it, "...just in case."

That's not fascism?

This violence against Memories Pizza is seen as fun by the vocal opponents. (Alinsky was clear; a good tactic is one your people enjoy!) And it is violence. Threatening to burn down one's shop for their religious beliefs is violent. The activists who focused their vitriol on Memories Pizza might as well have been carrying signs that read "We Don't Want Your Kind Here!"

You know what they mean by "Your Kind." We all do.

Usually, when these articles are written, there is a moment when the author introduces the well-scored caveat, as in, "Now, no one is saying ALL those opposed to RFRA are violent." That would apply here. I was opposed to Gov. Pence signing the bill and was vocal about it.

I was opposed because you can not fix a cultural problem with legislation. The problem? You can not say "No" in America.

The act of saying, "No" - No, I can't make that cake for you. It goes against my religious beliefs. No, I can't take those photographs. I don't feel comfortable doing that. No, I can't provide you service X,Y, or Z because I disagree with it - is no longer allowed in America.

Saying "No" in America makes one a bigot, a racist, homophobic, a sexist, a misogynist, the devil, a villain, a hater, an extremist. I wouldn't be surprised if RFRA supporters were called terrorists. (As opposed to actual terrorists, who get special deals to continue their nuclear program.)

The ability to say "No" is the difference between a free person and a slave. Slavery offers no chance for choice, and no ability to make decisions. Being told what to think - under direct threat of violence - is slavery. Can there be any doubt?

If a person is unable to say "No," how, then, are they free?

Is it only slavery if the crack of the whip comes across your back and not your mind?

As the violent anti-RFRA crowd has shown, they're not just going for the mind. They'll burn down your shop and threaten your family if you don't comply.

CRACK!

In Washington State, a florist was forced to provide flowers to a same-sex wedding, though it wen't against her religious beliefs. The court costs could wipe her out, and close her business.

CRACK!

I highly doubt it was the intent of the violent anti-RFRA crowd to shine such a powerful light on their new fascist way (or is that old fascist ways?) They probably thought that they would get loud, get the media, use their shame tactics and get their desired result.

But, like all villains in classic comic book style, they couldn't control their vitriol nor their vitriolic membership. It turns out that the anti-RFRA crowd loves violence and intimidation, and they've traded in their rainbow shirts for ones in varying shades of brown.

It is they - fellow Americans! - who want you to fall in line with their beliefs and their ethos; To do what they say is moral and decent, like stifling free speech and threatening business owners who may disagree. And they will leave you alone, if you just tell them what they want to hear. Don't. Say. No.

CRACK!

Can Americans think, act and believe for themselves without violent reactions? Can Americans disagree with an idea without being labeled and assaulted for it? Do Americans - black, white, Asian, Hispanic, Christian, Jewish, Muslim - have the right to say no?

Are we not born that way?

The anti-RFRA crowd, and their supporters, are now aligned (if not themselves engaged,) in violence against others to achieve total compliance. Call it fascism or totalitarianism. Call it terrorism, or tyrannical. The facts prove this true. It is real. And it must be fought.


TOPICS: Culture/Society; Editorial; US: Indiana
KEYWORDS: fascism; gayandlesbian; homosexualagenda; progressives; religiousfreedom; rfra

1 posted on 04/08/2015 11:11:34 AM PDT by Kaslin
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To: Kaslin

Homosexual activists and radical leftists won’t be satisfied until:
1. Churches are gone.
2. Christianity is outlawed.
3. It will be a crime to say anything disparaging against gays.
4. Homosexual practices are promoted and celebrated in all schools.
5. There’s a national Homosexual holiday.
I’m certain there’s more, and they still won’t be satisfied.


2 posted on 04/08/2015 11:21:20 AM PDT by No_More_Harkin
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To: Kaslin

There are a lot of people who are ignorant of history and are willing to subscribe to Fascism,Marxism and or Socialism because they are not aware of the outcome of such a decision. Others are aware of it. The are called TRAITORS!


3 posted on 04/08/2015 11:21:23 AM PDT by Don Corleone ("Oil the gun..eat the cannoli. Take it to the Mattress.")
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To: Kaslin

Cracked by the rainbow whip.

Does someone have an image?


4 posted on 04/08/2015 11:25:00 AM PDT by joshua c (Please dont feed the liberals)
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To: Kaslin

People correctly look at ISIS actions, such as beheading of Christians, and recoil. In my view, the American Left is currently only incrementally different than ISIS. Given additional time there is absolutely no doubt in my mind that the American Left would act similarly.

Evil lurks in the heart of man and what history has proven over and over again is that once pleasant people will easily turn into sadistic killers. Japan, Germany, Cambodia, China, Russia, the whole Middle East.

I have no doubt that without resistance the American Left would easily turn into sadistic killers of any who stand in their way — easily. All the components are there, they are simply being restrained at the moment.


5 posted on 04/08/2015 11:25:01 AM PDT by Obadiah (Israel had King Manasseh, America has Obama.)
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To: Kaslin

is no longer allowed in America

The hell it isn’t.

The owners of the pizza store have a million dollars that they can use to argue just that point.


6 posted on 04/08/2015 11:26:42 AM PDT by Adder (No, Mr. Franklin, we could NOT keep it.)
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To: Kaslin


A prediction.
7 posted on 04/08/2015 11:29:00 AM PDT by PetroniusMaximus
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To: No_More_Harkin

Actually, they won’t be satisfied until Christ Himself is gone, which ain’t gonna happen.
That battle is already a foregone conclusion.


8 posted on 04/08/2015 11:31:43 AM PDT by MrB (The difference between a Humanist and a Satanist - the latter admits whom he's working for)
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To: Kaslin

In a way, it’s a good thing that Apple stepped on its own stem here.

Pulling out of Indiana while opening stores in Saudi Arabia and other Muslim countries

puts the lie to their claim that this is in support of homos,

and exposes the left’s anti-Christian agenda.


9 posted on 04/08/2015 11:33:26 AM PDT by MrB (The difference between a Humanist and a Satanist - the latter admits whom he's working for)
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To: All
Saying "No" in America makes one a bigot, a racist, homophobic, a sexist, a misogynist, the devil, a villain, a hater, an extremist. I wouldn't be surprised if RFRA supporters were called terrorists.

According to DHS and SPLC, as of 2010, they already are.

10 posted on 04/08/2015 11:33:38 AM PDT by Old Sarge (Its the Sixties all over again, but with crappy music...)
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To: MrB

Tim Cook is ok with it because Saudi Arabia and other Muslim countries also persecute Christians.


11 posted on 04/08/2015 11:38:59 AM PDT by joshua c (Please dont feed the liberals)
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To: Don Corleone

BILL WHITTLE EXPLAINS OUR “PROGRESSIVE” NIGHTMARE & THE CONSERVATIVE SOLUTION
PART 1:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FB3BcUKmSlo
PART 2:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vNhtoY_pu7o


12 posted on 04/08/2015 11:41:15 AM PDT by Dick Bachert
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To: joshua c

Yeah, that’s my point.

They’ve been trying to keep the anti-Christian agenda from being known about, hiding behind being pro-gay.

If that agenda is exposed, which I believe it is starting to be, there will be pushback.


13 posted on 04/08/2015 11:41:45 AM PDT by MrB (The difference between a Humanist and a Satanist - the latter admits whom he's working for)
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To: MrB

They’re pulling the same crap in Ireland.


14 posted on 04/08/2015 12:09:33 PM PDT by txhurl
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To: Kaslin
 
 
 
 

15 posted on 04/08/2015 12:13:10 PM PDT by lapsus calami (What's that stink? Code Pink ! ! And their buddy Murtha, too!)
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To: Kaslin

This RFRA stuff is just a wishy washy way for these quisling legislators to avoid standing up for the 1st amendment. They need to just stand up for the majority in this country which is Christian.


16 posted on 04/08/2015 12:54:52 PM PDT by Georgia Girl 2 (The only purpose o f a pistol is to fight your way back to the rifle you should never have dropped.)
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To: Kaslin

The battle for freedom was lost when anti-discrimination laws were first passed. Government must not be allowed to discriminate (no Jim Crow laws). Private entities must be allowed to do so for any reason.

No, we won’t go back to the days of separate water fountains. Can you imagine what would happen to a business today that tried something like that? It would quickly go under.

Any business that discriminates automatically loses some business opportunities. Another business will be more than happy to serve the group the other business rejected.

When we lost this freedom of association, the freedom to discriminate, it gave the government a powerful tool to control us.

BTW, the eminent economists Sowell and Williams would agree with this. Only government should be forbidden to discriminate. If you want to keep women, blacks, Jews, Arabs, short people, skinny people, people with dreadlocks, or any other kind of people out of your store, that should be your right. He, she, it, or they will just go down the street to a business that welcomes them.


17 posted on 04/08/2015 2:12:38 PM PDT by Pining_4_TX (All those who were appointed to eternal life believed. Acts 13:48)
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