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Free Speech Not So Free When Discussing Gay Rights
Townhall.com ^ | May 15, 2014 | Cal Thomas

Posted on 05/15/2014 6:43:35 AM PDT by Kaslin

Once, Social Security was the "third rail" of politics. Touch it and face political death. Now it is homosexuality. Criticize anything gay people do and you risk ostracism, fines, suspension or loss of your livelihood.

Michael Sam, the first openly gay player to be drafted by a National Football League team -- the St. Louis Rams picked him 249th in the last round -- is being treated by the media and those in the gay rights movement as the equivalent of an early American pioneer.

Miami Dolphins safety Don Jones, apparently, didn't get the memo. Jones tweeted "OMG" and "horrible" after he saw Sam and his boyfriend kiss each other live on ESPN. His tweet was quickly taken down, but the political correctness police swooped in anyway. Jones has been fined and suspended. He's also being forced to attend "educational training" to get his "mind right," to borrow a phrase from the film "Cool Hand Luke." This sounds like the old communist "re-education" camps.

Dolphins Coach Joe Philbin called Jones' comment "inappropriate and unacceptable." Jones issued a statement that read like it had been written by a lawyer, apologizing for his "inappropriate" tweet and taking "full responsibility" for his comment.

How quickly things have changed from the recent experiences of Tim Tebow. When the quarterback heroically led the Denver Broncos to a playoff victory in 2012 and dropped to one knee, as he often did to express gratitude to God (a move that quickly became known as "Tebowing," which spawned countless YouTube parodies), he was widely ridiculed by many of the same entities that now defend Michael Sam, including some NFL players and even "Saturday Night Live," which in a skit had "Jesus" offering Tebow advice while sitting next to him on a locker room bench.

When the Broncos released Tebow, he was mocked again, not only for his faith, but for claiming to be a virgin who wanted to save himself for marriage. In an increasingly secular and licentious culture this sort of thinking and expression, apparently, must be silenced.

During Tebow's brief professional career, TV ratings spiked, jerseys and other gear with Tebow's name on it sold well and, according to Ad Age, "In terms of influence, Mr. Tebow is now in the top 40 of 3,000 celebs ... on par with Tom Hanks, Lady Gaga, Taylor Swift, Jennifer Aniston and Steven Spielberg."

Yet, Tebow endured a sometimes silent and often shouted campaign to brand him in a negative way. He was called "polarizing." It was said he had "baggage," though his "bags" were considerably lighter than many other professional athletes who have had drug and alcohol problems, incidents with guns at strip clubs and numerous out-of-wedlock children.

The Nation's Dave Zirin revealed the secular left's real problem with Tebow when he wrote, "(Tebow) is a religious figure in a country that is uncomfortable talking (about) religion." Really? I would venture to guess there are probably more people attending church on Sunday mornings than attend NFL football games on Sunday afternoon. Such is the bias of those who hold disdain for people of strong faith because it apparently exposes flaws in themselves they prefer not to see.

After the Broncos cut Tebow, haters took to the comment page of The Huffington Post:

"Awwwww. I bet this makes the Baby Jesus weep. Tim should have prayed more."

"Hey Tim, are you getting the message now? Nothing fails like prayer."

"We're all going to h--l and we're excited about it. Don't be jealous."

"Where is your God now, Tebow?"

NFL players who joined in the mockery were not fined, disciplined or forced into education training camp. Such is the cultural double standard between the way Michael Sam is being treated and the experience of Tim Tebow. But what should one expect these days when anything goes, except for free speech critical of the LGBT crowd?


TOPICS: Culture/Society
KEYWORDS: donjones; freespeech; homosexualagenda; michaelsam; nfl; reeducation; sam; sodomy; timtebow
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1 posted on 05/15/2014 6:43:35 AM PDT by Kaslin
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To: Kaslin

First of all, Mr. Thomas is buying into the narrative. There is no such thing as “gay rights”. Homosexual behavior, yes. Gay rights, no.


2 posted on 05/15/2014 6:47:01 AM PDT by Texas Eagle (If it wasn't for double-standards, Liberals would have no standards at all -- Texas Eagle)
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To: Texas Eagle

Yes, this flap is about anything but “gay rights.” It’s about “straight rights.”


3 posted on 05/15/2014 6:49:15 AM PDT by Genoa (Starve the beast.)
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To: Kaslin

I wonder what the blowback will be if the Rans don’t play Sams? What happens if they cut him? I think they’ve saddled themselves with what one NFL team manager called a mediocre athlete. Too bad for them.


4 posted on 05/15/2014 6:49:52 AM PDT by saganite (What happens to taglines? Is there a termination date?)
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To: Kaslin

Tebow should start his own league.

Red State Professional Football.

(I’m totally serious.)

Yes, it would be difficult...we all know the history of AFL, USFL, etc., etc., etc.

But what about a professional football league that celebrates old school values, that play on grass, that is patriotic, that celebrates individualism and free enterprise, that acknowledges that kickoff needs to be after church, etc. That gave to charity, but those charities includes the NRA and other red state causes, etc.

Rush would invest, for sure.

I’m totally serious.

Any of you entrepreneuer types out there want to take this on?


5 posted on 05/15/2014 6:50:21 AM PDT by ConservativeDude
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To: Texas Eagle

“Gay rights agenda” = “criminalize Christianity agenda”


6 posted on 05/15/2014 6:51:01 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

I completely agree with the headline.

“Gay” rights are currently all out of balance.

America needs to return to balance. Gays need to live their lives, and stop worrying about what the rest of the world says or does.

Shut up already.


7 posted on 05/15/2014 6:51:06 AM PDT by Cringing Negativism Network (http://www.census.gov/foreign-trade/balance/c5700.html#2013)
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To: saganite

The Rams center is just happy Sam doesn’t play quarterback.


8 posted on 05/15/2014 6:51:50 AM PDT by tractorman (I never miss a chance to tweak a liberal.)
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To: Cringing Negativism Network

BTTT


9 posted on 05/15/2014 6:53:22 AM PDT by Kaslin (He needed the ignorant to reelect him, and he got them. Now we all have to pay the consequenses)
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To: Cringing Negativism Network
Gays need to live their lives, and stop worrying about what the rest of the world says or does. Shut up already.

Quite true, but in this case it's about the suits at the NFL and the Miami organization, who have made a decision about gays in football and are sending a message with Jones as the example: Dissent will not be tolerated.

10 posted on 05/15/2014 6:54:15 AM PDT by Genoa (Starve the beast.)
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To: Texas Eagle

The thought control commissars are in full control, if one deviates from acceptance and endorsement they will be sent to reeducation camps. We are treated as less than serfs, pray for guidance. This happened a lot faster than I would have thought, a few months instead of years.


11 posted on 05/15/2014 6:56:19 AM PDT by phormer phrog phlyer
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To: Kaslin

I agreed with Dennis Miller on last night’s O’Reilly. He said something on the order of: Just shut up about ‘gay’, it’s in my face all the time.

It was interesting seeing a regular TV talking head saying such a thing.

He’ll probably be shot at dawn tomorrow by firing squad, but at least he said it.


12 posted on 05/15/2014 6:58:12 AM PDT by xzins ( Retired Army Chaplain and Proud of It! Those who truly support our troops pray for victory!)
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To: Kaslin; Liz; BillyBoy; Impy; GOPJ; fieldmarshaldj; NFHale
RE :”Criticize anything gay people do and you risk ostracism, fines, suspension or loss of your livelihood. “

It started with anti-discrimination laws protecting gays (’orientation’) which defined it as being the same as sex or race :all as identities.

But 'sexual orientation' is really just sexual desire which is invisible, so those laws protect selected behavior.

That is when gays became the same victim status as blacks, now they and their behavior are protected even above skin color.

For example : Shouldn't pedophilia be defined as sexual 'orientation' ? And protected as such?

13 posted on 05/15/2014 6:59:03 AM PDT by sickoflibs (Obama : 'I never said that you can keep your doctor . Republicans lie about me ')
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To: Kaslin

Male coprophiliacs are the new group imbibed with virtue and their favorite aphrodisiac—fresh steaming feces.


14 posted on 05/15/2014 7:00:16 AM PDT by Neoliberalnot (Marxism works well only with the uneducated and the unarmed.)
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To: Cringing Negativism Network

Tagline


15 posted on 05/15/2014 7:02:15 AM PDT by Mrs. Don-o ("Tolerance is the virtue of the man without convictions." - G.K. Chesterton)
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To: Kaslin

He’s right. In today’s politically correct world, you are not allowed to say certain things. Among the biggest offenses you can commit is criticism of the gay community or anything they do.

So, any criticism of the gay community, or Michael Sam, is homophobic. We saw the reaction to him kissing his boyfriend. Liberals thought it was great. Those opposed were said to be homophobic.

And it makes you wonder, if the Rams cut him in training camp, will they be homophobic? What if he makes the team in training camp, but doesn’t play much? Will there be reports that there is homophobia in the NFL? Among players? But then, most NFL players are black, and blacks are a special group under political correctness, along with homosexuals. So then, who wins that battle?


16 posted on 05/15/2014 7:03:36 AM PDT by Dilbert San Diego
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To: Kaslin

Millions of Christians and conservative will continue giving their support to the NFL with purchases of tickets and merchandise and by tuning in to watch games. This is all tacit support of all this nonsense.


17 posted on 05/15/2014 7:07:21 AM PDT by all the best (sat`~!)
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To: ConservativeDude

Good idea!


18 posted on 05/15/2014 7:09:23 AM PDT by Rennes Templar
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To: Rennes Templar

Can you pull it together?????

(It really is good, isn’t it? If someone could model this out....yes it’s expensive...and extremely complex with all the non-major stadium deals that will be necessary, etc....extremely risky and likely to fail....but: it’s worth a shot.

wish Jack Kemp were alive....).


19 posted on 05/15/2014 7:13:30 AM PDT by ConservativeDude
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To: Dilbert San Diego
...homophobic...

That word needs to be put where the sun don't shine. I could count the number of people "afraid" of homosexuals on one hand. Those who are simply disgusted are legion.

The "kiss" was enough to make me run to the restroom to vomit.

Homonauseous ? That's MUCH closer to reality.

20 posted on 05/15/2014 7:16:53 AM PDT by jimt (Fear is the darkroom where negatives are developed.)
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