For John, BLUF: It is about Free Speech, the First Amendment, the ability to tell your neighbor he or she is ugly.
Over at The [Lowell] Sun we have this little blurb♠ about the ongoing political race, in this case the race between Democratic Party incumbent Senator Eileen Donoghue and Republican Party challenger James Buba. And, it turns on the issue of what James Buba was trying to say:
WHAT DO Jim Buba, the Republican candidate for the 1st Middlesex District state Senate seat, and Chick-fil-A President Dan Cathy, have in common? They're both opposed to gay marriage.Boston Mayor Tom Menino says Chick-fil-A restaurants wouldn't be welcome [in Boston]? Now one sees that this is, indeed, a First Amendment issue. There are nuances on the issue of same sex marriage. I took a position, when I ran against David Nangle a decade ago (he has been in office that long?), based on what I had observed as practice in Germany (and some other European nations). I said that we were talking about contracts and that as contracts, everyone should have to go to City Hall or the Town Clerk to execute the contract, in public. Then, those who wanted, should go to a Church to get married.Buba opened the door to the issue during a Sun-sponsored debate last week against Democratic incumbent Sen. Eileen Donoghue. He brought a Chick-fil-A drink cup to the debate, and placed it on the table in front of him.
Buba said he is opposed to gay marriage, saying "it's just not my way." But he said he's more concerned with the 1st Amendment right to free speech. "Mr. Cathy can say whatever he wants to," said Buba.
This summer, crowds converged upon Chick-fil-A's 1,600-plus locations, including Burlington, in a show of solidarity. Boston Mayor Thomas Menino condemned Cathy's position against same-sex marriage while adding Chick-fil-A restaurants wouldn't be welcome.
But, the Chick-fil-A brouhaha got out of control when public officials started talking about banning the Restaurants. While that might be the Chicago Way, it is not what our Constitution and the better angels of our nature call for. The Constitution for public officials who try to repress a person's right to free speech and the "better angels" for those not in public office who try to suppress that person's operations.
It is analogous to the 13 minute video Innocence of Muslims. If you don't like it, don't watch it, but Government Officials should not be trying to suppress it.♥ It is a fine line public officials walk. Free Speech should be a bright line. The idea that we should criminalize lying is pernicious. It is a big step down the road to a totalitarian form of government. Today's lie, may, at some point, become tomorrow's truth.
Regards — Cliff
♠ How long this link will be good is debatable. Usually these Sun links die within a fortnight, forcing readers to go to some pay for view site. I will not be updating the link.
♥ In this bloggers humble opinion, to focus on the video as the root cause of the recent (11 Sept) riots in the Middle East and elsewhere is to miss the elephant in the room. It was an anniversary of the al Qaeda attack on the Twin Towers in New York City and two other targets in this nation. Frustration over local problems were the basis for protests and the video was like a brick laying in the street, picked up to throw through a plate glass window.
I too support Chick-fil-A, – AND Mister Cathy's God-given Constitutionally-insured right to voice his beliefs and opinions – WHILE STILL operating his honest business anywhere he wants to.
ReplyDeleteCurrently we are watching fanatical Islamist extremists – WHO WANT TO KILL US – given bend-over-backwards freedom to express their GENUINE HATRED.
Meanwhile, idiots like Mumbles Menino and Rahm Emanuel call Cathy 'a hater' – and want to ban him from their cities. I'm not sure if this is deliberate ignorance or cultural suicidal behavior.
Cathy doesn't want to KILL anybody, - he want's to honor and uphold traditional marriage.
The Islamists hang / behead / burn alive any gay people they can get their hands on.
Are you aware of how Hezbollah is treating men in Lebanon they suspect of being gay? They are given a rectal exam – for which they PAY. If the examiner says they're gay – they are executed.
Cherish your Constitution, and don't be duped by false arguments. Study your history. There is a REASON why Columbus sailed WEST looking for India. People should learn what it was before they blabber.
I am very concerned with James Buba's candidacy for State Senate. I have been following his postings on the Internet for quite a few months now and the picture I have assembled from his own words is that of a person who is a racist, a a bigot, and one who openly incites to hatred, violence, and acts of terrorism against Muslims, political opponents, and others. He calls teachers "social leeches" or "baby sitters" and is dismissive of intellectuals and scientists whom he calls "academnutz". He makes a point of spelling "arab", "muslim", islam"," muhammad" with lower case to show his self-admitted contempt and scorn towards the Islamic world.
ReplyDeleteA random exploration of his Facebook Timeline says it all:
Incitement to terrorism:
9/30/2012, commenting on "BBC News - Deadly Kenya grenade attack targets children in church", Mr. Buba said: "Time to bomb the mosques at prayer. It'll start a ruckus, but it will soon end with mutual respect."
Teachers as social leeches and baby sitters:
9/15/2012, commenting on "The Buenos Aires Herald - Ten of thousands of Spaniards rally against spending cuts", Mr. Buba said "Not particularly happy with the first round of austerity measures, the teachers and other social leeches are protesting the second round of austerity measures."
9/14/2012, commenting on "WGNtv.com - CTU Attorney: Today was a good day", Mr. Buba said "The teachers should have ... their jobs at a 20% pay and benefits cut PLUS longer school days, since all they are is baby sitters anyway ..."
Apology for slavery - the Europeans purchased slaves out of concern for their well-being in the hands of the evil Arabs:
10/10/2012, commenting on "BBC News - Barbosa made Brazil's first black Supreme Court leader", Mr. Buba said "European merchants purchased Black African men from Arab invaders of Africa... rather than witness them beheaded."
Against science and concern for endangered species:
9/28/2012, commenting on "BBC Nature - Great ape habitat in Africa has dramatically declined", Mr. Buba said "Firstly, how precious are the apes? Secondly, just where do they [the academenutz] expect all the people to go?"
9/26/2012 commenting on "BBC Nature - Asiatic cheetahs forced to hunt livestock", Mr. Buba said "Given the choice between stupidity and extermination, it would be the Cheetah that should [be] eradicated."
All the above comments made by Mr. James Buba can be found on the mentioned dates in his Facebook Timeline at www. facebook. com /JimBuba.
Anyone with such attitudes and views has no place in the State Senate!