Since Miss California honestly gave her opinion on same-sex marriage, it seems that Christians and others opposed to same-sex marriage have been under constant attack. I find it funny (ironic) that people supporting same-sex marriage are always crying out for tolerance. Yet when some one openly voices their opinion against them, than suddenly tolerance is out the door. An LA City College student is suing the college after he began a speech in his public-speaking class opposing same-sex marriage. The instructor wouldn't even allow him to finish. When asked about his grade, the instructor told him to go ask God what his grade should be. The students lawyer believes that colleges are now setting different standards for Christians and non-Christians. Basically non-Christians can say whatever they want; where as Christians must say what makes everyone else happy. The instructor in this situation was clearly wrong. It is an obvious violation of free speech and freedom of religion (even though you don't have to be a Christian to be against same-sex marriage, this student was).
As far as colleges setting different standards, I'm unsure. I personally have not been a victim of this or seen it happen so its hard to say. I do know that the media seems to have these different standards. Anytime anyone publically mentions opposing same-sex marriage they make the 6:00 news and everyone is in uproar. As is the case with Miss California, a person can't give his honest opinion anymore or they may risk losing everything. Donald Trump can pretend her crown was taken away because of "questionable" photos, but its all a lie. Her crown was taken away because she stood up for her beliefs. If she would have simply said she supported same-sex marriage, those photos either would have never been published or they would have been ignored like all the other "questionable" photos of previous beauty queens. It saddens me to see the First Ammendment actually hurting someone in these situations, but as a Christian I am proud that they have stood up for their beliefs and have not been bullied into recanting.
For more on the LA City College law suit visit http://articles.latimes.com/2009/feb/16/local/me-speech16
I agree that the professor was in the wrong.
ReplyDeleteI think your post brings up another issue that I think is very important for when it comes to intellectual freedom. It is so much easier to see and feel our own rights being hindered, or others that have similar views. What is harder, and much more challenging is to recognize when people we do not necessarily agree with have their rights trampled on. All people should work hard to protect the rights of all people whether or not they believe the same thing. This is a two way street. I personally may need to be more concsious of the rights of Christians because of my bias that they have been protected for years... what may you need to be more conscious of because of your own biases? (This question is posed to everyone, not just Amber)
I'm not sure this issue has to do with free speech in the sense that what she said was not suppressed nor censored. She has the right to say what she wants, but she did not have the right to be free of the consequences of what she said. The public and media has every right to criticize her, and she should not feel that she is exempt from that. Since these beauty pageants are events aired on television for all the public, it is not so surprising that everything she says and does gets scrutinized. As for her getting fired, it would depend on what is in her contract. I'm sure there are many things that contestants of these pageants have to consent to. It wouldn't be right to fire a contestant just for their beliefs, but at the same time, there are probably a lot of stipulations in their contracts about the things contestants can say and do. But whether she did in fact get fired for what she said is conjecture. I remember reading somewhere that Carrie Prajean's firing had more to do with being uncooperative and making unauthorized public appearances. Here are the email transcripts that support that behavior: http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,525726,00.html
ReplyDeleteI really hope Lopez wins his lawsuit, and the professor gets disciplined. This is further evidence that universities are no friend to the First Amendment, thanks to the abundance of politically-correct speech codes. To quote Ice T, "Freedom of speech--just watch what you say."
ReplyDeleteAs for Prajean, I think public opinion turned against her not for her beliefs on gay marriage (which I actually found refreshing), but because she's a lying hypocrite who refuses to take responsibility for her actions. Since when did posing topless become a Christian value? Of course, she claimed ignorance, blaming the photographer. And I'm sure Jesus would approve of those implants, too. It was especially telling to see the following exchange on The Early Show, when the host asked her about the message she might be sending to young girls:
Prajean: "Well, I think that that's definitely an irrelevant topic. And we kind of cleared that up yesterday (at the news conference). So -- "
Host: "But what would you say if they were watching right now and they didn't see you yesterday?"
Prajean: "I think that's -- that has nothing to do with me answering a question on stage. And that's what I think we really need to focus on."
http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2009/05/13/earlyshow/leisure/celebspot/main5010764.shtml
Ok.. just throw stones at me now... but free speech does not mean you get to say what you want without consequences. Prajean had the right to say what she wants. And the world has the right now not to like what she has to say. She is crying now because she has learned this valuable lesson. I am sure the person who answered in favor of gay rights would have had plenty of Christians angry too.
ReplyDeleteI don't know, It seems to me that a lot of people are quick to throw stones at people who don't agree with them. I personally happen to be a christian and what always surprises me is not the quickness of people to jump at those that voice their opinions about things that are supposedly "un-christianlike" but those Christians who will criticize and condemn others but take offense when someone does the same to them. You bshouldn't criticize if you aren't prepared to get it back. It always bothers me when I hear about someone making comments about anything and when they get called on them their reaction is to shout out "why are you ganging up on me? I'm a good christian". Being a good "anything" doesn't make you a good person. I know so many people who are just plain ol' hypocrites. Free speech is just that. As long as you aren't hurting someone you should be able to voice it. I do have to agree with El Robster though.
ReplyDeleteI don't think Miss California got booted because of her comments. I think she got booted for being a hypocrite. one of those "do as I say not as i do" people. Why lie about something. Honesty gets you much farther in today's world.
I think everyone has the right to their opinion yes, if you don't like the opinion turn the channel, don't listen to them whatever. It's not that difficult. I hate people who try to change someone because they think differently than them. That professor was wrong, yes, and I think that universities can be incorrect in the way they have classes. I had a professor in college that would argue and I mean ARGUE who had a viewpoint different than his.
ReplyDeleteand if you give opinions and are in the public eye and keep being in the public eye than you better get used to having people argue with you and scrtinizing your every move and what you say.