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Johnson initially prevailed in court and returned to the festival in 2010,
but in 2011 the festival organizaers sued the city of Minneapolis in an attempt
to circumvent Johnson and deny him attendence to the public event; and Chief
U.S. District Judge Michael Davis agreed.
According to the Minneapolis Star Tribune: "Davis noted that 'free expression in
a public forum is a core liberty that must be guarded with vigilance.' But he
said it must be balanced with the rights of others and with legitimate
government concerns."
"'Courts therefore recognize that, when the government seeks to regulate the
time, place or manner of speech in a public forum and does so in a
content-neutral manner, its actions are constitutional so long as they are
narrowly tailored to serve a significant interest and allow alternative channels
of communication,'" Davis wrote.
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So goes our nation, FREE SPEACH illegal now.
ReplyDeleteThe only place I know that offers true free speech is at SPEAKERS CORNER in LONDON. Here you can say whatever you want and not get arrested. It is true tht we need to vigilantly protect our rights but also be aware that to enter an event organised by someone that has a different viewpoint WITH THE INTENT of propogating a view that is diametrically opposite to the views of those in the majority is simply asking for trouble. In this case it is good that the organisers appealed to the law rather than let their adherants take the law into their own hands... Brian Johnson has chosen to test his freedom in this way and therefore has to abide by he courts decision. After all he doesn't have to attend. It's his choice. Respect for others opinions is paramount to order in society so perhaps a better witness would be to go "covertly" into the Gay Pride event and speak to individuals without being controversial and present a positive message of Christ's love. As a comparision.... imagine a Socialist Party organising an event where a far right Fascist came to distribute his literature and to "convert the attendees to Fascism? I think the organisers might have something to say to them too! Or at a Christian event a convinced Atheist came armed with literature promoting Atheism...... i think you get my point!
ReplyDelete1) "WITH THE INTENT of propogating a view that is diametrically opposite to the views of those in the majority..."
DeleteA) So, you're saying that the Bible is objectionable?
B) We have something here in the United States called the 1st Amendment. Objectionable or not, Johnson speech is considered pristine in public venues. Davis made a horrendus ruling which will probably be overturned on appeal.
2) Fasicm is a Left-wing movement. However, the fascists and the socialist probably would rumble as it's in their nature to do so.
3) The Atheist would be allowed free access to distribute his literature.
I have been to Christian events where atheists have been in attendance, at times to disrupt and at times to listen. 5 Sundays ago my wife sat next to an atheist visitor (with a killer hat) at our church and he laughed the entire time he was there, then left in the middle of the alter call. I spoke to him prior to the service, welcomed him and invited him back. There are differences and you'd be better informed if you were to attend events of both sides. It is generally in evidence that the side crying the loudest for tolerance id the side least likely to afford it to anyone else.
DeleteIncidentally, your analogy of the Socialist on one side and the Fascist on the other is not only offensive if you are comparing them to Christians who might want to attend an event, it is factually wrong. Fascism has always been an outgrowth of extreme socialism and leftist ideas. I'd be happy to recant if you were able to give a single example of Fascism growing out of conservative ideology or politics. Italian Fascism, Laos, Cambodia, Venezuela, and the Nazis were all Socialists or Communists - all left-wing.
It's crystal clear that homosexuals know down inside that they are wrong in their lifestyle and don't want anyone reminding them. They want to ignore that small voice in their head that is telling them to leave that destructive lifestyle. That is the only reason they want to silence this man.
ReplyDeleteIf they knew they were right, why would they care about this guy?
That would be like the a guy standing outside the Giant's stadium in the Meadowlands handing out pamphlets describing how the Giants are NOT world champions - because there is a flag football team in Lincoln, Nebraska that can beat them. THATa is how ridiculous it should sound to a gay person to have someone tell them they are wrong in their sexual behavior.
No. It would be like going to a conference for deaf people, and passing out literature that claims that God loves only people who can hear.
DeleteWe no longer are a country with freedom of speech, assembly,and/or press. It should be legal to distribute whatever literature one wants. The person on the receiving end chooses to accepts or decline. Simple as that, The homosexuals must feel threatened. Wonder why?
ReplyDeleteSo I guess according to this judge, that those homosexuals who are looking for a way out of their debased lifestyle will get one more roadblock on the way. The Bible and Jesus Christ offers them the only way to leave their lifestyle. I wonder how people would feel if this judge said that once you are a murderer, you have to keep doing it?
ReplyDelete