social @ 20 Feb 2007 12:18 pm by DrBill
There is a case now pending at the 3rd U. S. Circuit
Court of Appeals which will have a profound effect
on our freedom of speech. At the surface of the case it seems to be a group of radical Christian Demonstrators (Repent America) vs. a group of radical homosexual activists in Philadelphia.  So it might seem to most that we can draw the line and choose based on our proclivity for religious or minority (homosexual) rights. First let me state that I have repeated stated my position in several essays as well as three books: “Aids Confusion in Black and Whiteâ€, “Rebirth Painsâ€, and soon to be released “Roman Baptistâ€.  But perhaps what I have not stressed enough is the compassion that has been lacking for this group of individuals by society as a whole. I contend that if homosexuals had been treated with dignity and equality in our society that this movement would not have been necessary … it would be a moot point. But for centuries they have been treated as the scourge of the earth and as a good friend told me: ‘homosexuality is the most universally hated minority in our society’.Â
Let me remind you of a quote from George Washington: The Citizens of the United States of America have a right to applaud themselves for having given to mankind examples of an enlarged and liberal policy: a policy worthy of imitation. All possess alike liberty of conscience and immunities of citizenship It is now no more that toleration is spoken of, as if it was by the indulgence of one class of people, that another enjoyed the exercise of their inherent natural rights. For happily the Government of the United States, which gives to bigotry no sanction, to persecution no assistance requires only that they who live under its protection should demean themselves as good citizens, in giving it on all occasions their effectual support.– August, 1790, in Anson Phelps Stokes, Church and State in the United States, Vol 1. p. 862.Â
It is up to us to live up to this noble effort … that being said … this case should not be about homosexuals against Christians, it should be simply a First Amendment case and as such I feel this is yet another case of judicial activism. The background on this case, known in the media as the “Philly Eleven†is that a group of Christians decided to demonstrate on the public streets during a Gay Pride public festival in Philadelphia (2004). The Gay Pride Group did have a license for this festival. ‘Repent America’ was accosted by a group known as the ‘Pink Angels’. They were met with loud whistles, signs, and obscenities and were prevented access to this public festival. The police intervened, and … arrested the Christians, charging them under the state’s hate crimes law. One of the charges was “Ethnic Intimidationâ€.Â
         Citing their First Amendment Right to assemble in a public forum they sued the city. U.S. District Judge Lawrence Stengel dismissed their civil rights claim and concluded: “that a permit granted by the city to the homosexual group allowed police to silence the Christian activist message on the public streets.â€Â And that is the issue … can the government stop a dissenting groups from demonstrating merely because they are dissenting? The First Amendment states: Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the government for a redress of grievances.
 “To those who see this as a minority issue, remember a few short years ago when the KKK was allowed to march in Cincinnati and the ACLU fought for their rights … even though they insisted on their bigoted agenda … and by the way, their was a plethora of anti-KKK demonstrations allowed all along their path. This dismissal of the civil rights claim is tantamount to stating that the Philly Eleven were wrong because they exercised their First Amendment Rights … and that is the problem with the new left … the old left that I supported would have swallowed hard and said, I think these radical Christians are bigots … but I will die for their right to voice their opinion in the public square … the new left would rather silence them.