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I found an e-mail on the www.snopes.com website today. I'm proud of myself, I actually caught this one before someone sent it to me.
It claims to be a petition in defense of the freedoms of speech and religion. I've posted it below.
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A Petition To Congress In Defense Of Religious Freedom
Be one of one million Americans willing to take a stand in defense of two of our most precious freedoms—freedom of speech and freedom of religion. Here’s why:
A California lawsuit which is now headed to the U.S. Supreme Court would make the use of the words “natural family,” “marriage” and “union of a man and a woman” a “hate speech” crime in government workplaces. The 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals has already ruled in favor of the plaintiffs.
CNN and The Washington Post both reported that General Peter Pace, former chairman of the Joint Chiefs of staff, was fired because of his publicly expressed moral opposition to homosexual behavior.
A bill now before Congress (H.R. 1592 / S. 1105) would criminalize negative comments concerning homosexuality, such as calling the practice of homosexuality a sin from the pulpit, a “hate crime” punishable by a hefty fine and time in prison. This dangerous legislation would take away our freedom of speech and our freedom of religion.
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Very dramatic stuff, and thoroughly false and misleading. The full story can be found at http://www.snopes.com/politics/sexuality/hatecrime.asp but I'll summarize the details here.
The California lawsuit mentioned has nothing to do with the "hate crimes" bill (H.R. 1592 and S.1105). What actually happened was that several employees posted some material critical of homosexuals on a company bulletin board. The employer removed the material and the employees filed suit claiming their freedom of speech had been violated. The California court ruled that the company had the right to remove the material and the employees' rights were not violated.
General Pace has publicly voiced his belief that homosexuality is immoral. However, neither CNN nor the Washington Post claimed that this opinion is the cause of his firing.
The hate crime bill does not seek to restrict the speech of pastors or anyone else. It defines a hate crime as anything that "...causes bodily injury to any person..."
The purpose of the legislation is not to criminalize any activity. It is to enhance the penalties for things that are already serious crimes when those crimes are motivated by hatred against homosexuals.
Petitions like this make me mad. Whatever a person's opinions about homosexuals, a lie is a lie.
I am disgusted to see such naked untruths used in a petition that claims to be about freedom of speech and religion. It is an irresponsible use of speech and it is a gross lie told in the name of religion. The people who put this out should be ashamed.
It claims to be a petition in defense of the freedoms of speech and religion. I've posted it below.
-------------------------------------------------------
A Petition To Congress In Defense Of Religious Freedom
Be one of one million Americans willing to take a stand in defense of two of our most precious freedoms—freedom of speech and freedom of religion. Here’s why:
A California lawsuit which is now headed to the U.S. Supreme Court would make the use of the words “natural family,” “marriage” and “union of a man and a woman” a “hate speech” crime in government workplaces. The 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals has already ruled in favor of the plaintiffs.
CNN and The Washington Post both reported that General Peter Pace, former chairman of the Joint Chiefs of staff, was fired because of his publicly expressed moral opposition to homosexual behavior.
A bill now before Congress (H.R. 1592 / S. 1105) would criminalize negative comments concerning homosexuality, such as calling the practice of homosexuality a sin from the pulpit, a “hate crime” punishable by a hefty fine and time in prison. This dangerous legislation would take away our freedom of speech and our freedom of religion.
-------------------------------------------------
Very dramatic stuff, and thoroughly false and misleading. The full story can be found at http://www.snopes.com/politics/sexuality/hatecrime.asp but I'll summarize the details here.
The California lawsuit mentioned has nothing to do with the "hate crimes" bill (H.R. 1592 and S.1105). What actually happened was that several employees posted some material critical of homosexuals on a company bulletin board. The employer removed the material and the employees filed suit claiming their freedom of speech had been violated. The California court ruled that the company had the right to remove the material and the employees' rights were not violated.
General Pace has publicly voiced his belief that homosexuality is immoral. However, neither CNN nor the Washington Post claimed that this opinion is the cause of his firing.
The hate crime bill does not seek to restrict the speech of pastors or anyone else. It defines a hate crime as anything that "...causes bodily injury to any person..."
The purpose of the legislation is not to criminalize any activity. It is to enhance the penalties for things that are already serious crimes when those crimes are motivated by hatred against homosexuals.
Petitions like this make me mad. Whatever a person's opinions about homosexuals, a lie is a lie.
I am disgusted to see such naked untruths used in a petition that claims to be about freedom of speech and religion. It is an irresponsible use of speech and it is a gross lie told in the name of religion. The people who put this out should be ashamed.
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