(Reuters)
Is there free speech left in America…if you’re a conservative or Christian?
Isn’t free speech protected by the U.S. Constitution? Can your views cost you your job, career or property?
Don’t look now but it’s happening. Views considered “too conservative” “old fashioned” or “politically incorrect” are no longer tolerated by Obama’s socialist cabal or the “thought police” (I know, I repeat myself).
How will liberals feel when their views get them fined, suspended and fired?
Let me give you just a few examples of political correctness run amok. Interestingly, in each of these cases I disagree with the views expressed.
Let’s start with the case of openly gay football player Michael Sam. On Saturday he became the first gay player drafted into the NFL. I say congratulations. I’m happy for Sam. I was rooting for him. I actually thought he should have been drafted higher.
But have we traded one prejudice and civil rights violation for another? Many religious Americans were offended by Sam’s publically affectionate hand holding, hugging, and kissing with his boyfriend on national TV after his NFL draft selection. ;
If it’s called “progress” and a sign of “freedom” that two men can openly kiss on national TV, what is it called when someone offended by that same scene can be fined or suspended from their job? Is that progress? Is that free speech?
Ask Miami Dolphins safety Don Jones. He tweeted about how disgusted and offended he was by that kiss. Jones was immediately fined and barred from team activities until he finishes “training for his recent comments made on social media.” Training? You mean like a “reeducation camp?”
I may disagree with Don Jones’ comments. They may have hurt Michael Sam’s feelings. They may have offended gay Americans. They may have been politically incorrect. But that’s not the point. Just because you disagree with someone’s opinion, does your employer have the right to suspend you from your job? Can that same employer demand “thought training” to get your job back? In America?
This is a NFL football team. Whether you are gay or straight should not matter. But neither should your views on two men kissing. All that should matter is how well you tackle in the open field. If you happen to get grossed out by two men kissing, that’s none of your employer’s business. ;
I don’t happen to agree with what Don Jones said publicly, but I think the Miami Dolphins and the NFL should be sued for $100 million dollars for a violation of the employee rights of Don Jones. He has every right to say what he wants and believe what he wants. Where is the public outrage? Where is the ACLU?
If we allow employers like the Dolphins to censure, fine, suspend or fire a player for his thoughts, political or religious beliefs, have we made progress? ;
Just realize this cuts both ways. How will liberals feel when their views get them fined, suspended and fired? What’s good for the goose is good for the gander, as they say. This is not a road we want to head down.
But Don Jones is far from an isolated case. It’s happening across America. Free speech is no longer tolerated by the left. Even CEO’s of a private business are under attack. Mozilla CEO Brendan Eich recently lost his job for making a donation to support Prop 8, the ballot initiative that barred same-sex marriage in California.
Once again, I happen to disagree with the opinion of this CEO. I personally think government should stay out of our boardrooms and bedrooms. I don’t believe government should tell people whether they can be married or not. But that’s not the issue here. ;
Remarkably, a CEO in America was fired for his personal belief that marriage is between a man and a woman. Worse, he wasn’t fired for leading the battle, but rather just for writing a check to a cause he believed in. This isn’t supposed to happen in America. Where is the public outrage? Where is the ACLU?
What’s next? Should we tar and feather CEOs whose views we disagree with? Do employees also lose their jobs or careers for making a political donation? Who has been appointed as the judge and jury to determine which donations result in the loss of your job?
It’s great that anyone can be openly gay in America nowadays. I’m cheering. But should conservatives be forced into the closet? Why trade one civil rights violation for another. Is that progress?
For the first time in my life I’m rooting for the ACLU to take a stand. Because soon in Obama’s America it will be conservatives forced to sit in the back of the bus. ;
Soon it will be justified not to serve Christians because they stand in opposition to gay marriage or abortion. ;
Soon CEO’s will be forced out of their jobs for publicly opposing minimum wage increases.
Soon we’ll see signs openly displayed “Republicans need not apply for the job.”
Where does this witch hunt end?
Wayne Allyn Root is a Capitalist Evangelist, serial entrepreneur, conservative national media commentator, and proud champion of the middle class. He is a former Libertarian vice presidential nominee, now back to the GOP. Wayne’s latest book is “The Murder of the Middle Class” (Regenery 2014). For more, visit his website: www.ROOTforAmerica.com. Follow him on Twitter@WayneRoot.
