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Tuesday, January 27, 2009
Alan Sears :: Townhall.com Columnist
Obama: Building a Monument to Tolerance on the Rubble of Religious Freedom
by Alan Sears
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Well, that didn’t take long.

To many, it may seem premature to confront head-on the agenda of the new president, in the initial days dedicated to celebrating his political success and the peaceful transition of power in our republic.

But, sad to say, in the marriage of President Obama’s political destiny to that of these United States, it’s Mr. Obama who chose to cut short the honeymoon.

No sooner had he finished speaking of his fellow Americans in his inaugural address as a people who “have chosen hope over fear [and] unity of purpose over conflict and discord” than his staff posted, on the White House Web site, a virtual declaration of war against those who oppose the demands for special rights and privileges by those who engage in homosexual behavior.

It is the swiftness of the onslaught, not the scope of the agenda, which surprises.  Repeatedly, during the campaign, Mr. Obama affirmed in speeches and on his Web site his wholehearted support for the homosexual legal and political agenda.  Now, that agenda has moved en masse to the front and center of the new president’s parade of “change.”

As posted, the agenda includes:

·         Expanding the definition of, and ramping up the penalties for, “hate” crimes.

On its face, that may sound reasonable…except that punishing “hate” requires the creation of second-class victims.  Every violent crime is rooted in hate, and every victim deserves equal justice.  “Hate crimes” laws create a two-tiered justice system where some victims are “more equal” than others.  What elevates these victims above others?  The mere broadcast of a preference for certain sexual acts.

Violence is an action; hate is an emotion.  “Hate” crimes laws erase that distinction.  How do you defend yourself against charges that you “hate” someone?  Who gets to decide what “hate” is?  How long before simply reading a passage from the Bible is a “hate crime”?  Indeed, the passage of “hate crimes” laws inevitably leads to persecution for ideas that favored “victims” abhor.  Yes, even in America.

·         Expanding “anti-discrimination” employment laws to include sexual orientation and gender identity.

Bottom line:  this is about forcing religious groups (including churches) and private organizations (like the Boy Scouts and businesses) to hire those who whose open announcement of sexual behavior runs counter to the beliefs of the organizations.  And when those organizations point to those beliefs...well, see “Hate Crimes” above.

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About The Author

Alan Sears, a former federal prosecutor in the Reagan Administration, is president and CEO of the Alliance Defense Fund, a legal alliance employing a unique combination of strategy, training, funding, and litigation to protect and preserve religious liberty, the sanctity of life, marriage, and the family.

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Robert Forcing beliefs on others
It is absurdly simple to show that one can force beliefs on another without forcing one to participate.

One clarification. Forcing a belief on another does not mean that they must in turn believe as well.

Our new President Obama has signed an executive order that through my tax dollars, I must pay for others' abortions. I am not forced to have an abortion nor give one.

I am not participating in abortion any more than the owner of a stolen gun is responsible for the actions of the thief.

Igor
Please prove to me that In a Godless world, why is murder wrong?

If you say the majority says so, I will respond that the majority is not always right. If you say that murder conflicts with some unwritten set of morals that many people seem to share, I will respond by asking, what makes these "feelings" correct? Is murder wrong because that belief has been passed down from generation to generation? Oops, that is the definition of tradition, which you have discounted.

Once you have proven murder is wrong, please prove that denying traditional marriage to gays is wrong.

Your post indicated that it is a matter of fairness and justice that traditional marriage must be extended to gay couples.

I ask you, how do you determine what is fair and just?

Is it as simple as stating that if someone can do something, you should be able to as well?

Is "fairness" an absolute? Is it fair that a hugely famous celebrity like Elvis is not able to go for a walk just like anyone else? Is it fair that the murderer of your child be acquitted because of a legal technicality? The answers are no and no, because there is a higher principle than what is fair to just you.

How can you know that there is not a higher principle at work which is more important than your perception of fairness?

Why do you believe that all societies before are wrong and you are right?

If you want, we can get into the specifics, but before we do, please answer these questions.
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