Around the 'Shoe

So a citizen of a city can't speak his/her mind at a council meeting?

It's ok for people to speak their mind, as long as their views line up with yours. Right?

''I have simply said that based on the Bible, homosexuality, the lifestyle of homosexuality, is a sin,'' he said. ''That has created a flame within itself. But I've decided I'm not going to be afraid of people calling me a bigot or a homophobic or narrow-minded out of a simple, gentle, compassionate expression of the truth of God's word. I'm not going to be bought off by that.''

As a Christian, I agree with him about the sin part--but I would also add that I have a substantial list of sins myself. American gays are Americans. As citizens, they deserve the same rights and protections as everyone else. To deny that IS narrow-minded.

I appreciate his willingness to maintain his belief and not give in to the political correctness that causes too many to compromise what they believe. Just because a Christian speeks out against any type of sin, it doesn't mean they "hate" the people. The bible says to love the sinner but not the sin. I have not seen all that he has said in the past, but I didn't see anything in the article that was hateful to the people, just stating that the act of homosexuality goes against God's teachings and the council members(as well as everyone else) will stand in judgement for the lives we live. I think the only thing he should have done differently was not give the footbal stadium as his address of record.

I coach youth football at the 5-6 year old level. At the beginning of the year I meet with all the parents and explain to them that I understand I am there to coach football. However, I will not compromise my faith and the biblical call to share the Gospel with as many as possible. So during the meeting I let them know that we are going to have a prayer meeting at the end of each practice and before games. I also let them know that if any find it offensive or just do not want to participate that they can just let me know and I will let their child leave before we have prayer and they do not have to be part of it. In 5 years, no one has asked for their child to not be a part of it and most are appreciative of it.

Part of Pelini's reasoning for hiring him was that he believed in him as a football coach and someone who has a positive impact on the kids. You certainly don't have to be a Christian to accomplish that, but he shouldn't be fired for expressing his views when gay and lesbian groups are entitled to their freedom of speech with rally's and other functions.

dcraig said it best...

gay/lesbian American citizens deserve the same protection as you and me

Brown is saying they don't; plain and simple

Is it me or does political correctness tend to hamper free speech? Do what ever you want to as long as it doesn't infringe upon someone else's life, liberty, or pursuit of happiness.

You people don't have the slightest idea what your talking about. We live in a civil society, a republican democracy -- not a christian state. This is not Iran, not a theocracy.

We were born of the enlightenment and accordingly all are entitled to equal protection of the law here. Mr. Brown can express his ideas as the first amendment is important. However, gays and lesbians are historically discriminated against and deserve the same protections as all others in our society per the 14th amendment.

+1!

He went out of his way to lobby against discrimination against gays, to me that sounds hateful. You can spin it any way you like, but he is saying it is ok to discriminate. Pretty sure the Bible has some thoughts that are pretty clear about not discriminating.

Care to enlighten us on HOW gays & lesbians are discriminated against in our society? What protections afforded everyone else are denied to gays & lesbians?

Your opening statement sets up a straw man argument. The coach did not claim that we are a theocracy. He simply stated his reason for his view of the issue at hand. However, if you care to go back and read the writings of our founding fathers, you'll find that all but a few were committed Christians (and the few who weren't didn't complain about being discriminated against!). The Declaration of Independence cited Scripture multiple times in delineating the king's crimes against the colonies. The constitution was based on Christian principles. I could go on, but you've probably already stopped reading this.

I'll ask the question again: HOW do gays & lesbians have fewer rights than everyone else?

When we start creating rights & privileges based on personal preferences & lifestyle choices, we're headed downhill fast. EVERYONE in this country has the same rights & privileges under the law.

read my below post. I'm not going to educate you on homosexual discrimination, because I shouldn't have to. But that doesn't matter, it's a straw man argument. All the city wants is to put it on paper that they should not be allowed to be discrimnated againts and Ron Brown does not want them afforded that right under city law.

I'll repeat. HE IS LOBBYING AGAINST MAKING IT ILLEGAL TO DISCRIMINATE DUE TO SEXUAL ORIENTATION. HE DOES NOT WANT EQUAL RIGHTS UNDER THE LAW. It has nothing to do with whether or not they have equal rights at this moment, he does not want them.

There is no mention of scripture in the declaration either...