14 November 2022

Free speech: getting it so wrong

These two episodes are only representative of what will continue to find their way onto our screens and hopefully into our memory as bizarre and ridiculous. 

In the UK, a 71-year-old (like me) was arrested while speaking publically about religion and marriage. Covering the event, Sky News commentator, Andrew Bolt of Australia interviews the editor of Spiked online Brendan O’Neill.  https://www.theaustralian.com.au/news/pastor-arrested-after-citing-biblical-marriage-definition-a-vile-attack-on-freedom-of-religion/video/adbf76bcdfc0e06de389a5743f84f70c This appears to have taken place 18 months ago. But wait, there's more. 

If that's not shocking enough, in the US state of Florida, the use of a New Testament Bible verse on a parking spot that had nothing to do with any other religion was cited as offensive here: https://www.skynews.com.au/world-news/united-states/its-attacking-me-us-high-school-employee-complains-about-antijewish-bible-verse-on-coworkers-parking-space/news-story/c68470bcfc6325442e0dfb9058211d6e 

I'm all for calling out evil and especially anti-Semitic hate speech, but someone speaking about what they believe, quoting the Bible that informs them, and including NO REFERENCE to other religions... how is that inciting hostility? How is saying like the apostle Paul "I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me" indicative of anti-Semitism? Neither in its context in the letter to the Philippians nor in any sense of human conversation is there any hint of hostility to the Jewish people. 

Marina Gentilesco, who works at Wiregrass Ranch High School in Pasco County, Florida, said she has been angered every day she passed by her co-worker's parking spot that is painted with Philippians 4:13, which reads, "I can do all things through Christ which strengthens me," according to local Fox affiliate Fox 59.

Add that to the list. 

Remember earlier this spring when the Footy thought police prevented NAB executive Andrew Thorburn from remaining in the CEO role at the Essendon football club. Why? He is a member of an Anglican church that continues to believe and practice Christianity. Here's my blog on this evil lack of tolerance from October. https://bob-mendelsohn.blogspot.com/2022/10/andrew-thorburn-and-essendon-and-city.html

The madness will only continue until the reasoned people of Australia and really the world will stand up and decry such cancel culture. Be woke...call it out... we have to listen to each other or else we won't have civilization. What do you think of all this?

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