Comments on: Police Thwart Speech Suppressor

By: mom of 5

mom of 5 — Sun, 22 Mar 2009 03:09:15 +0000

How about a “reasonable agenda?” (Males use the men’s room, females use the women’s room.
People from other continents halfway around the world who have way too much time on their hands should let Gainesville decide what is best for Gainesville.)
I am not a “homophobe,” just a mom who wants her children and their friends to be able to grow up in a healthy, normal community that is not obsessed with sexuality.
I agree with Thomas More Law Center (which is NOT a radical group, at all!) that this issue, forced upon our tolerant community by our radical city commission, gone wild, is “bizarre special rights categories that are being pushed by radical groups with a national agenda. ”

By: Don Marsh

Don Marsh — Fri, 20 Mar 2009 09:59:10 +0000

“obvious homophobic agenda”

How are you any different than the people you criticize?

All I can tell is that in recent years the pro-gay political movement has been very successful at defining the terms of the debate. Homophobia, a word coined in 1972 by a gay psychologist, is now the dictionary definition of anyone who disagrees with either the homosexual lifestyle or the political goals of homosexuals.

By: Zoe Brain

Zoe Brain — Thu, 19 Mar 2009 00:11:24 +0000

Just don’t tar all on the Right with the same brush, Ok? I’m a notorious RWDB and neocon, a political pundit who takes great delight in lampooning Moonbat Lefties. This isn’t a struggle between Right and Left, it’s a struggle between Right and Wrong.

I guess it’s why I feel so strongly about hypocrisy and the stifling of Free Speech. Bad enough when my opponents do it, but worse when it’s “my side”.

By: Emelye Waldherr

Emelye Waldherr — Wed, 18 Mar 2009 18:38:41 +0000

I am saddened that the opponent of Amendment 1 was so moved by his anger that he went over the line. He ought to experience the full consequences of his unfortunate choice. I can understand the source of his anger though. Having someone publicly advocate the repeal of existing legal protections as well as trying to disenfranchise the public in Gainesville using distortions of fact and fear mongering ought to enrage every fair minded citizen there, although I hope they take their anger out at the ballot box and not against a person. I hope the voters clearly see what the radical right wing minority in Gainesville, with the help of the radical right wing Thomas More Law Center, is trying to force on the majority who voted for the current city commission. NO on Amendment One is the right thing to do!

By: Sara Law

Sara Law — Wed, 18 Mar 2009 15:07:36 +0000

Agreed Zoe. VERY gullible.

Sara Law, Washington DC

By: Zoe Brain

Zoe Brain — Wed, 18 Mar 2009 01:19:55 +0000

“ANN ARBOR, MI – The Thomas More Law Center today announced that it will act as legal counsel for “Citizens For Good Public Policy,” a coalition of citizens and businesses, in Gainesville, Florida, formed to enact a civil rights amendment to the City’s Charter. The Charter amendment would prevent the addition of special categories to the City’s human rights ordinance not currently included in the State of Florida’s Civil Rights Act.”

and also from their website:

“The Thomas More Law Center, a national public interest law firm based in Ann Arbor, Michigan, has acted as legal counsel for the coalition and helped draft the Charter Amendment that would prevent the addition of special categories to the City’s “Civil Rights” ordinance not currently included in the State of Florida’s Civil Rights Act.

The proposed Charter Amendment will prevent the addition of a multitude of bizarre special rights categories that are being pushed by radical groups with a national agenda. ”

These are the people who wrote the Amendment. If you can’t see that there is a very obvious homophobic agenda behind this, I don’t know what evidence would convince you. I’m not saying that all, or even a majority, of supporters are homophobes or bigots. I’m certain they’re not. Merely extremely gullible.

By: Zoe Brain

Zoe Brain — Wed, 18 Mar 2009 01:00:10 +0000

The Thomas More Law Center *are* homophobes and bigots though. And they’re the ones behind this.

”
TMLC Agrees to Help Citizen’s Group Overturn City Ordinance Criminalizing Religous

July 31, 2008

Homosexual Agenda – Hamtramck City HallANN ARBOR, MI – The Thomas More Law Center today announced that it will act as legal counsel for a coalition of citizens, businesses, and religions in Hamtramck, Michigan seeking to overturn an ordinance enacted by the City Counsel in June, which gives special privileges to homosexuals and so-called “transgendered” individuals.
…
Richard Thompson, President and Chief Counsel of the Thomas More Law Center stated, “Radical homosexual activists have taken over city councils like Hamtramck all across the nation. These ordinances end up being used to bully and prosecute Christians who faithfully practice their religion.””

That argument won’t play in Gainesville, so they’re using a different one.

But I am getting off-track here, the original post is about freedom of speech, and the oppressors who would stifle it. As someone who is opposed, passionately opposed, to Amendment 1. I call upon all those who feel likewise to make sure that those in favour of Amendment 1 have their rights protected. Having someone nearby with proven anti-Amendment credentials speaking up in favour of the right to Free Speech is more credible than having someone who thinks such rights only apply when it’s their speech being protected. There are people on both sides who are guilty of that, and it’s up to all of us to oppose that pernicious idea, so contrary to our ideals about Freedom.

I’d even say that those who oppose Amendment 1 have a greater responsibility – because we’re supposed to be upholding those ideals. To oppress others is what the other side is supposed to be doing, not us. If we do it just as badly, we’re hypocrites too, worse than they are.

By: Don Marsh

Don Marsh — Tue, 17 Mar 2009 20:35:48 +0000

Sara, the city commissioners made it an issue when they decided they would rather call their constituents homophobes and bigots than make any sort of compromise with their opponents. If they had just done something to address the actual fears that had been brought up, this amendment would never have appeared.

There are a lot of dishonest people (in or connected with our city government) saying that the charter one supporters are just looking for a reason to discriminate against people. The fact is, these people seldom participate in our local government at all. Their voting record is an embarrassment. However, they have been fired up and motivated because of a REAL concern, Pretending they are making it up is the same mistake the commissioners made to begin with.

By: Sara Law

Sara Law — Tue, 17 Mar 2009 18:04:42 +0000

This amendment has nothing to do with bathrooms per se. It does have everything to do with job protection and equal access to housing. As a woman with a transexual history I use the bathroom appropriate to my gender and have for years. As usual the opposition always WANTS to make it a bathroom issue. Please, don’t be taken in by that argument.

And by the way, I fully support the individual who voiced support for Charter Amendment One and condemn the person who tried to stop him from doing so. Just because I don’t agree with someone does not mean I will stop him from voicing his political viewpoint. He definitely has a right to do so.

Sara Law, Washington DC.

By: pato

pato — Tue, 17 Mar 2009 14:22:52 +0000

Do you want to know whether there was a police report filed? If so, I think you have enough information to find out. You have the patrol car id # (2853) and tag # (2299?5), and you know the time. I’ll bet that’s enough information to get a copy of the patrol log of the officer assigned to that car.