![]("http://www.rilin.state.ri.us/Senators/Pictures/nesselbush.jpg") |
| Sen. Donna Nesselbush |
State Senator Donna Nesselbush (D-Pawtucket), an ambitious,
brazen, and openly gay politician, recently attacked the Indiana state legislature and
Governor for passing a law which protect the civil rights, i.e. the
religious liberties of individuals,
small businesses, churches, and charities, granting them a stronger threshold for
engaging the First Amendment as a legal protection.
brazen, and openly gay politician, recently attacked the Indiana state legislature and
Governor for passing a law which protect the civil rights, i.e. the
religious liberties of individuals,
small businesses, churches, and charities, granting them a stronger threshold for
engaging the First Amendment as a legal protection.
Not just Nesselbush, but nationwide media cohorts,
academics, and left-wing agitators slammed Governor Mike Pence and the Republican
legislature for bigotry against gays and lesbians. In spite of his best efforts
to defend both the spirit as well as letter of Indiana’s Religious Freedom
Restoration Act, Pence caved, as did his conservative cohorts, and they changed
the law. Following corporate as well as
media pressure, the state of Arkansas’ GOP trifecta followed suit.
academics, and left-wing agitators slammed Governor Mike Pence and the Republican
legislature for bigotry against gays and lesbians. In spite of his best efforts
to defend both the spirit as well as letter of Indiana’s Religious Freedom
Restoration Act, Pence caved, as did his conservative cohorts, and they changed
the law. Following corporate as well as
media pressure, the state of Arkansas’ GOP trifecta followed suit.
Conservatives across the country, and Americans in general,
should be livid that in the Land of the Free and the Home of the Brave, state
governments must write laws to enhance and enforce or liberties, then enjoin
the federal government to respect those Constitutional liberties. A deeper
disappointment, however, depends on the sudden shock, awe, and craven caving of
conservatives in those deep red states.
should be livid that in the Land of the Free and the Home of the Brave, state
governments must write laws to enhance and enforce or liberties, then enjoin
the federal government to respect those Constitutional liberties. A deeper
disappointment, however, depends on the sudden shock, awe, and craven caving of
conservatives in those deep red states.
If the Governor of Indiana, a former red-blooded Republican Congressman
who claimed “I am a Christian first, a conservative a second, a Republican last”
cannot stand his ground on the basic tenet of religious liberty, who will? Aside
from Rep
Mike Chippendale (R-Foster) and a few others, not many politicians are
standing for religious liberty in Rhode Island. In some cases, the aberrant
lifestyle and corruption have meet together (Gordon Fox, and perhaps David
Cicilline). Even former mayor Vincent “Buddy” Cianci forced
Providence firefighters to march in a gay pride parade.
who claimed “I am a Christian first, a conservative a second, a Republican last”
cannot stand his ground on the basic tenet of religious liberty, who will? Aside
from Rep
Mike Chippendale (R-Foster) and a few others, not many politicians are
standing for religious liberty in Rhode Island. In some cases, the aberrant
lifestyle and corruption have meet together (Gordon Fox, and perhaps David
Cicilline). Even former mayor Vincent “Buddy” Cianci forced
Providence firefighters to march in a gay pride parade.
![]("http://www.wnd.com/files/2014/12/fire-truck-gay-pride-parade-600.jpg") |
| Former Providence Mayor Vincent "Buddy" Cianci forced Christian firefighters to march in a gay pride parade |
As for the Indiana and Arkansas legislation, the language outlined
clear tests to protect individual liberties from undue government burdens. In
no way did these laws permit or enable discrimination based on race or color.
The statue would protect individuals of conscience from participating in
certain activities, such as baking a cake for a gay wedding.
clear tests to protect individual liberties from undue government burdens. In
no way did these laws permit or enable discrimination based on race or color.
The statue would protect individuals of conscience from participating in
certain activities, such as baking a cake for a gay wedding.
On a side note, the argument that discrimination includes homosexual
conduct is losing steam, and
politicians as well as professionals
are starting to ask: Are people really born gay? Should homosexuality be a
protected class? Martin Luther King, Jr., the Founding Father of America’s Modern
Civil Rights Movement, did not think so. He counseled a young charge who
struggled with same-sex attraction to seek help. What would Rhode Island’s Founding
Father Roger Williams have said about religious freedom and tolerance in
connection with homosexuality? One
blog site suggested that Williams would have maintained marriage between
one man and one woman:
conduct is losing steam, and
politicians as well as professionals
are starting to ask: Are people really born gay? Should homosexuality be a
protected class? Martin Luther King, Jr., the Founding Father of America’s Modern
Civil Rights Movement, did not think so. He counseled a young charge who
struggled with same-sex attraction to seek help. What would Rhode Island’s Founding
Father Roger Williams have said about religious freedom and tolerance in
connection with homosexuality? One
blog site suggested that Williams would have maintained marriage between
one man and one woman:
On the one hand, the
civil order has no sway in religious matters, of which marriage surely is one.
On the other hand, the magistrates are to cast “a blush of civility and
morality” over the populace, and homosexuality is surely a moral issue.
civil order has no sway in religious matters, of which marriage surely is one.
On the other hand, the magistrates are to cast “a blush of civility and
morality” over the populace, and homosexuality is surely a moral issue.
In
a recent press release Nesselbush not only shamed the state of Indiana for
“authorizing their businesses to discriminate”, but welcomed “persecuted
homosexuals” and enlightened entrepreneurs to relocate to Rhode Island.
a recent press release Nesselbush not only shamed the state of Indiana for
“authorizing their businesses to discriminate”, but welcomed “persecuted
homosexuals” and enlightened entrepreneurs to relocate to Rhode Island.
Regarding “discrimination”.
. .
. .
Businesses routinely discriminate when they refuse service
to disorderly individuals, or patrons who refuse to wears shoes or a shirt. Some
businesses post a sign reading: “We reserve the right to refuse service to
anyone.” It’s about proprietary rights, pure and simple.
to disorderly individuals, or patrons who refuse to wears shoes or a shirt. Some
businesses post a sign reading: “We reserve the right to refuse service to
anyone.” It’s about proprietary rights, pure and simple.
Still, Nesselbush declared:
My heart goes out to
all gay and lesbian Hoosiers who may become victims of this law.
all gay and lesbian Hoosiers who may become victims of this law.
“May become?” How about the Hoosiers who have been
victimized by uncivil militants, like Memories
Pizzeria?
victimized by uncivil militants, like Memories
Pizzeria?
Why spend your money
and pay your taxes in a state that has enacted backward laws like this one?
Come to Rhode Island, a state that has embraced marriage equality without
advancing discrimination in the name of religion. In Rhode Island, we practice
religious liberty without trampling on civil rights.
and pay your taxes in a state that has enacted backward laws like this one?
Come to Rhode Island, a state that has embraced marriage equality without
advancing discrimination in the name of religion. In Rhode Island, we practice
religious liberty without trampling on civil rights.
Inclusiveness? In Rhode Island? Tell that to the tens of
thousands of professionals, homeowners, businessmen, entrepreneurs, and college
students who cannot find a job, who are witnessing the dissolving insolvency of
cities and state because of spendthrift Democrats.
thousands of professionals, homeowners, businessmen, entrepreneurs, and college
students who cannot find a job, who are witnessing the dissolving insolvency of
cities and state because of spendthrift Democrats.
Besides, the federal government has enacted RFRA laws, and
so has (*gasp*) Rhode Island. Where’s the outrage, Sen. Nesselbush? Has she
demanded a revision of Rhode Island’s own RFRA? Furthermore, does she have
anything to say about Muslims
who refused to bake a gay marriage wedding cake? What about the refusal
from gay
friendly bakeries to make a cake recognizing marriage as between one man
and one woman? How about the
imposed censorship against a campus newspaper at Roger Williams University?
so has (*gasp*) Rhode Island. Where’s the outrage, Sen. Nesselbush? Has she
demanded a revision of Rhode Island’s own RFRA? Furthermore, does she have
anything to say about Muslims
who refused to bake a gay marriage wedding cake? What about the refusal
from gay
friendly bakeries to make a cake recognizing marriage as between one man
and one woman? How about the
imposed censorship against a campus newspaper at Roger Williams University?
![]("http://i.ytimg.com/vi/RgWIhYAtan4/maxresdefault.jpg") |
| This Muslim bakery refused to bake a gay wedding cake |
Furthermore, how would Williams have reacted to the freedom of
conscience of Christian businesses protecting their freedom of conscience, and
refusing to engage in certain kinds of business?
conscience of Christian businesses protecting their freedom of conscience, and
refusing to engage in certain kinds of business?
The
Boston Globe published a review of John Barry’s biography Roger
Williams and the Creation of the American Soul: Church, State, and the Birth of
Liberty, which
included the following reflection:
Boston Globe published a review of John Barry’s biography Roger
Williams and the Creation of the American Soul: Church, State, and the Birth of
Liberty, which
included the following reflection:
Williams wrote, “I
commend that man, whether Jew, or Turk, or Papist, or whoever, that steers no
otherwise than his conscience dares.” Williams believed, in effect, that even
the intolerant must be tolerated, which would become a bedrock principle of
liberal democracy.
commend that man, whether Jew, or Turk, or Papist, or whoever, that steers no
otherwise than his conscience dares.” Williams believed, in effect, that even
the intolerant must be tolerated, which would become a bedrock principle of
liberal democracy.
In other words, Williams respected freedom of conscience,
thus siding with the Christians who refuse to bake a wedding cake, take
photographs, or provide flowers for a homosexual wedding. Nesselbush distorts the
Indiana controversy and RI founder Roger Williams’ legacy of religious liberty and
tolerance. Based on her flawed estimation, Williams is just as much an
insufferable bigot as the residents of Indiana and all other Americans who
regard freedom of religion (and conscience) as sacrosanct. Judging from her own
rhetoric, would Nesselbush banish Williams form his own state? Or would she simply
refuse to bake him a cake?