U.S. Senator Introduces Bill to Spy Out “Hate Speech”

Current Events,

The American Family Association has issued a statement about a piece of legislation rolled out last month by Democratic Senator Edward Markey.

From AFA:

May 1, 2014

Senator Edward J. Markey (D-Mass.) has introduced legislation for the federal government to monitor and analyze speech on the Internet, television, and radio looking for anything it considers “hate speech.”

The Hate Crime Reporting Act of 2014 (S.2219) would capture Internet and other telecommunications that the government interprets as encouraging hate crimes based on gender, race, religion, ethnicity, or sexual orientation.

This is a bad bill, even to the liberal Boston Herald editorial staff. It mandates that the government monitor and analyze speech and press statements that are protected by the First Amendment. The wording is deliberately fuzzy, so that although it sounds like it only addresses constitutionally unprotected speech, it reaches much further.

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God’s Not Dead

Current Events,

How far would you go to defend your belief in God? That’s the question at the forefront of the March 21st release of God’s Not Dead, a movie about an embattled Christian student, Josh Wheaton (Shane Harper), who faces a failing grade from his philosophy professor, Professor Radisson (Kevin Sorbo).

If Josh is not able to present well-researched, intellectual arguments and evidence over the course of the semester establishing God’s existence, Josh’s lofty academic goals could be hindered. Endorsed by groups like American Family Association and Alliance Defending Freedom and well-respected individuals like Pastor John Hagee as well as professional athletes, authors, and many others, this is a film that should take moviegoers on a ride of conviction, leaving them to ask the same question to themselves.

Click here for more details and to watch the trailer.

Click here for a list of Arkansas movie theaters showing God’s Not Dead.

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In Arizona, Which Side is “Intolerant”?

Current Events, Homosexuality,

By now, you are probably aware of the controversial SB 1062 proposed recently by Arizona lawmakers and vetoed by Gov. Jan Brewer last Wednesday night.

The bill, which made national news across the country, would have “made certain that governmental laws cannot force people to violate their faith unless it has a compelling governmental interest—a balancing of interests that has been in federal law since 1993,” according to Cathi Herrod, President of Center for Arizona Policy, a supporter of the bill.

The bill, however, drew strong reactions from gay activists. In the words of Alliance Defending Freedom, they “egregiously misrepresented” SB1062 to the point that, as Cathi Herrod summed it up, Governor Brewer ultimately vetoed “a bill that does not even exist.” The bill she and others claimed she was vetoing was nothing, in reality, like the proposed law.

SB1062 was about protecting religious freedom from being compromised—not about allowing restaurants to deny service to gay people.

Gay activists often accuse groups like ours or the Center for Arizona Policy of being “hateful” and “intolerant.” But look at what Citizens for a Better Arizona did Wednesday, placing red tape over Center for Arizona Policy’s doors as if the place were out of business. They also attempted to swarm the office, protesting outside its doors and demanding Cathi Herrod come out and apologize for her group’s work. Some are even calling Cathi “a legislative terrorist.”

Does that sound at all like tolerance?

Click here for more info.

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