Angel
DP Veteran
- Joined
- May 3, 2017
- Messages
- 18,001
- Reaction score
- 2,909
- Location
- New York City
- Gender
- Male
- Political Leaning
- Independent
"Hate speech" has unfortunately become a shibboleth of the Left used to condemn any and all free expression of disapproval or criticism. In the courts, I believe, a higher threshold obtains whereby unless speech incites to imminent violence, it remains protected under the First Amendment. The teacher in this case expressed his disapproval of homosexuality and based his disapproval on a Biblical text. He was not in the classroom when he expressed his disapproval, and he was clearly speaking for himself, not the school. Moreover, the "deserve to die" phrase in the quoted text is Bible-speak for "losing eternal life in Heaven" -- he was saying nothing more there than that according to the Bible homosexuality is a grievously sinful offense against God. That is his opinion, and he has every right to his opinion. No one else need take his opinion seriously. The dignity of some students, while it may have been affected by his words, is not protected by the Constitution. Indeed, he speaks lovingly of those students at the close of his letter. And finally, the school newspaper elected to publish his personal opinion. He should not be fired. Had he been fired for the letter, I should think he'd have the ACLU on his side in the court case that would follow.