American Arrested for Anti-homosexual Statements

By Selwyn Duke

What does the Islamic world and Europe have in common? There are actually many similarities, but one is this: in neither place are Christians allowed to fully express their beliefs without fear of persecution.

As for Eurasia, its Ministry of Truth’s latest handiwork is the arrest and punishment of an American street preacher who dared speak of sin in that land once known as Scotland. The victim is 47-year-old New Yorker Shawn Holes, who was on a UK tour when he was arrested in Glasgow after running afoul of UK hate-speech laws. Writes Pink News:

He said that while preaching, a number of gay couples stopped to listen and asked him about his views, which he said seemed like a “set-up”.

…When asked about his views on homosexuality, Holes said: “Homosexuals are deserving of the wrath of God – and so are all other sinners – and they are going to a place called hell.”

For this Oldspeak transgression, Holes’ arrest was followed by the imposition of a £1,000 fine, which is a harsher penalty than even some Britons who commit violent crimes must endure. 

I’ve said much about “hate speech” laws over the years, and I won’t rehash the old arguments except to again point out that all hate-crime law is an attempt at thought control. Instead, I’m going to shed light on another bias relating to this situation and others like it.

At a UK blog called Harry’s place, writer Peter Tatchell defends Holes, saying, “[I]n a democratic, free society it is wrong to prosecute him. Criminalisation is not appropriate.” Yet he also takes pains to polish up his politically correct credentials and writes, “Mr Holes is obviously homophobic and should not be insulting people with his anti-gay tirades. He should be challenged and people should protest against his intolerance.” And this attitude is reflected in the title of Tatchell’s piece: “Freedom of speech must be defended… even for homophobes.”

It’s also echoed in reader comments on the Holes case, where respondents focus on the man’s alleged “homophobia.” But, question: why the fixation on the preacher’s homosexual commentary? Note that what he said was, “Homosexuals are deserving of the wrath of God – and so are all other sinners….” In other words, it doesn’t seem that Holes is nearly as fixated on homosexuality as are his critics. After all, his frame of reference was all sinful behavior — so he is perhaps better described as “sinphobic” (as we all should be) — yet all the “homophiliacs” do is take issue with his condemnation of one particular sin.

Oh, I do understand the situation. Unlike homosexuals, adulterers, fornicators, and apostates aren’t “protected groups” under British law. It’s also true that homosexuality is the one sin Holes mentioned by name. Yet this might only have been because homosexuals were asking him questions about their behavior. What would have been the focus had the preacher been approached by militant adulterers?

But even this isn’t the point. It is rather that there are no militant adulterers to speak of, but there is an organized homosexual movement. And like all leftist causes, it has been very successful at framing the debate.

It works like this: the left takes something, in this case homosexuality, out of the closet and tries to normalize it. Then, when traditionalists simply play defense and try to preserve the status quo, the leftist social engineers shout, “Why are you so hung up on homosexuality!”

It’s as if a man comes up to you, starts wildly directing blows at your head and then, when you put your hands up to block, says, “Why are you getting so violent! You’re a hater!” Yeah, I guess I am. I hate having my head bashed in for no reason.

And some of us also don’t want Truth, tradition, and virtue bashed in for no reason. But it isn’t hate that drives the best of us, for we are true soldiers who, to paraphrase Chesterton, fight not mainly because we hate what is in front of us, but because we love what is behind us.

I don’t really know who is going to end up burning in hellfire, as that’s God’s judgment. I do know, however, that the left has set the whole West on fire — and then accuses traditionalists of being hung-up on flames when we simply attempt to douse the blaze. And with civilization threatened with being reduced to ash, it just makes one wonder if it isn’t time for another great flood.

                               Contact Selwyn Duke, follow him on Twitter or log on to SelwynDuke.com

                                                          © 2013 Selwyn Duke — All Rights Reserved

Comments

[Greg]

The West is in trouble...

" Woe unto them that call evil good, and good evil; that put darkness for light, and light for darkness;

that put bitter for sweet, and sweet for bitter!

Woe unto them that are wise in their own eyes, and prudent in their own sight!

Woe unto them that are mighty to drink wine, and men of strength to mingle strong drink:

Which justify the wicked for reward, and take away the righteousness of the righteous from him!

Therefore as the fire devoureth the stubble, and the flame consumeth the chaff,

so their root shall be as rottenness, and their blossom shall go up as dust: because they have

cast away the law of the Lord of hosts, and despised the word of the Holy One of Israel."

[Robert Berger]

I don't approve of vilolating people's right to free speech, but what this guy was doing was absolutely despicable . What if someone had stood out in public saying that Christianity is an evil and abysmally stupid religion, and that it encourages appalling bigotry, ignorance, stupidity , narrow-mindedness ,intolerance and self-rightousness, and that it hinders scientific and social [progress (which it does!)? Would you have tolerated him,Selwyn?. I doubt it .

[Greg]

I don't know where you've been, or whether you get out much,

but the speech you describe is a large part of the content of

daily TV, internet, books, etc. in America.

Bill Maher, Richard Dawkins, you, etc. and etc.

And you are all free to bash Christianity and embrace pagan heathensim...

You have a short space of time to sow...

then, later, all will reap.

(I mean, let's be honest...aren't you the narrow-minded, intolerant, bigoted one?

Everyone must agree with you, or they are "intolerant". The irony is astounding)

[Chris]

Well Mr. Berger, if someone had said those things about Christianity, I would have rebutted by saying it is a good (2 Tim 3:16-17) and astronomically intelligent (1 Cor. 1:19-20) religion, and that it encourages fair-mindedness (James 2:9), knowledge (2 Pet. 3:18), wisdom (Eph. 5:17), tolerance (Romans 14), humbleness (Phil. 2:3), and that all these things are conducive to an environment where scientific and social things can progress.

Does Mr. Duke and myself tolerate you and your ilk? Yes. But do the fascists in the article tolerate Chrsitians? You be the judge (John 7:24; Matt. 15:14).

[Billiam]

Mr. Berger, there are those out there who put that forth every day. The lapdog media love to tailor stories with a bias against Christians. I don't know what plane of existence you live on, but it sure isn't this one. either that, or you're blind and deaf. Or purposely ignorant. I'll be tolerant, and give you the benefit of the doubt. What the late, once great Britain is doing is despicable, to use your term. This is tyranny.

[MikeNZ]

They already do all over and nothing happens to them!

[sticks n stones]

He is a small man who thinks himself a big man because he can spit far.

[sticks n stones]

Great article, Mr. Duke!

Keep the aspidistra flying!