It's Called Freedom of Speech

Kirk Cameron recently stated on Piers Morgan his controversial views on homosexuality and as a result has been on the receiving end of a lot of hateful responses. Radio host Rush Limbaugh has also been receiving his share of heat for describing a college student as a slut and prostitute for her pro birth control views.

While I do not agree with what either had to say, I respect Cameron for holding true to his statements while seeing Limbaugh as nothing more than a buffoon.

When people tweet, write, or speak hateful comments about some one's views they do not like they only show their ignorance toward free speech. Piers Morgan simply asked Kirk Cameron to explain his views about homosexuality and gay marriage and all Cameron did was honestly respond with calm detail. He said nothing to promote hate or violence toward any group of people. He simply explained why he feels homosexuality is not natural or healthy to mankind. Big deal.

Freedom of speech only exists if we agree to support the right of people to calmly and rationally state their views whether we agree with them or not. Cameron was on Morgan's show to promote his upcoming film which is centered around his Christian beliefs. Is that any different than when Michael Moore promotes a film centered around his political beliefs? Celebrities promote their work and in the process their political, religious, and social views all the time. Why is it we are unable to listen to someone articulate a point of view we do not like and then feel the need to bash that person in an irrational manner?

Now Rush Limbaugh is a different matter. He volunteered his outrageous remarks as a way to spark listener responses and in the process attacked another person's reputation in an unwarranted manner. That is not how free speech works. Then, after seeing his advertisers pull the plug from his show, he issues an apology that was about as believable as what you hear from a politician who crosses the line.

Decades ago, I used to listen to Rush when his evening show was based in Sacramento and he was not yet famous. He was actually very funny then and equally attacked both sides of the political isle. Now that he is entrenched with the extreme right, I can not bring myself to listen to him.

I once saw Barbara Streisand interviewed and she responded to a question about the huge salaries she commanded for her concerts and movies by saying she uses the money to help elect political candidates across the country. I decided I did not want to support her politics and went 15 or more years without seeing or listening to anything she did.

Remember, in show business, the only bad publicity is no publicity. By ignoring celebrities who feel compelled to tell us how to live our lives or who to vote for, they receive a message far louder and clearer than anything delivered through a hateful tweet or verbal response.

And as for Rush Limbaugh, quit listening to talk radio when you can listen to your own personal play lists on your iPod.

New York State of Mind

If you want to know what is wrong with this nation, look at New York. It's bad enough their state dragged us through Weiner Gate by electing a tool to congress. Voters in Anthony Weiner's district continued supporting his remaining their representative despite his texting photos of his wiener. He did not have the decency to listen to party members who told him to resign. No, he waits until his wife returned home so he could have a face to face with her. Why he did not text her for and answer is beyond me.

Next, state representatives had no trouble giving their okay to a request made by one of the members of the Flying Wallenda Family when he asked their permission for a tight rope stunt across the top of Niagara Falls. I can only assume they felt such a stunt would be a tourist boon for their economy and with any luck, the tight roping Wallenda might fall to his death allowing the state to cash in on DVD sales of the event. Ever notice how these stunts are a good idea when times are tough but when states are swimming in money they turn them down?

However, somewhere between Weiner Gate and Wallenda Falls, the state of New York managed to drag out making a decision on legalizing gay marriages. It's not like New York was the first state to have to deal with this issue. It's been around now for the last ten years and any elected state official is asked their position on it so it's not like it's a complicated matter. You either support gay marriage or you don't. It's that easy.

Still, New York found a way to take two weeks to decide the matter while demonstrators gathered, television networks converged, and news papers wrote front line stories. The real issue should not have been gay marriage but rather how it could take "leaders" so long to decide the matter. Instead, they took five minutes to grant a stunt request they think will make the state easy money while dragging their feet to decide on an issue where they already have clearly stated opinions.

Unfortunately, New York is no different than any other state in our union. The simple and clear end up being complicated by elected officials who only think in terms of money and their own re-election rather than what is in the best interest of the electorate. It's a wonder our government gets anything done.