Posted on 05/12/2007 9:22:27 PM PDT by 2ndDivisionVet
FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. -- Airport officials have fired a luggage attendant who admitted playing a Bible verse that offended a gay couple over an airport speaker system.
Jethro Monestime acknowledged that he played the message twice just after midnight on May 1.
He told investigators Sunday that it was a prank.
Monestime said he used his cell phone to play a recording that said, quote: "If a man lies with a man as one lies with a woman, they should be put to death." The announcement came from a variation of Leviticus 20:13.
Broward County Mayor Josephus Eggelletion Junior said the sheriff's office will turn the case over to the state attorney's office to determine whether criminal charges should be filed.
A co-owner of Superior Aircraft Services says Monestime was fired Monday, and the company has issued an apology to the offended couple
I dunno, it’s a crazy world, could’ve been seen as a death threat I suppose.
It was stupid of him to play it over the loudspeaker, but yeah- what should he be “prosecuted” for?
Criminal charges? For committing what felony??
This moron should have known that this would not go over well in a left-wing hellhole like Liquordale.
In this day and age, the idea of a “luggage attendant” making any unauthorized use whatosever of an airport public address system, never mind one involving the words “put to death”, is serious business indeed. He’ll be lucky if he doesn’t end up facing federal charges. I don’t think this has anything to do with “political correctness”. I think it has everything to do with taking airport security seriously. In the general noise and confusion of a busy airport, some people could easily only catch the last part of this idiot’s “prank”, and panic thinking that Muslim terrorists were taking control of parts of the airport, preparing to put “infidels” to death. Airport public address systems are not a source from which people will be quick to assume “prank” when they hear something disturbing.
Prosecution...I'm wondering if there's some sort of misconduct involved. If they're thinking hate speech they can get bent, and I certainly wouldn't see this being a disorderly conduct prosecution.
A hate crime? That’s what Pelosi, Hillary, Obama, Reid, Edwards and Kennedy intend with H.R. 1592, the Local Law Enforcement Hate Crimes Prevention Act of 2007.
Have to agree with you. If he did this with the loudspeaker at WalMart that would be one thing, but an airport? Yeesh.
Excellent point.
You may be right.
A hate crime? Thats what Pelosi, Hillary, Obama, Reid, Edwards and Kennedy intend with H.R. 1592, the Local Law Enforcement Hate Crimes Prevention Act of 2007.
:::
Well these bottom-feeding anti-American socialists have absolutely no interest in any group of people to protect them against anything — the whole purpose of their SO-CALLED HATE CRIME CRAP is a broad-brush legal vehicle TO SILENCE ANY DISSENT AGAINST THEIR REPRESSIVE SOCIALIST EFFORTS to convert America into government-dominated, single-party socialist dung-heap where it is A CRIME TO EXERCISE FREE SPEECH.
THAT is the purpose of HR 1592 which blatantly violates at least TWO amendments of the Bill of Rights and which Bush has sworn to veto for exactly what it is.
Fired, yes, and immediately.
Employees are generally not allowed or encouraged to insult or intentionally offend any potential customer.
Prosecuted?
Depends upon the terms of the employment agreement, here in Florida, but in any case, that would require the employer to actually press charges for a breach of contract.
I wonder what the writer means by a "variation" of Leviticus 20:13? While the wording might vary a bit from one translation to another, there isn't any variation in the meaning of that verse. The King James version, for instance, has:
20:13 If a man also lie with mankind, as he lieth with a woman, both of them have committed an abomination: they shall surely be put to death; their blood shall be upon them.
Here’s all the “variations” I have...
(ASV) And if a man lie with mankind, as with womankind, both of them have committed abomination: they shall surely be put to death; their blood shall be upon them.
(BBE) And if a man has sex relations with a man, the two of them have done a disgusting thing: let them be put to death; their blood will be on them.
(Bishops) If a man also lye with mankinde after the maner as with women kynde, they haue both committed an abhomination: let them dye, their blood be vpon them.
(CEV) It’s disgusting for men to have sex with one another, and those who do will be put to death, just as they deserve.
(Darby) And if a man lie with mankind, as he lieth with a woman, both of them have committed an abomination: they shall certainly be put to death; their blood is upon them.
(DRB) If any one lie with a man as with a woman, both have committed an abomination: let them be put to death. Their blood be upon them.
(ESV) If a man lies with a male as with a woman, both of them have committed an abomination; they shall surely be put to death; their blood is upon them.
(Geneva) The ma also that lyeth with the male, as one lyeth with a woman, they haue both committed abomination: they shall dye the death, their blood shalbe vpon them.
(GNB) If a man has sexual relations with another man, they have done a disgusting thing, and both shall be put to death. They are responsible for their own death.
(GW) When a man has sexual intercourse with another man as with a woman, both men are doing something disgusting and must be put to death. They deserve to die.
(JPS) And if a man lie with mankind, as with womankind, both of them have committed abomination: they shall surely be put to death; their blood shall be upon them.
(KJV) If a man also lie with mankind, as he lieth with a woman, both of them have committed an abomination: they shall surely be put to death; their blood shall be upon them.
(KJV-1611) If a man also lie with mankind, as hee lyeth with a woman, both of them haue committed an abomination: they shall surely be put to death; their blood shalbe vpon them.
(KJVA) If a man also lie with mankind, as he lieth with a woman, both of them have committed an abomination: they shall surely be put to death; their blood shall be upon them.
(KJVR) If a man also lie with mankind, as he lieth with a woman, both of them have committed an abomination: they shall surely be put to death; their blood shall be upon them.
(LITV) And a man who lies with a male as one lies with a woman, both of them have done a detestable thing, dying they shall die; their blood shall be on them.
(MKJV) If a man also lies with mankind, as he lies with a woman, both of them have committed an abomination. They shall surely be put to death. Their blood shall be on them.
(RV) And if a man lie with mankind, as with womankind, both of them have committed abomination: they shall surely be put to death; their blood shall be upon them.
(Webster) If a man also shall lie with mankind, as he lieth with a woman, both of them have committed an abomination: they shall surely be put to death; their blood shall be upon them.
(YLT) `And a man who lieth with a male as one lieth with a woman; abomination both of them have done; they are certainly put to death; their blood is on them.
I hate PC as much as anyone, but this employee’s action was inappropriate and unbelievably stupid. It’s also really counterproductive politically.
And I thought San Francisco was Fag City, USA.
Let us change the scenario.
Let us suppose there is a Baptist convention in town.
Suppose someone would put a message critical of the Baptists on the public address system. Perhaps a joke that is aimed at the Baptists. Something like this:
The four facts of Religion
1. Atheists do not recognize the existence of God.
2. The Jews do not recognize Jesus as the Savior.
3. Protestants do not recognize the Pope as the Head of the Church.
4. Baptists do not recognize each other at the liquor store.
It could also be almost any other denomination.
Is that excusable?
If God’s Word offends you, I feel sorry.
Making a death threat at an airport in serious business and the Bag Boy had better face the consequences.
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