Council stokes the flames beneath the crucible

Ferndale & Pleasant Ridge Mirror ^ | 10/31/02 | Pat Dostine

[scripter]

I was stunned Monday as Councilman Scott Galloway read a resolution, now an infamous part of Ferndale's record, that censured Pastor Tom Hansen for an anti-homosexual speech he made in May. It passed 4-1.

Hansen's words were described as "callous, outdated and hostile" to the lesbian and gay community and an affront to Ferndale and many of its citizens.

Isn't the real "culprit" here the Bible? If so, then SoulForce and council need to go after the Bible. And while they're at it, burn Huckleberry Finn, The Catcher in the Rye, Tropic of Cancer and other "callous, outdated and hostile" stuff.

One resident had the wisdom to request that council scratch those words from the resolution. Mayor Bob Porter made the motion and no one on council seconded it, leaving it to die like the runt of the litter.

Did Hansen deserve to be called on the carpet for his alienating, non-communitarian words in May? Absolutely, and I believe he was. That was a sufficient response in the republican process, much like it was a sufficient response for Councilman Craig Covey when all ugly hell broke loose over his silent Memorial Day protest during Hansen's benediction.

Covey wasn't recalled or censured despite the fact his constitutionally protected protest greatly offended Ferndale's patriots and veterans. Apparently their feelings are inferior to those of the GLBT community.

SoulForce led this relentless, shortsighted, mob-like attack against Hansen, and council followed like a group of untutored kids. The leadership of Ferndale, by passing that misguided resolution, stoked the fire underneath a political crucible.

If you're not quasi-liberal, intolerant of intolerance and do not ingest today's over-prescribed antibiotic, political correctness, it's prudent to keep your unpopular mouth shut.

On a side note, to blame Police Chief Mike Kitchen and the police department for Monday's nightmarish circus was slippery and gutless. Council suggested all this could have been avoided had Kitchen appointed more chaplains earlier this summer, as if SoulForce would have been appeased simply by increasing the number of chaplains. Poppycock! Political correctness is all about purification and homogenization. Kitchen appropriately addressed the issue when he pledged to protect citizen Hansen's First Amendment rights.

I remember a professor of political science telling me once that political correctness, because of its righteous appearance, was more dangerous than McCarthyism. These were prophetic words in the early '80s.

At Monday's council meeting, Hansen was the witch and Ferndale, Salem.

[scripter]

This is a followup to: Ferndale chaplain rebuked

[scripter]

Let me know if you want to be included or removed in future pings of this type.

To find all articles tagged or indexed using Homosexual Agenda, click below:
	click here >>>	Homosexual Agenda	<<< click here
(To view all FR Bump Lists, click here)

[BenLurkin]

That darn morality. It is so outdated!

[per loin]

Perhaps when you post stories about places like Ferndale, you might mention where Ferndale is located.

[stage left]

Michigan. Bordering Detroit and home to the Woodward Dream Cruise.

[stage left]

Memorial Day Benediction Service - Covey & another gay activist turned their backs (and had ball caps on) during a Benediction by the minister that opposed a gay-pride festival.

That was the very public activity he participated in. Covey, on his own free will, as an elected official marched in the parade.

Be happy to provide details.

[CalConservative]

I am assuming this is an editorial in the local paper, but can't tell for sure. Even if it is a letter to the editor, though, it is good that there are still people out there willing to speak up for what is right. There are getting to be so few of them anymore...