Friday August 13, 2010
First Rush, then Coulter, and Now Glenn Beck ... What’s Happening?
Commentary by John-Henry Westen
NEW YORK, August 12, 2010 (LifeSiteNews.com) - Appearing on The O’Reilly Factor yesterday, famed conservative Fox News host Glenn Beck may have shocked many Americans by noting that he was not very concerned about homosexual 'marriage.'
O’Reilly asked Beck, “Do you believe that gay marriage is a threat to the country in any way?” Beck replied, “No, I don't,” adding sarcastically, “Will the gays come and get us?”
After being pressed again on the question, Beck said, “I believe -- I believe what Thomas Jefferson said. If it neither breaks my leg nor picks my pocket, what difference is it to me?” Showing his own surprise, O’Reilly remarked, “Okay, so you don't. That's interesting. Because I don't think a lot of people understand that about you.”
The Glenn Beck revelation comes on the heels of two other startling announcements by conservative celebrity pundits in the last couple of weeks. Earlier this week it was announced that conservative pundit Ann Coulter would headline a fundraiser for the homosexual activist group within the Republican Party, GOProud. And on July 29, although his position had been revealed before, talk radio host Rush Limbaugh again came out in favor of homosexual civil unions, while being opposed to same-sex ‘marriage.’
To be fair, it must be pointed out that Beck said he was looking at the ‘big picture’ and promoting faith, the answer to all such things. Moreover, he added that he was okay with gay ‘marriage’ with a caveat. “As long as we are not going down the road of Canada, where it now is a problem for churches to have free speech. If they can still say, hey, we oppose it,” he said.
But even to have suggested, as strongly as he did, that he was not opposed to gay ‘marriage’ is detrimental and demonstrates a ‘small picture’ approach.
Beck seems like a good guy. He’s thoughtful. He’s right on many matters in the culture war. For instance, when O’Reilly followed up and asked if Beck thought abortion threatened the United States, Beck replied dramatically in the affirmative. “Abortion is killing, it’s killing, you’re killing someone,” he said.
So I thought it’d be worth it to calmly and persuasively share concerns with Beck on his approach. He may not read my email, but I’m sure if enough pro-family folks were to get the message to him, he’d reconsider his outlook.
Here’s Beck’s email:
And here’s the gist of what I wrote:
Laws teach people what is right and wrong and thus homosexual acts will implicitly be given the stamp of approval where such legal recognition is granted. The young will be given the false impression that this behavior is safe and acceptable, or even good.
Society has a duty to legally recognize and support married couples since they are, through procreation, the source for the continuation of human life and thus society itself. Homosexual couples cannot properly procreate and thus have no such claim to societal recognition.
The question is not so much about marriage, but about homosexual acts. The acts are harmful to the individuals who engage in them. They are harmful physically, emotionally and spiritually.
With regard to persons engaged in such behavior or identifying with it, there must never be unjust discrimination. All gay bashing, name-calling and the like should be condemned. However, there must be discrimination on this front, a just discrimination, to preserve societal recognition for marriage between one man and one woman.
