I recently came to understand that
Peter Vadala, a Massachusetts man, has been fired from his sales position at Brookstone (Logan Airport location) in Boston allegedly for telling a female manager who was imposing her lesbian views on him that his Christian faith says homosexuality is wrong. Apparently, Mr. Vadala was fired – in America – for expressing an opinion – in America!
How far this nation has descended. Anyone who believes in the Lord Jesus Christ as part of the Holy Trinity cannot deny that homosexuality is a total abomination in the sight of God. Firing a person for engaging in freedom of speech – in particular, defending his Christian faith – is tantamount to declaring hostility toward all Christians. Allowing people to affirmatively express their abominations to Christians but not allowing Christians to respond openly in defense of their faith or to freely exercise their religion not only violates the First Amendment of the U.S. Constitution but violates equal protection.
The United States Constitution does not recognize homosexual marriages but does adamantly protect the free exercise of religion, Christianity in particular, under the very first amendment. While I understand that Brookstone is not a government entity and not necessarily subject to constitutional limitations on the exercise of private rights and privileges, one would think the spirit of the Constitution would be honored by those who believe in it – most especially in Massachusetts. Does Brookstone believe in the U.S. Constitution?
Reverse discrimination is just as invidious as "discrimination." Private suppression of free speech is as bad as government suppression and censorship. The behavior you are tolerating is the horrific hatred that this country seeks to ascend from. It is hate in response to perceived hate. Hate solves nothing, and acts of hatred engender more hatred. It is prolific. History cannot be changed and "affirmative" policies cannot undo what has occurred, but "affirmative" policies can polarize the body politic and create more resistance to the very goals to which you aspire. The free marketplace of ideas will test the viability of ideas and help to educate and resolve a voting public. Censorship, extortion and deception never do. Mr. Vadala's freedom of religious expression and political expression should not only be tolerated but protected.
It is my hope that Brookstone will investigate the termination of Mr. Vadala at Logan Airport. In particular, the "investigation" should be investigated. What fact finding took place before the termination? Was Mr. Vadala given a due-process right to respond before a decision was made? Was he given the right to confront his accuser and cross examine her? Was her word simply accepted but not his? Was he afforded the opportunity to present his own witnesses and evidence as to who committed the provocation? Was he given a presumption of innocence? But most importantly – even if all the accusations are true, can his termination be justified? From the tactics employed to terminate him and the labels attached to him without the necessary factual support to constitute "conclusions," Mr. Vadala's termination seems to be an emotional reaction on the part of someone who is ardently pro-homosexual.
If freedom of speech, equal protection and due process are useless concepts, then why have so many for so long been willing to die to protect them? If you agree that they are essential to quality of life, then shouldn't you employ them privately?
If we are to be the land of the free and home of the brave, then we must be brave enough to let our brethren be free to speak out.
T.W. Cresswell