Speak Up Loud and Speak Up Often!

A modified version of this appeared on the Minnesota Public Radio - Commentary site this morning. And while I am thrilled that they published it at all, a few of the finer points were edited out. Therefore, here is the column in its entirety. 

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I just watched the most terrifying video clip I’ve ever seen. It wasn’t from ALIEN or some Gothic vampire flick, it was a radio talk show host delivering his message to his loyal listeners. It wasn’t just the topic that was scary; it was something he said in the middle of his screed.

Richard Grenell

The speaker was Bryan Fischer of the American Family Association on his May 1st broadcast talking about the resignation of Richard Grenell, a senior adviser to the Romney campaign who happens to be an openly homosexual man. Now, no matter how you feel about homosexuality, you cannot help but be terrified by what Bryan Fischer said about the candidate. Below is a quote taken from the video:

“Mitt Romney has been forced to say, ‘Look, I overstepped my bounds here. I went outside the parameters here. I went off the reservation with this hire. The pro-family community has called me back to the table here. Called me back inside the borders of the reservation’….I [Fischer] can flat out guarantee you he is not going to make this mistake again.’”

Excuse me? Did I hear that right?

We, The People who, in order to form a more perfect union, establish justice, insure domestic tranquility, provide for the common defense, promote the general welfare, and secure the blessings of liberty to ourselves and our posterity, were just told by some guy that his organization controls some other guy who is a major party candidate for President of the United States.

Now, I’m sure Mr. Romneyy will come out and denounce Mr. Fischer, but the damage is done. This radio guy just told America that his organization, small as it is, is so powerful that presidents will bow to their will, and that we should all fall in, goose-stepping all the way, behind him.

While ultimately this may be a matter of free speech, there are lingering doubts over how much power the ultra-right wing lobby really wields. On some levels, it hearkens back to that classic film, The Manchurian Candidate, casting a rather large shadow over the Republican party. Are they pandering to that segment, and at what cost?

So here’s the question that needs to be asked: if Mr. Fischer and his constituency have this much power, and if Mitt Romney is elected, what comes next? Are all homosexuals to be denied employment? Are the business they own to be given to heterosexuals? And what is to become of them? Are there already plans in the works for relocation camps to house them away from the general population?

Manzanar in California

Sounds more like Germany, 1933…or California in 1942. Let’s not forget what a fearful government did to We, the People of Japanese descent during World War II.

We, the People do not have the luxury of standing idly by while this kind of rhetoric is making it onto the air waves. We, the People need to stand up for the rights of ALL American citizens.  If you don’t approve of the Vatican, don’t be a Catholic. If you don’t approve of abortion, don’t get one. If you don’t approve of homosexuals, don’t be one. Regardless of opinion, We are part of We, the People and have all the same rights as every other citizen of the United States regardless of race, creed, or sexual orientation.

It’s unimportant whether or not Mr. Fischer is telling the truth. He thinks he is, and probably a whole lot of other people think he is, too. And this can spread. Fast. Too fast. Unless We, the People, stand up against bigotry of ALL kinds, there will be no one left to speak for any of We, the People when they come for the rest of us.

Wifely Person's Tip o'the Week

If we do not step up to the plate to protect our civil rights,

we don't deserve to have them