Thursday, October 20, 2005

SERIOUS QUESTIONS

“Will he who is protesting give teaching to the Ruler of all? Let him who has arguments to put forward against God give an answer.  And Job said in answer to the Lord, Truly, I am of no value; what answer may I give to you? I will put my hand on my mouth. I have said once, and even twice, what was in my mind, but I will not do so again. Then the Lord made answer to Job out of the storm-wind, and said, Get your strength together like a man of war: I will put questions to you, and you will give me the answers.”

(Job 40:1-7)

QUOTATIONS FOR THE DAY

Persistence

“Let me tell you the secret that has led me to my goal: my strength lies solely in my tenacity.”

(Louis Pasteur)

“The best way out is always through.”

(Robert Frost)

“Many of life's failures are people who did not realize how close they were to success when they gave up.”

(Thomas Edison)

PROFESSIONAL VICTIMHOOD

The League has received word that a certain official at a college campus where Mike Heath will be speaking has set up a safe room in a building on campus for students who are gripped by a panic attack when Mike Heath visits. 

The official writes that she “is saddened by the news” that Mike Heath will be on the campus to “offer his visions for Maine.” She writes that she is fearful “not only for the well being of the students, but for the community and the state as well.” Why are students and teachers quaking in fear of Mike Heath? Because he is, in the words of this school official, “a source of potential trauma to our students and our community.” Not psychological or mental trauma, mind you,  but just plain “trauma.” 

The school official goes on to say that she recognizes a “potentially harmful situation” in Mike Heath’s visit and is “planning accordingly, in order to preserve the strength and well being of our students.”  Of course, the attitude shown by the guidance counselor is nothing more than a highly theatrical and slightly hysterical form of the “professional victimhood” which is sweeping our college campuses.

The image of students running to a safe room for protection when Mike Heath arrives on campus is of course absolutely hilarious.  If anything, students are safer when Mike Heath is on campus. He has spoken repeatedly about the need to show compassionate concern for homosexuals. Unlike the other side in this debate, he has repeatedly stated that there must be no ill will towards anyone involved in the “gay rights” movement.

The subject of Mike Heath’s upcoming speech will be the dignity of the individual, each of whom Heath believes is created in the image of God, which is incidentally, an idea our educational institutions tossed overboard long ago.  If students consider Mike Heath a foe, they have got their eyes on the wrong person.

MAINE WON’T DISCRIMINATE
MUDDIES THE WATERS

In an e-mail soliciting funds from its supporters, Maine Won’t Discriminate is claiming that Mike Heath has stated that all claims of discrimination in the state are bogus. As recent debates have shown, the pro-gay rights side has shown little patience or sympathy for fine logical distinctions. It is either “their way” or “no way;” and their way often consists of exaggerating claims of discrimination, or in some cases simply inventing them. These incidents have been given the name of “Hoax Crimes.”

It is Mike Heath’s position that some legitimate claims of discrimination do exist, and that the League in no manner, shape, or form endorses discrimination, including reverse discrimination by gay rights activists.  If an inn keeper refuses to rent to two gays on the basis of conscience, he can be sued under the present law, and that is a form of discrimination. If a school fires a transvestite teacher, or someone with an even more bizarre form of “sexual orientation” the school can be sued under the present law, and that is also discrimination. Under the legal climate the current law imposes on society, anyone who objects to the assertion that homosexuality is normal, runs the risk of termination, and that is discrimination. If any dialogue about discrimination is to take place, it must include a discussion of those discriminated against by the gay rights movement.

Further, since there have been so many unsubstantiated “hoax crimes” by individuals in the gay rights movement, and so many exaggerated claims, it is unwise to accept any unsubstantiated claim of discrimination without independent corroboration.
 

PORTLAND PRESS HERALD
DENIES LIBERAL BIAS

In response to a list of questions submitted by The RECORD, a spokesman for the Portland Press Herald has denied that that paper has any liberal bias.  The spokesman for the Portland Press Herald replied that the paper “strives not to have a bias, liberal, conservative, or in any way.” The spokesman also pointed out that the paper is often criticized from both perspectives, left and right, on issues including gay rights, the Bush presidency, and other public policy issues.

In response to our question as to whether the paper uncritically backs the gay rights movement, the spokesman replied that coverage has been balanced to date. The League has noticed that the last few news stories have been surprisingly even-handed. But these stories stood out because they were the exception.

When asked why the paper runs photos which portray pro-family leaders in the worst possible light, the spokesman replied that the most recent photo of Mike Heath was fair. The spokesman said that he had never heard of the remark in the Portland Press Herald which called Mike Heath “a Dark Angel.”

Asked why Bill Nemitz’s column appears in the news section instead of the commentary section, the spokesman replied that it is a standard practice of other newspapers to place a metro columnist’s commentary in the State and Local section.

Our question on why the paper does not report the excesses of the gay rights movement was left unanswered.

It may very well be that the spokesman did not perceive a liberal bias in his newspaper. But others are not so sure. The unabashedly pro-American conservative commentator Ray Richardson, host of WLOB’s Morning News Show, says that the editorials of the Portland Press Herald tend to the left, and that the news pages are slightly biased in terms of what news they cover. Richardson also says that the news photos show positive images of liberals; and conservatives are shown as angry.

Richardson, who cancelled his subscription to the Portland Press Herald in February, when asked why the paper uncritically backs the gay rights movement, said he believes that this is the case, although he doesn’t know why. But Richardson does not agree that the Portland Press Herald is the most liberal paper in Maine. Instead, he says he thinks that all the dailies in Maine are liberal.

Rev. Dallas Henry, the President of the League, approached the question of liberal bias from a different perspective.  Rev. Henry said that it is apparent that the editorial staff, who are a product of our secular educational institutions have an understanding of life which excludes God. Rev. Henry said that the corporate elites at the Portland Press Herald have a strong connection to the gay rights movement, and do not want the people to know about the excesses of that movement. Rev. Henry said that is was unfortunate the Portland Press Herald will have an effect on the upcoming referendum vote on November 8th.

None of the people we interviewed for this story had a stronger opinion about the Portland Press Herald, than Rev. John Grant, Pastor of the Lighthouse Church of the Nazarene in Wells, Maine. Rev. Grant was a member of the crew of the USS Pueblo, and spent eleven months in a North Korean POW camp.    

Rev. Grant says that the Portland Press Herald is the most liberal paper in Maine, and that “Nine times out of ten, liberal churches are featured in the Religion section.” Rev. Grant thinks the paper’s support for gay rights is based on the influence of the pro-gay companies who advertise in the paper.  Rev. Grant says that the paper does not report on the extremes of the gay rights movement, because “They don’t want to be labeled as bigoted.” Rev. Grant thinks they will influence the vote on November 8 somewhat, because of the constant repetition of pro-gay rights ideas in the paper. Rev. Grant stated that he doesn’t know if the influence of the paper will decide the vote.