So much for freedom of speech

With liberals freedom of speech applies only to the 'right' types of speech. Here is a Washington Times article showing just that.

University rebukes employee for e-mail decrying lesbianism
By Joyce Howard Price

A state university in New Jersey has reprimanded a student-employee for describing homosexuality as a "perversion" in a private e-mail that he sent a female professor, after she sent him an unsolicited announcement about a university event that promoted lesbian relationships.

But Jihad Daniel, 63, who works for William Paterson University repairing computer hardware and takes graduate-level courses part time, said he was only expressing his Muslim religious beliefs when he responded to professor Arlene Holpp Scala, head of the university's women's studies department.

Mr. Daniel wants a letter of reprimand from the university's president removed from his permanent employee file. The letter says he violated state discrimination and harassment regulations for using the term "perversion."

The Foundation for Individual Rights in Education (FIRE), a nonprofit group based in Philadelphia that is assisting Mr. Daniel in his fight with the university, calls the action taken against him "absurd" and an infringement of his free-speech rights.

"William Paterson University is knowingly disregarding the U.S. Constitution. No one here was 'harassed' or 'threatened,' as defined by the law. The university simply strongly disliked a student's point of view," said Greg Lukianoff, FIRE's director of legal and public advocacy.

Mr. Daniel received an e-mail from Miss Scala on March 7 advertising an upcoming viewing and discussion of the film "Ruthie and Connie: Every Room in the House." The e-mail referred to the film as a "lesbian relationship story."

Mr. Daniel replied to the professor the next day asking that he not be sent "any mail about 'Connie and Sally'... and 'Adam and Steve.'?"

"These are perversions," Mr. Daniel wrote. "The absence of God in higher education brings on confusion. That is why in these classes the creator of the heavens and the universe is never mentioned."

On March 8, Miss Scala forwarded Mr. Daniel's e-mail to the university's Office of Employment Equity and Diversity.

"Mr. Daniel's message to me sounds threatening and in violation of our university nondiscrimination policy. I don't want to feel threatened at my place of work when I send out announcements about events that address lesbian issues," she said in an e-mail message.

University President Arnold Speert sent Mr. Daniel a letter on June 15, informing him that the investigation into Miss Scala's complaint was complete. It was a letter of reprimand in which Mr. Speert said "perversion -- is clearly a derogatory or demeaning term." As a result, he said, Mr. Daniel was guilty of violating state discrimination and harassment regulations.

So lets get this straight Ms. Scala sends an unsolicited email to a university employee. The Mr. Daniel tells the professor his true feelings and the University feels this was a violation. Gimme a break. Why is Ms. Scala sending out these emails? How did she get Mr. Daniel's email? If someone sends an unsolicited email, anyone has the right to tell that that person what to do with it. How is this a violation of state harassment and discrimination guidelines. If anyone is guilty of harassment its Ms. Scala.

What it is simply is another instance of the hyper sensitive left that doesn't tolerate any beliefs other than their own. Freedom of speech to them, is only permissable as long as it is the correct type. They charge us with being intolerant? Mr. Daniel has as much a right to his view as the left does to theirs. What the left hates is, most people will agree with Mr. Daniel.

I myself don't feel homosexuality is right, but could care less what goes on between two consenting adults. Gays shouldn't be discriminated against, but they don't deserve any more(while at the same time deserving the same) protection than anyone else in society. They have a right to their views and sexuality. What they don't have a right to is forcing these views on others. We have a right to ours just as they do to theirs.