Marine General Peter Pace

The demand from gay and lesbian advocacy groups that General Pace, USMC, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, apologize for some recent remarks showcases what we need to understand. Free speech is dead. Do not foolishly imagine that it is still a sacred right for Americans.

Your free speech only exists if there is not a special interest group or powerful lobby on Capitol Hill opposing you. So as a citizen, you need to be wary. Before you express what is your personal belief, the conviction of your heart, do a Google search. It matters not, that what you say does not contain malice, provocation to violence, or hate-mongering. If you manage to piss off one of these special interest groups, they will demand an apology. They are the watchdog for their own beliefs. And should you cross the line into their ideological yard, that pit bull, will come off the leash. Such is the case of the demand from gay coalitions for an apology for what they deem outrageous remarks from a man, whom personally, I hold in deep esteem. General Pace did not get to the position he is in by being a hothead who shoots off his mouth. Who are these little organizational weasels who think they are so important? And what makes their opinion better than that of anyone else?

In context, General Pace stated that our military has a code of justice which can prosecute acts of adultery. That code, is occasionally enforced, and some stellar officers have lost their careers because of what is considered an immoral act. General Pace, also personally believes that homosexuality is an act of immorality. Does he have the right to a personal belief? Or as a culture do we now demand a tolerance which is not really tolerance at all? It is distinctly intolerant, if you demand an apology from one who holds an opposing view. You are the one, who is intolerant. So, if the homosexual community has firm conviction that their lifestyle is not immoral, does it really matter what General Pace has confirmed as his own standard? Why are they up in arms? Talk about showing their own anti-free speech stripes. Make no mistake. The battleground is not immorality. The battleground, is free speech. This is America! What do you believe? What did our Founding Fathers give to us?

But let's do a little test just for fun. Run a Google search and look for a powerful lobby group for adulterers. They have their rights too. What about a powerful lobby for thieves? Surely their feelings must get hurt if anyone dares to say that stealing is wrong. How about a lobby for student cheats in our public schools? See what I mean? Your free speech is being threatened every single day and the encroachment is coming from bullies. It is the many, against the lone one. So if you hold to a belief that homosexuality is immoral, please just hide in a closet and say it into a paper bag. Do not engage free speech. Unless of course, you have a backbone.

Ask me for an apology. I dare you!

Tammy Swofford
tammyswofford@yahoo.com