I think the Voltaire's quote comes handy here:
"I do not agree with what you have to say, but I'll defend to the death your right to say it."
There is a basic contradiction when those that are defending freedom, are acting against it, when they prosecute this guy, because they do not agree with his ideas.
To me free speech should not mean freedom from consequences -- but those consequences should not come from the state. If you decide to wear Nazi regalia and march down Main Street, I support your right to do so. But people are going to shun you, and that's their right as well. What's worrisome about the Mozilla CEO being unceremoniously canned is that it is very organized. The people who agitate for tolerance are really really intolerant. Can you support and love gay people without supporting gay marriage? According to the gay gestapo, no, you can't. You either support everything they tell you to support or your life (as it intersects with their power) is over.
Bill Maher, a disgusting excuse for a human being, who calls women who have differing opinions 'c*nts'
had this to say: ""I think there is a gay mafia," Maher said. "I think if you cross them, you do get whacked. I really do."
Gestapo, mafia, call it what you will. There's a small group of people who can end your professional life if they decide to do so. Is this legal? Yeah, I think it is. It's also disgusting, and when they did it in Hollywood to communists, it was also wrong -- but at least there was a public outcry over it. For me, the worst injustice foisted on us by this gestapo is their restriction of words. From
GLAAD, this tidbit:
Offensive: "homosexual" (n. or adj.)
Preferred: "gay" (adj.); "gay man" or "lesbian" (n.); "gay person/people"
Please use "gay" or "lesbian" to describe people attracted to members of the same sex. Because of the clinical history of the word "homosexual," it is aggressively used by anti-gay extremists to suggest that gay people are somehow diseased or psychologically/emotionally disordered – notions discredited by the American Psychological Association and the American Psychiatric Association in the 1970s. Please avoid using "homosexual" except in direct quotes. Please also avoid using "homosexual" as a style variation simply to avoid repeated use of the word "gay." The Associated Press, The New York Times and The Washington Post restrict use of the term "homosexual" (see AP, New York Times & Washington Post Style).
Offensive: "homosexual relations/relationship," "homosexual couple," "homosexual sex," etc.
Preferred: "relationship" (or "sexual relationship"), "couple" (or, if necessary, "gay couple"), "sex," etc.
Identifying a same-sex couple as "a homosexual couple," characterizing their relationship as "a homosexual relationship," or identifying their intimacy as "homosexual sex" is extremely offensive and should be avoided. These constructions are frequently used by anti-gay extremists to denigrate gay people, couples and relationships.
That's right -- using the term 'homosexual' is now considered to be offensive. I
don't try not to go out of my way to be offensive to others, but I don't actually publish style books to the rest of the population on how to not offend me. If you're that sensitive, stay home, stay out of the public square until your skin thickens. People who are constantly on the lookout for reasons to be offended are offensive to me.
Finally, I don't think this attitude of beheading people professionally represents all gay people -- but gay people should speak up and remove these people from power. Except, hey, it might be nice having the whole world walking on eggshells when they interact with you. One wrong move and your career is over.