Civil War II

By Tom Quiner

We are embroiled in a Civil War. I hope you understand that.
One side will win; the other will lose.
The final battle is taking place, and it will determine whether we remain America … or not.
This Civil War goes far, far beyond the issue of slavery, around which our First Civil War was fought, although this one, too, is all about freedom.
This one will determine if the First Amendment is expunged from the Constitution of the United States of America without a single vote being cast.
This Civil War will determine whether you and I will continue to have a right of free speech.
This Civil War will determine once and for all if people of faith are allowed to exercise that faith in the public square without the threat of economic martyrdom and government sanction.
We’re at a crossroads. A powerful  religion, let’s call it the New Paganism, has become ensconced as the de facto established State Religion. Our government bows to it and attempts to impose its strictures on all other religions, and Christianity in particular.
For example, look at what is happening in New Jersey. So-called gay marriage has been imposed on the state by court order. Democratic lawmakers prepared a bill that would simply codify legislatively what courts had already imposed by fiat.
Suddenly, Democrats pulled their bill. Why? Because a LGBTQ pressure group, Lambda Legal, was incensed that the bill included a legal exemption for churches. Said the Democratic Senate Majority Leader, Loretta Weinberg:

“They don’t want any kind of religious exemption, so out of respect for that, I will (pull the bill). There’s a disparate group of people and it’s hard to follow what they want, so I’m following Lambda Legal.”

Let us carefully consider what this Democratic legislator is saying.
She stands with lesbians, gays, bi-sexuals, transgendered people, and those questioning their sexuality in imposing their neurotic notion of marriage on people of faith.
She “respects” that.
She stands squarely against Christians, Jews, and Muslims who have believed for two thousand years that marriage should be defined as being between one man and one woman, since children can only be created by the union of one man and one woman.
She does not respect that.
This Democrat speaks for the rest of her party: there will be no tolerance for people of faith who do not comply with the New Paganism, freedom of religion be damned.
The New Paganism is scoring one victory after another in their war to permanently “establish” their religion as the official religion of America.
They went after Christians who owned a bakery in Colorado. Two gay men had been “married” in Massachusetts, but they resided in Colorado, which does not recognize so-called same-sex marriage. The men asked the baker to bake them a wedding cake for marriage celebration.
The Christian bakers said no, that such an action would violate their religious convictions.
The owner made it clear that he was happy to do business with the gay men:

“I’ll make you birthday cakes, shower cakes, sell you cookies and brownies, I just don’t make cakes for same-sex weddings.”

The New Pagans went to the ACLU who sued the bakery and won. The judge made it clear that no tolerance would be allowed for the Christian bakers:

“It is a discriminatory practice and unlawful for a person, directly or indirectly, to refuse, withhold from, or deny to an individual or a group, because of … sexual orientation … the full and equal enjoyment of the goods, services, facilities, privileges, advantages, or accommodations of a place of public accommodation.”

Religious freedom be damned.
This liberal fascism is on a roll, roiling the forces of the faithful while demanding compliance and a re-interpretation of Christian hermeneutics.
Although a majority of voters do not embrace the New Paganism, there are no shortage of judges who do. The Pagans are winning Civil War II.
And then something wonderful happened this week that may slow, and perhaps, reverse the momentum of the CWII.
The Arts & Entertainment network suspended Phil Robertson.
Mr. Robertson is a star of the hit TV show, “Duck Dynasty.” He ran afoul of the political-correctness mob when he dared to publicly stand up for his Christian faith. Worse, he voiced support of traditional marriage and opposes so-called same-sex marriage:

“Don’t be deceived. Neither the adulterers, the idolaters, the male prostitutes, the homosexual offenders, the greedy, the drunkards, the slanderers, the swindlers—they won’t inherit the kingdom of God. Don’t deceive yourself. It’s not right.”

The thought-police on the left screamed to high heaven. Arts & Entertainment listened, and quickly removed Mr. Robertson from his job, which is their right.
This is a big deal for one reason: too many Americans don’t even know we’re in a war. The Duck Dynasty issue has gotten the attention of the complacent folks standing on the sidelines. Eyes are being opened at the shocking intolerance of the New Pagans.
Here’s the question: do they care?
Americans who embrace the Judeo-Christian values of our past are quickly becoming a minority. The New Pagans are moving with breathtaking speed to once and for all extirpate these values and their associated religious liberties from the  Constitution.
The Duck Dynasty conflagration may awaken a sleeping giant. The unengaged are being made to understand that there are no prisoners in this war. Dissent shall not be tolerated. Just ask Phil Robertson.
We’re at war. If you don’t care, you will be made to care, and you may not like what has been imposed on you.
The Duck Dynasty debacle has clarified the issue: gay marriage and religious liberty can NOT co-exist.
One will win.
One will lose.