Kirk Cameron: I Should Be Able To ‘Express Moral Views’ Without Accusations Of Hate Speech

[pokerfan]

Way to play the victim card, Kirk! This is the way public discourse works. You say something ignorant in the public square and we get to respond. Free speech doesn't mean freedom from criticism.

Following his provocative appearance on Piers Morgan Tonight, Kirk Cameron predictably faced a slew of backlash about his comments regarding homosexuality. Cameron responded to his critics on Tuesday in an email to ABC News. He said he spoke honestly and should be able to openly discuss his views.

The comments that created the frenzy include Cameron calling homosexuality “unnatural” and “ultimately destructive to so many foundations of civilization.”

Cameron’s response, from ABC News:

“I spoke as honestly as I could, but some people believe my responses were not loving toward those in the gay community. That is not true. I can assuredly say that it’s my life’s mission to love all people.”

“I should be able to express moral views on social issues,” he said, “especially those that have been the underpinning of Western civilization for 2,000 years — without being slandered, accused of hate speech, and told from those who preach ‘tolerance’ that I need to either bend my beliefs to their moral standards or be silent when I’m in the public square.”

http://www.mediaite.com/online/kirk-cameron-responds-to-backlash-i-should-be-able-to-express-moral-views-without-accusations-of-hate-speech/

[Botany]

1. I can assuredly say that it’s my life’s mission to love all people.

Oh my Kirk thanx for coming out of the closet.

[unblock]

2. just because you're oblivious to your own hatred doesn't mean it's love.

history is replete with examples of the religiously insane lovingly inflicting pain and even death on others.

[HughBeaumont]

3. WHY DENY THEM THEIR JUST HUMAN RIGHTS THEN????

You deny rights to people, you HATE, it's HATRED. DEAL.

[NoGOPZone]

4. I should be able to say offensive things

without people getting offended. The right wing bastardization of free speech.

[smirkymonkey]

5. You have no morals, Kirk.

Asshat.

[JHB]

6. Then don't accuse people of being "unnatural"...

...and “ultimately destructive to so many foundations of civilization.” Can't they express their views without vile accusations?

[LynneSin]

7. Personally he can have any opinion he wants. Not the first person to hate other groups of people

But to go on a well known talk show like Piers Morgan and announce that to the world you better be able to handle the backlash.

As my mother use to say - if you don't have something nice to say about someone else then just keep your mouth shut and your opinions to yourself.

[RainDog]

8. and people have the right to tell him he's a religious bigot

what I don't know is why anyone CARES what he has to say - he's so obviously dumber than a box of rocks.

[Hugabear]

9. Hate speech is hate speech

Just because you base your hate speech on "moral" views, doesn't make it any less hateful.

[get the red out]

10. Hmmm

For YEARS people who identified as pro-choice and didn't consider a fetus a full human being were referred to as baby killers by those on the right. And the term "pro-choice" is not insulting another person's entire being.

[get the red out]

10. Hmmm

For YEARS people who identified as pro-choice and didn't consider a fetus a full human being were referred to as baby killers by those on the right. And the term "pro-choice" is not insulting another person's entire being.

[area51]

12. That's what's great about America, Kirk.

Open your f-ing piehole with ridiculous BS, you're going to get called on it.

[edhopper]

13. As the Third Reich was falling

the thing that the leaders thought the world would always glorify them for was dealing with the "Jewish Problem."

Hatefilled people never get it.

And Kirk, the underpinnings of Western Civilization where the Greeks, and homosexuality was fine with them.

[Johonny]

14. Kirk can hate on anyone he wants, but call him a hater and he just hates it.

You can express anything you want in America. You should expect when you talk about intolerance of other human beings to be called on it. No ones stopping Kirk from saying any stupid thing that pops in his head. Why should he expect people that hear his view as nothing but hate speech (what 2000 years ago people didn't hate each other too?). All these conservatives, they can dish it out, but they can't take it. My freedom= you having less freedom, if you don't agree to have less freedom than how can I be free?

[Occulus]

15. Okay, Kirk, here's a clue, you stupid shithead

Calling someone "unnatural" and "ultimately destructive"

IS NOT SHOWING THEM LOVE

[nolabear]

16. Oh you should be able to. But there are consequences.

That's the absurdity of argumants like his. No one's stopped him. But he isn't going to be protected from the consequences unless they're violent. So talk away.

[snooper2]

17. I should be able to say stupid shit and have my opions respected,

because I follow a wildly popular mythology written by folks who still handn't figured out the Earth rotates around the Sun.


Just say it how it is...Kirrrr - Ka

[sinkingfeeling]

18. There's that 'public square' again. Is that a christian code word for something?

[KamaAina]

19. So should I

Dear Kirk,

My moral view is that you're a vile, disgusting bigot, as well as a has-been C-lister whose fifteen minutes should have been up a decade or more ago.

Sincerely,
K-A

[liberalhistorian]

20. You said it, freedom of speech doesn't mean

freedom from criticism (as Sandra Fluke is finding out now!). Yes, Kirk, you do have every right to express your views, no matter how hateful or odious, without fear of being taken away in the middle of the night for them. But the thing is, when you do express yourself, people also have the right to state their own opinion of your views also without fear of being taken away in the middle of the night. And when you advocate views that take away the rights of people, be prepared for some strong responses. Either that, or go live in a bubble.

[hifiguy]

21. No you shouldn't, dipshit.

When your "moral views" advocate, at their core, leaving fellow citizens in a second-class status in the eyes of the law, you're just being an authoritarian asshat. Such people roundly deserve the mockery you are getting. Now STFU and go away.

[shcrane71]

22. ah well.. since he said, "It's my life's mission to love all people." he shouldn't get any lip

for his homophobic remarks. Any civilization-killing gay people should especially pay attention to Kirk. *rolling eyes*

[cbdo2007]

23. Yeah, go ask the Dixie Chicks about expressing moral views....

[closeupready]

24. Crybaby! Can't take what you dish out, huh, little baby?

[mackattack]

25. So

He is allowed to voice his opinion but he doesnt want other people to voice their opinion?

[CJCRANE]

26. And everyone else is entitled to express their 'moral views' too.

They might disagree with yours, that's all. You don't have a monopoly on morality.

[Solly Mack]

27. No one is preventing his public displays of ignorance.

Which means he is "able" to express himself. He just wants to spout his garbage and not be called on it. Very cowardly.

People do ridicule his ignorance.

People do point out that his prejudice is rooted in his ignorance.

It is not intolerance to tell someone how ill-informed they are or how wrong their 'facts' are or how incredibly stupid they look spouting their ignorance. It isn't polite to tell somehow how stupid they look - but it isn't intolerance. Fact is, no one has to tolerate ignorance that harms others.

Ignorance just means you don't know something - doesn't mean you can't learn.

That you don't learn is on you.

That you refuse to learn makes you stupid.

Clinging to your ignorance because it feels safe makes you pathetic.

Kirk Cameron is stupid and pathetic. (and a coward)

[LadyHawkAZ]

28. Sure Kirk. Let me know when you decide to be moral

and I'll listen all you like.

[gratuitous]

29. Gee, Kirk, I can't imagine why people would think you're a narrow-minded bigot

After all, you really try to LOVE everyone.

Let's try a little thought experiment, Kirk. Are you game?

I invite you over to my house for a dinner party. You tell me you'd like to come, and I'm eager to host you. You tell me that you don't care much for big crowds, especially of people you don't know. I say, no problem, it's just an intimate little get-together, maybe six people. You say you're not exactly vegetarian, but your doctor has advised you to cut back on red meat, so you'd appreciate it if the entree was chicken or preferably fish. I tell you that's just what I was thinking about!

I then ask you what kind of music you'd like. You're a contemporary music kind of guy, just about anything will suffice. But you're really not fond of classical. Oh, and you're not much of a drinker, in fact you're a tee-totaller and don't care for parties where alcohol is too freely consumed. Not a problem at all, I tell you. You'd like to make an early night of it, as you have a number of errands to run the next day.

The night of the party arrives at last, and you come up to my place. First, you notice that there seem to be a lot of cars parked around the area, and there's a lot of hubbub coming out of my house. You get to the door, and there's probably two dozen people there. The music system is blaring something you can't identify, which I tell you is a new recording of Mahler - you'll love it! I take your coat and offer you a glass of wine. I'm the only person in the house you know, although you vaguely recognize two or three others. After an hour or more of incredibly uncomfortable socializing with people you don't know, I announce that dinner is served: I know I said chicken or fish, but the local butcher had this absolutely divine beef roast that you've just GOT to try.

You hang around for another 20 minutes or so, then make your exit. How welcome did you feel? After all, I invited all my closest and best friends, popped the cork on a beautiful vintage wine, and served you the finest selection from my butcher's best. Why were you so offended???

[sufrommich]

30. If he's going to use his "celebrity" to

preach homophobia, he should expect to get some responses he won't like, why would he imagine it should be any other way?

[Javaman]

31. oh kirk quite playing innocent...

your "career" ended 20 years ago and still trying to ride it as a tool to escape your stupidity. And it failed miserably.

all kirks whining amounts to is, "I'm kirk camaron, everyone loves me! why are you hating me? I was the cute teen on a nothing show that everyone loved! don't hate me!!!"

morons like kirk never fail to amaze me. they only preach their bullshit to like minded idiots and when they suddenly speak outside their safety bubble and reality bites them square in the ass, they get all defensive.

all I read in this "retort" by kirk is a ham handed attempt by a ham actor to feign disbelief at people questioning his colossal bullshit.

or he really believes his crap and it's not bad acting we are watching but a failed human being.

[Skidmore]

32. Kirk, just practice your beliefs in your home.

No one is asking you to be involved in a same-sex relationship. Choices like this are between you and your deity alone. You have no business sticking your nose in anyone else's bedroom.

[Lint Head]

33. No Kirk. You have the right believe that jello is the spiritual substance of existence, or that

bananas have zippers created by God. But, you can not cram your beliefs down other people's throats.
My life and death is a personal thing and if you had never been born that would still be a fact.

[stopbush]

34. Note to Kirk: THE. BIBLE. IS. MAKE. BELIEVE.

Good to keep that in mind when you're talking about REAL people with REAL lives.

[librechik]

35. Morality changes over time, and biases become hatred

when society tolerates the formerly intolerable. Cameron and the rest of the bagger Christians need to drag themselves out of theie antique Little House on the Prairie and into the 21st century where the rest of us have to live.