I have said before that I’m a free-speech absolutist, à la Voltaire. But I make two exceptions: libel, and incitement to violence. This, if true, falls into the second category, and he should be prosecuted. Not because he’s targeting gays (I’d say the same if he were targeting blue-haired biddies), but because he’s advocating violence. Ain’t no room for that in a civilized society.
________________________
Andrea’s blood pressure just went up: So I click over to check the story Brigitte is commenting on, note that some fellow is advocating for gay people to be executed and further that these are classified as “extreme Christian views.” These are not Christian views, extreme or otherwise. Not in any way, shape or form. I don’t care what this guy calls himself. His is not a Christian view. Admittedly, my blood pressure skyrocketed before I had the chance to read the article so perhaps he is calling his views “Christian.” But plenty of people call themselves Christ and we generally see them in the psych wards across this great nation. News editors shouldn’t be allowed to perpetuate false stereotypes simply because they’re ill-informed and have an ideological anti-faith position to push. His views are criminal, not Christian–and I think I need to go breathe, breathe…in and out…
____________________________
Véronique adds: Andrea, you posted what I was in the process of writing! At the end of the article, they mention how the teachers and students just looked stunned as the conversation carried on but let it go on nonetheless. I couldn’t help but feel so sad for the youngsters who were introduced to extreme-wing-nutism that day.
____________________________
Andrea: I’d comment again, but I’m typing with one hand, still holding “downward facing dog,” while breathing deeply and thinking positive thoughts.
____________________________
Rebecca adds: And every time a clown like this gets the spotlight, the thoughtful, reasoned argument against gay marriage becomes that much harder to advance. Which, I have no doubt, is part of why he gets so much press. What were the hosts thinking, inviting this guy to a forum attended by children? It’s not as if he has no track record of irrational or hateful behaviour.
Giving him a platform is just playing into his hands.
by 
Looking at this from an ‘actual’ christian perspective, since being gay is a sin like any other, and everyone sins, to be consistant we would also have to execute everyone on the whole earth! I wonder how he would respond to this….
I’m surprised the school board even bothered inviting Popescu at all, though I suppose if he is an official candidate, they may be obliged. I grew up in the Sudbury area (coincidentally, the school principal quoted was my high-school vice-principal at the time), and Popescu is a perennial last-place candidate (at any level of government) whose goal is not to win the election, but to use the campaign as a soapbox for his views, which usually get him some media time when he does something outrageous, like this.
Thank you Brigitte for saying this. Your headline is spot-on – it is a crime. We do not need the human rights commissions or speech constraints – we need the criminal code laws on incitements to violence to be enforced. Any other speech, even offensive, is free speech.
Love this blog – such a nice refuge from the sometimes infuriating media!