For those who were shocked by Obama "faith" advisor Harry Knox knocking the Knights of Columbus, the Catholic men's group, as an "army of oppression," he is not alone. Gay activists are now taking pride in getting Knights charity drives crushed at supermarkets.
Metro Weekly, a D.C-based gay "news" magazine, honored a man for his "Storefront Stand" -- he harassed Knights of Columbus volunteers raising funds for the mentally disabled (usually with Tootsie Roll candies) outside a Safeway store in northern Virginia. Allison also succeeded in getting other Knights thrown off one Giant supermarket's property. To passers-by at Safeway, Brad Allison compared the Knights to the Ku Klux Klan: "It is a bit of an extreme point to be making, but I thought it was effective."
That's an especially uneducated taunt, considering the Klan was viciously anti-Catholic. Allison also lied to the public by claiming the Knights don't do charity work. Here's Will O'Bryan's account in Metro Weekly:
Whenever his Knights of Columbus counterpart made his plea to passersby on behalf of "needy children," Allison would counter that $1.4 million of the group's money did not go to help children, but to support Proposition 8.
But that's not how Allison described his pitch on his own blog: he said they were not a charitable group at all:
Each time the Knights of Columbus man would say, "Would you like to help disabled children?" I would speak up and say, "They are not helping disabled children. They gave $1.4 million to Prop 8 last year. Not a penny of that $1.4 million helped a single disabled child. They are a political group pretending to be a charitable group in order to get your money."
Again, over and over this worked. People put their dollars back in their pockets.
Allison did not have the facts on his side. Here's how the Knights recently explained their charity work in 2007, which far surpasses the million-four they gave to the initiative fight in California:
The results of the Order’s annual Survey of Fraternal Activity for the year ending December 31, 2007, show that total contributions to charity at all levels reached $144,911,781 – exceeding the previous year’s total by more than $1 million.....
The survey also shows that the reported number of volunteer hours by Knights for charitable causes grew to 68,695,768 hours, up more than 400,000 hours from 2006.
There were 393,030 Knights of Columbus blood donors during the year, and Knights made more than 5.5 million visits to the sick and bereaved.
Cumulative figures show that during the past decade, the Knights of Columbus has donated nearly $1.28 billion to charity, and provided in excess of 612 million hours of volunteer service in support of charitable causes.
Metro Weekly also reported that Allison's complaints to a manager at a Giant supermarket at Greenbriar Town Center in Fairfax County were immediately successful in ending the Knights charity drive at that store:
Jamie Miller, public affairs manager of Landover-based Giant, a past Capital Pride sponsor, says that his company considers the exterior, storefront sidewalk to be public space, generally allowing nonprofit groups to occupy it as long as they're not disruptive.
But it was Allison who was disruptive and spoiling for a fight, not the Knights. Perhaps next Allison will get the Boy Scouts kicked out while they try to sell popcorn.
Metro Weekly honored Allison with text of his quote: "I don't consider myself an activist, but it's just that something snapped." Something snapped, all right: Allison's grip on the facts -- not to mention his confusion over who's engaged in "hate."
—Tim Graham is Director of Media Analysis at the Media Research Center.
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Topsy turvey world
May 5, 2009 - 07:52 ET by DontFeedTheTrollsJust more heterophobes shouting hate speech, completely acceptable to the progressive democrats who founded, and still support, the KKK.
Remember:
Freedom Is Slavery
D
Keep the ILLEGALS out, join NumbersUSA to send free faxes to your reps.
Of course the KKK is a-okay
May 5, 2009 - 09:04 ET by Ole_SargeThe KKK was founded by Southern Democrats, to harass dozens of groups. My Eastern European Great Grandmother was deathly afraid of the Klan, in the part of the country were I grew up, the Klan routinely Burned Crosses at Catholic Parishes, burnt down Catholic Churches and threatened immigrants with bodily harm.
To this day I do not understand how members of my family were such staunch Democrats knowing that many of the Democrat elected officials were Klan members, that did not hide that fact.
This type of hate must stop
May 5, 2009 - 07:59 ET by kevinm13I have personally given many hours as a KofC member working various charities including asking for money for the mentally handicapped two weeks ago. We as Knights have given many thousands of dollars and many many man hours locally, in a small town, to veterans, homeless, mentally handicapped, elderly and those that support life.
Lies like this guy trying to stop charity collections are hateful and shameful and wouldn't be tolerated with a Muslim group, a black group or a Jewish group. Catholics are easy targets because we usually don't fight back, but this is enough for me.
My thoughts exactly
May 5, 2009 - 08:17 ET by moderncommentaries83Let them try to pull such a stunt at one of the stores in my hometown.
Aut viam inveniam aut faciam
charities
May 5, 2009 - 08:31 ET by AgnosticWithout charities more people must rely on the state when they are in trouble. Once roped into the system it will be progressively difficult to break free. Charities will be repeatedly attacked (especially ones with religious ties)and they will figure out a way to change the tax code eventually.
A person may be won over with logic and reason but the masses must be bought with spectacle and platitudes. - 2008 Elections
Banned Santa
May 5, 2009 - 09:42 ET by BlondeI quit shopping at Target when they banned Santa as being too divisive during Christmas. Of course, they said the holiday season.
Someone the other day mentioned "drawing a line in the sand".
Really, who is the hate group, hmmm?
I hope he fails, too.
People like this just make
May 5, 2009 - 08:36 ET by motherbeltPeople like this just make me sick.
They are positively shameless and disgusting.
This is the left's usual tactic. They harass and make a scene, and as a result, the Knights get thrown off a property because they are attracting idiots who raise hell.
Mission accomplished. And shame on Giant. They should have called the police to keep the harrassers in line instead of booting the K of C.
"It is a bit of an extreme point to be making, but I thought it was effective."
Yeah, what the heck....whatever works.
Shameless. Just shameless.
Oh, and did I say shameless?
They might say "Wow, that sucks!" But at least they'll say "Wow!" -Duff Goldman, the Ace of Cakes
Now if he had real guts....
May 5, 2009 - 08:41 ET by jdripperHe should go to SouthEast DC and harrass the black muslims when they are raising money. The black muslims were opposed to proposition 8. They took people to the polls to vote against it.
Another cowardly, bullying, jerk who thinks he is tough.
Jack
"If at age 20 you are a conservative then you have no heart. If at age 30 you are a liberal then you have no brains." Sir Winston Churchill
I'd like to emphasize the
May 5, 2009 - 08:47 ET by SickofLibsI'd like to emphasize the point that this scumbag was protesting the defeat of California's Prop 8...
...in Virginia.
sickoflibs
May 5, 2009 - 08:51 ET by sherylsimsI noticed that too. Odd.
Allison - get your facts straight
May 5, 2009 - 08:57 ET by ConservativeMissourianHow ridiculous. It is one thing if this guy wants to protest the K of C, but he is hindering their fundraising efforts - that actually do go to help various people/groups. Not only that, but his facts weren't even right. He should consider redirecting his efforts to actually helping people. Comparing the K of Cs with the KKK, come on. Hopefully people are educated enough to know that those are not comparable organizations.
I know next to nothing
May 5, 2009 - 08:58 ET by BKeyserI know next to nothing about the Gay Marriage debate- but having been married and divorced, it seems like a silly thing to fight for, and a silly thing to fight against.
That being said, what really concerns me is this culture of thuggery being championed by the left. Fine, we can be "the party of No" but at least we're peaceful in our protests. The Left seems to be all about bullying people with whom they disagree. Middle America will not stand for this very long- it was one thing to tolerate it when they were the supposed "oppressed" but with the power they wield now, the sympathy won't last. Look for a huge swing in next year's election.
You answer your own question
May 5, 2009 - 09:12 ET by moderncommentaries83First, you say this. Then you go on to say this...
Which is, for a lot of people, what the fight over gay marriage is all about. Most people don't have a problem with "civil unions" - if the gay marriage debate were about "equal protection under the law", civil unions would do that...provide the legal protections the gay rights movement says it wants while not using the term "marriage", which most believes has a deeper significance and religious meaning.
But that is not good enough.
I oppose gay marriage on the grounds that, so long as people act like Allison, or Perez Hilton, or the anti-Prop 8 mobs (who harrassed people out of jobs and at their places of worship), this isn't about equality but about making people who disagree with homosexual behavior accept and approve of it...regardless of their personal beliefs or religious views.
It's about bullying and it won't stop until they intimidate churches and other groups (like the Boy Scouts or Knights of Columbus) into accepting and remaking themselves into "gay friendly" organizations.
And I believe the rights of free speech and free expression of religion are sacrosanct. And that the made-up "sexual rights" of people are trumping those. And I won't tolerate it. Lots of other people won't, either.
There's also no way that Prop 8 passed in California (a heavily blue state) or a similar amendment passed in Wisconsin (also a blue state) in 2006 without people from all backgrounds, races, political classes and belief systems voting to defend traditional marriage.
So this also isn't just a religion-versus-gays thing, no matter what they try to spin it as.
Aut viam inveniam aut faciam
Hi mc83
May 5, 2009 - 09:28 ET by BKeyserOh, I understand your viewpoint- and I don't disagree with it. I guess I just don't feel like I've got a horse in this race so I've never put a lot of effort in to trying to understand it. What confuses me, I guess, is the non-conformist nature of the gay community. They want so desperately to be accepted, to be part of the larger group, yet they want to stand out from that group with special considerations and notariety. To quote Larry the Cable Guy (sorry): "that's like wiping before you poop- just make no sense!" You'd think that anti-establishment groups like gays would prefer Civil Unions since they aren't available to the rest of us. Instead they fight, push people around, threaten, and generally stomp their feet in a hissy-fit, all to gain acceptance into a group they have no desire to join. Some part of me almost says- let 'em have the misery.
Exactly!
May 5, 2009 - 09:43 ET by moderncommentaries83To be fair, there are quite a few gays who feel the same way about Perez Hilton et. al. as we do, and most just want to live the way they do without marriage (that counter-cultural thing of which you speak).
But the very vocal, very bigoted, very sensitive minority that does bully other people do so because they can't stand dissent. They can't stand the thought that someone disagrees with them or their lifestyle choices, more accurately.
The freedom to disagree offends them and so they must forcibly make their lifestyle choices "acceptable" to those who view it otherwise.
Listening to a local talk show host right now, I believe he just said 54% do not support gay marriage. Interesting.
You say you don't have a horse in this race, but let me posit these questions to you:
Do you believe in the right to free speech and free religious expression? Do you believe that people have no obligation to accept or condone all manner of behavior out of political correctness?
Because if you answer yes, the fight for gay marriage is the antithesis of those freedoms.
Aut viam inveniam aut faciam
A new name for these facists could be:
May 5, 2009 - 09:06 ET by nolotrippenThe GayGayGay. Instead of wearing white robes and hoods theirs are pink.
And another thing-
May 5, 2009 - 09:07 ET by BKeyserThese people are so childish in their behavior, I'm pretty sure that if Rush, Laura, O'Reilly, Sean, Beck, and others would just "switch sides", go on the radio and say that "for the good of the country, we've decided to take the advice of the James Carville's, Bob Beckel's, and the NYT, and support whole-heartedly the Gay Marriage agenda, abortion on demand, and an 85% tax rate for anyone earning over $250k" we could put this nonsense to rest. The left would never fall in line with Rush- no matter what he says. You'd have a run on gay divorce in SF, Iowans would be chucking their rings, and Catholic Churches would be filled with pregnant college students...
Remember
May 5, 2009 - 09:41 ET by Rhymes With RightFailure to adopt the entire liberal is, by definition, hateful and intolerant.
The important thing is diversity -- which means believing and behaving just like everyone else and not holding or expressing contrary views.
Blogging at rhymeswithright.mu.nu
Welcome to Liberal Tolerance!
May 5, 2009 - 09:55 ET by Paul AtreidesIt's just a one-way street, as we all knew it to be. Anyone who thinks it's going to get better is in denial.
Aren't
May 5, 2009 - 10:04 ET by sam12663gays supposed to be full of love and tolerance? This is just another example of the lefts ' its our way or we'll force it on you' tactics. As a member of the Knights of Columbus, what this loser did is a shameful and disrespectful act. What kind of headlines would be made if the roles were reversed, and the KOC went to the grocery store and ridiculed and demeaned the gay activist patrol? The fact that the store manager asked the KOC members to leave infuriated me so much that I called the Giant corporate offices to voice my disgust with how this was handled at the store level. I was assured that they would get to the bottom of this, as it is company policy to allow any respectable organization to solicit on Giant store property as long as they remain respectful. As it was the gay activist that was disruptful and disrespectful, and the manager of the location asked the KOC to leave, the head of Giant Supermarkets consumer affairs department assured me that this would be investigated.
President Obama is nothing more than a lying empty suit; a Hollywood style special effects smoke and mirrors show that has shown itself to be a total fraud.
WAKE UP AMERICA! SAVE OUR CONSTITUTION!
This passed Saturday the K
May 5, 2009 - 17:33 ET by ricklailThis passed Saturday the K of C where in front of Wal-Mart taking donations. I walked up to the gentleman, gave him some money, shook his hand and thanked him for what they do for handicap kids. The K of C in New Bern gave my wife's class $600.00 to help them buy things for the kids. I am very grateful for what they do. If one of those queers would have said something to that elderly gentleman I may have spent my morning in jail because I would have decked him.
Next weekend they, K of C are having their state convention here. So I will get the chance to thank a whole bunch of them
Semper suprene nitens
I Was Referring To The Catholic Hierarchy, Just So You Know...
May 5, 2009 - 22:32 ET by The7SticksWhen I made the comparison yesterday of the Catholic Church to the Nazi party, I meant the hierarchy in the Vatican and the bishops or archbishops representing all the different localities because of the long abhorrent history of anti--Semitism perpetrated by them. I just want to be clear that I have nothing against people who practice the Catholic faith in general. I had a late grandfather who I was proud to work for who was of the Catholic faith. It didn't matter to me because that was never an issue between him and me. It was merely a working relationship.
I simply despise the Catholic hierarchy for the disgraceful history of anti-Semitism they committed, and I believe that they are fair game to be slandered by anyone just like any other anti-Semitic group or religion that is ridiculed. I also despised their fervent movement of censorship throughout the U.S.A. in the mid-20th century (i.e. their organizing of comic book burnings, their enforcement of the Hayes Codes.)
By the way, just so you know, I'm not gay. If I were motivated to slander the Church because I decided to be a homosexual, I would be much more graphic and vile than this. So I don't support the efforts by the radical gay community to slander the Knights of Columbus because, as far as I can tell, they are not representative of the Vatican hierarchy.
Okay
May 5, 2009 - 23:27 ET by Kelly72Your opinion is duly noted.
In turn, I respectfully suggest a diligent study of historical evidence.
Albert Einstein: "Only the Church stood squarely across the path of Hitler's campaign for suppressing truth." (Full quote is below.)
Chief Rabbi of Rome, Israel Zolli: "What the Vatican did will be indelibly and eternally engraved in our hearts... Volumes could be written on the multiform works of Pius XII and the countless priests, religious and laity who stood with him throughout the world during the war."
Grand Rabbi of Jerusalem, Dr. Isaac Herzog (February 29, 1944): "The people of Israel will never forget what his Holiness and his illustrious delegates, inspired by the eternal principles of religion which form the very foundation of true civilization are doing for us unfortunate brothers and sisters in the most tragic hour of our history. Which is living proof of divine Providence in this world."
Rabbi Safran of Bucharest, Romania, (April 7, 1944): "It is not easy for us to find the right words to express the warmth and consolation we experienced because of the concern of the Supreme Pontiff, who offered a large sum to relieve the sufferings of deported Jews... The Jews of Romania will never forget these facts of historic importance."
Albert Einstein (December 1940 edition of Time): “Being a lover of freedom, when the revolution came in Germany, I looked to the universities to defend it, knowing that they had always boasted of their devotion to the cause of truth; but no, the universities immediately were silenced. Then, I looked to the great editors of the newspapers, whose flaming editorials in days gone by had proclaimed their love of freedom; but they like the universities were silenced in a few short weeks... Only the Church stood squarely across the path of Hitler’s campaign for suppressing truth. I never had any special interest in the Church before, but now I feel a great affection and admiration because the Church alone had had the courage and intellectual truth and moral freedom. I am forced to confess that what I had once despised I now praise unreservedly.”
Golda Meir, Israel’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, representative to the United Nations (first delegate to react to Pius XII’s death), later Prime Minister of Israel: “We share with the grief of the world over the death of his Holiness Pius XII. During a generation of wars and dissensions, he affirmed the high ideals of peace and compassion. During the ten years of Nazi terror, when our people went through the horrors of martyrdom, the pope raised his voice to condemn the persecutors and to commiserate with their victims. The life of our time has been enriched by a voice which expressed the great moral truths above the tumults of daily conflicts. We grieve over the loss of a great defender of peace.”
Dr. Nahum Goldmann, President of the World’s Jewish Congress: “With special gratitude we remember all he has done for the persecuted Jews during one of the darkest periods in their entire history.”
Leonard Bernstein: Conducting in New York’s Carnegie Hall, he learned of Pius XII’s death and paid personal tribute to the Pontiff responsible for saving the lives of thousands of Jews by tapping his baton for a moment of silence.
Leo Kubitsky, Secretary-General of the world Jewish Congress presented a donation of two million liras (present value over a million dollars) on behalf of grateful Jews.
Richard Breitman, authorized by the United States Government to study World War II’s secret espionage documents, observed they proved the extent to which Hitler distrusted the Holy See because it hid Jews.
Dr. Joseph Nathan, who represented the Hebrew Commission: “Above all, we acknowledge the supreme Pontiff and the religious men and women who, executing the directives of the Holy Father, recognized as their brothers and with great abnegation, hastened to help them, disregarding the terrible dangers to which they were exposed.”
Pulitzer prize winner John Toland: “The Church under the Pope’s guidance...saved the lives of more Jews than all other churches, religious institutions, rescue organizations combined."
It's already been done
May 6, 2009 - 07:42 ET by moderncommentaries83And much more eloquently above, but the Catholic Church - including the heirarchy - is not anti-Semetic in any way, shape or form.
As for censorship, well, the onus is really on you to prove that was a top-down thing and not a grassroots movement sprung up by fervent, but misguided, Catholics.
Anyone who plays the X are just like Nazis card has, in my book, lost the argument...
I'd highly recommend you read The Myth of Hitler's Pope by Rabbi David Dalin.
Aut viam inveniam aut faciam
I can only speak from real
May 5, 2009 - 22:58 ET by RR GOPI can only speak from real life experience here:
Flamers are the most pushy, arrogant, loud obnoxious people on the planet next to Jihadists.
You ain't seen nothing until you've seen the result of a fight two flamers/lovers have gotten into.
Holy cow!
They are vicious, they don't compromise, they don't quit until they get their way.
Of course, there are the non-flamers who are low key, don't advertise their sexual orientation to the world and bother no one. There the one's I feel bad about when it comes to gay persecution and anti-gay laws and stigmas of the past.
One of the 34% who thinks George W. Bush was a great President. One of the 61% who wants to bring back the stock and pillory (yep...approval for Congress now at 39%...do you believe that!?).