Alito: 'You Can't Say That Marriage Is a Union Between One Man and One Woman' in America Today

In a Federalist Society speech on Thursday, Supreme Court Justice Samuel Alito raised the alarm about threats to religious freedom, free speech, and the rule of law — threats exacerbated in the “constitutional stress-test” of the Wuhan coronavirus pandemic. These threats are by no means limited to lockdown restrictions and COVID-19 issues, but the virus has highlighted them.

“The pandemic has resulted in previously unimaginable restrictions on individual liberty,” Alito said. “I am not diminishing the severity of the virus’s threat to public health, and putting aside what I will say shortly about a few Supreme Court cases, I’m not saying anything about the legality of COVID restrictions. All that I’m saying is this… we have never before seen restrictions as severe, extensive, and prolonged as those experienced for most of 2020.”

Alito mentioned many “live events that would otherwise be protected by the right to freedom of speech” that state and local governments have prohibited, including the fact that churches were closed on Easter Sunday by government fiat.

“The COVID crisis has served as a sort of constitutional stress-test. And in doing so it has highlighted disturbing trends that were already present before the virus struck,” the justice argued.

He also briefly covered recent Supreme Court cases illustrating the threat to religious freedom.

Alito also warned that “support for freedom of speech is also in danger and COVID rules have restricted speech in unprecedented ways.”

While coronavirus lockdowns have shut down attendance at speeches, conferences, lectures, rallies, and more, “even before the pandemic, there was growing hostility to the expression of unfavorable views.”

Alito quipped that there are “seventy times seven” things that Americans cannot say if they are students or professors at a college or university, or employees speaking for a corporation.

“You can’t say that marriage is a union between one man and one woman. Until very recently, that’s what the vast majority of Americans thought. Now, it’s considered bigotry,” he warned.

“That this would happen after our decision in Obergefell [the 2015 case striking down state laws on marriage] should not have come as a surprise. Yes, the opinion of the Court included words meant to calm the fears of those who cling to traditional views on marriage. But I could see, and so did the other justices in dissent, where the decision would lead,” Alito warned.

He quoted his own dissent in the case, “I assume that those who cling to old beliefs will be able to whisper their thoughts in the recesses of their homes. But if they repeat those views in public, they will risk being labeled as bigots and being treated as such by governments, employers, and schools.”

“That is just what is coming to pass,” the justice lamented. Indeed, in one recent case, the Kroger Company fired two women in Little Rock, Ark., who refused to wear a rainbow-colored heart emblem on an apron because they did not want to endorse LGBT activism.

Religious freedom and free speech are indeed under assault in America today, and even if the coronavirus pandemic fades away tomorrow, these threats to fundamental rights will persist.

https://pjmedia.com/news-and-politics/tyler-o-neil/2020/11/13/religious-freedom-free-speech-are-under-assault-in-the-covid-constitutional-stress-test-alito-warns-n1142962

Candy giant Allen's announces new names for old favourites Redskins and Chicos after complaints they were offensive

The confectionery giant announced it was changing the names of the classic Red Skins and Chicos candies earlier this year after public backlash.

Red Skins will now be known as Red Ripper while Chicos will become Cheekies.

Parent company Nestle announced on Monday the renamed products will begin appearing on shelves early next year.

'Nestle has an unwavering commitment to upholding respect for our friends, neighbours and colleagues,' Nestle confectionery general manager Chris O’Donnell said in a statement.

'We hope Australians will support the evolution of these two much loved candies – while the names are new, the candies themselves remain unchanged.

'We will keep pack changes simple to help candy lovers find their favourites easily.'

Allen's insists the the flavour of both classic candies will remained unchanged.

The name changes have sparked a mixed reaction from buyers online.

https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-8952305/Lolly-giant-Allens-announces-new-names-old-favourites-Redskins-Chicos.html

***********************************

My other blogs. Main ones below:

http://edwatch.blogspot.com (EDUCATION WATCH)

http://dissectleft.blogspot.com (DISSECTING LEFTISM)

http://antigreen.blogspot.com (GREENIE WATCH)

http://pcwatch.blogspot.com (POLITICAL CORRECTNESS WATCH)

http://australian-politics.blogspot.com/ (AUSTRALIAN POLITICS)

http://awesternheart.blogspot.com.au/ (THE PSYCHOLOGIST)

https://heofen.blogspot.com/ (MY OTHER BLOGS)

*******************************