News Weakly - 9/29/18

The Ambiguous "Dehumanizing Speech" Category
Twitter has announced a new policy. The policy will prohibit "content that dehumanizes others based on their membership in an identifiable group, even when the material does not include a direct target." Expanding on their "hateful conduct policy," it ought to make a big difference. If you believe that, I have a bridge for sale ...

What is "dehumanizing speech"? It is speech that denies or diminishes their humanity, like "comparing them to insects, demons, or bacteria." Pretty sure there is a wide swath of people who will be freely and acceptably "diminished" even with this new rule, just like the hateful conduct policy. As long as you're in the "it's okay to hate them" category, it won't apply. But you can be fairly confident that "This particular behavior is a sin" will be banned if that behavior is in the "approved" group. Just my guess. (Do you think I'm somewhat cynical?)

Good News, Bad News
Good news! Chelsea Clinton is a "deeply religious person." Bad news! Whatever it is, it isn't Christianity. Chelsea delcared that eliminating the legalized murder of children would be "unchristian to me." Clearly she's bought the line that "our ability to participate fully in our society, including economically, hinges on our ability to make choices for our bodies and our families" even if that means executing family members. But her "deeply religious" thinking encourages her to make the "moral choice" every day ... to be optimistic. Pray for Chelsea.

A French Surprise
A drunk man in Paris received the first fine from the new "anti-catcalling" law in France. He slapped a woman's behind and insulted her appearance. He got three months in jail and €300 (about $350 USD) fine. The new law can get you fined up to €750 (about $870 USD) for a wolf whistle.

The surprising part is not that the law was instigated by a woman, the "Gender Equality Minister," or that the judge that laid out the penalties was a woman. It is slightly surprising that France would have such a law, given their reputation as being so sexually immoral. What's really surprising is that they prosecuted someone for it. Here in the U.S. we're content to execute a man's reputation, career, possible future income, and worse without a trial. (How is it possible, given all the #MeToo activity in the last year, that Bill Cosby is the only one to have been tried?) The surprise in France is that they actually put the man in the courtroom. Bravo.

Another One Bites the Dust
Azusa Pacific University calls itself "a comprehensive, evangelical, Christian university." They made the news back in 2013 when a female professor who decided her true identity was as a man had to part company with them because she couldn't get transgender-related medical care. Well, it looks like "comprehensive, evangelical, [and] Christian" means something different to them than it does, say, to Scripture. They are now altering their Student Standards of Conduct to say that the Bible is wrong to prohibit same-sex relationships. And they created "a special LGBTI program"! Isn't that fabulous? They're still banning sex outside of marriage and retaining their "one man, one woman" definition of marriage, but if you want to fall in love with someone of the same gender, by all means, go right ahead!

My title above is my commentary. Of course, it's a California institution. I don't think it will be long before all "comprehensive, evangelical, Christian" institutions will be forced to give in or face the consequences. It's just too bad that this one gave in before there were consequences. They gave in on the biblical principle rather than under the duress of an anti-theist State.

Update: APU has come out with a statement that says that they are reinstating the original language of the Standards of Conduct and forbidding homosexual romantic relationships on campus. Good to know. And thanks for that update, Glenn.

Say Goodnight, Brett
Well, I'm sure you've all heard. Brett Kavanaugh is on hold. The president agreed to a week-long FBI investigation. That ought to fix it. The truth is an allegation made these days equates to guilty without being proven and the protest of innocence, even with corroboration of others, is simply proof of guilt.

I think the outcome is obvious. "No thanks, man. We don't need you. You have failed to meet our standard of living the perfect life." Now, of course, that's not fair ... at least, not entirely. Perfection isn't the standard; just perfect to the standard that they demand. If you're a president and have adulterous sex with an intern, that's okay. If you lie to Congress about it, people shouldn't judge. "Judge not!" is their cry. Mind you, it's not that they're opposed to sexual abuse. It's that they're against sexual abuse in certain situations. And the fact that this particular event, if it is true, took place 35 years ago (which doesn't make it better; just a long, long time ago) and no allegations since then have indicated a trend or constant condition doesn't mean we should forgive or allow for reform. "He did it (even if no court has proven him guilty) and he's out, out, out! We'll have no such sexual immorality on our watch (except, as we've already said, the sexual immorality we approve and embrace)." I don't know. It seems somewhat ... intolerant and judgmental for a crowd that decries intolerance and judgment.