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Writer says Sandra Kim wrongfully attacked

Letter states Kim’s comments on religion, homosexuality not hate speech
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Dear editor,

I will no longer be listening to Ryan Jespersen on 630 CHED. I will also be telling everyone I know not to support any advertisers on his show. I totally object to the mischaracterization by Mr. Jespersen of Sandra Kim’s three-year old shared Facebook post that came to light late last month. I understand how NDP trolls want to spin this issue because their popularity is on a downward spiral, but for Mr. Jespersen to be complicit and disseminate the left’s talking points is disgusting.

If Ryan Jespersen actually read the original post that Ms. Kim shared, it says “Yes, I am Christian. I believe the Bible. I do not support homosexuality or ‘homosexual marriage.’ Yes, I still love you. Yes, we are still friends…” Please help me understand where any of this shared post is “hate speech?” Unless it is hate speech, Ms. Kim does not have to apologize for her religious views.

Sandra Kim shared a post that says she does not support homosexuality based on her religious convictions. Firstly, how can we say that she totally agrees with the statement that she shared? The media is condemning her as if she was Todd Beasley, who defined Muslims as Satan worshippers. In her Global TV News piece, Ms. Kim stated that homosexual people can love who they want to love. She sounds like a libertarian. I am sure that none of us support the position of anyone 100 per cent of the time and that is your right. Your right to free speech, as long as it is not hate speech.

I have been incensed and outraged that Sandra Kim’s name is mentioned in the same sentence with Todd Beasley. Ms. Kim stated in her interview that her views have evolved. U.S. President Barak Obama stated that he opposed same-sex marriage at the beginning of his term. His views evolved to support it. He is now heralded as a hero in the LGBTQ community. In her statement on Facebook, Ms. Kim mentions that same-sex marriage is a federally decided issue and she does not oppose the law. Ms. Kim’s shared post is innocuous and says more about her support for our freedom of speech and expression.

Let’s take a look at the real point of the shared post:

But realize that name-calling and stereotyping those of us who stand for what we believe is exactly what you don’t want done to you. We have a right to speak what we believe, same as you have a right to speak what you believe.

This is the real issue. Stop with your ad hominem attacks, stop with your vicious rhetoric, and stop with your false equivalencies. Let’s acknowledge that we can learn to disagree in a civil manner and if this is an issue of ignorance, let’s get together and learn from each other. The vicious attacks on Sandra Kim’s right to “Facebook share” her opinion is the reason that I will not be voting for the NDP in the next provincial election. My vote will be going to the party that is more reasonable in its discourse to ensure that civility reigns in the Legislative Assembly, rather than shouting “Sewer Rat” at every issue when the opposition disagrees.

Brad Linaker, Wetaskiwin