Gov. Deal yielded to outside pressure to veto important bill

I am astonished that our governor would reject the Religious Liberty Bill that passed overwhelmingly in both house of the Georgia General Assembly. This bill would provide protection for churches and religious organizations that do not want to perform marriages to homosexuals or hire homosexuals within their organization or church. This was limited to churches and the like only.

Apparently, Gov. Nathan Deal doesn't think churches and religious organizations need protection. Where will he stand when churches are sued for teaching that homosexuality is wrong and a sin? Will we have to take it out of the Bible when publishers are sued?

The people of Georgia thought they elected someone who would reflect their values. Instances like this is why voters are fed up with politicians who won't listen to them but only to big corporations and big money.

So, where did the pressure come from? San Francisco is one. This city that was the epicenter of the counter-culture in the '60s and '70s and was the epicenter of the ensuing drug epidemic. They are now the epicenter of cities that are sanctuaries for illegal immigrants. We should be boycotting them instead.

The Disney corporation is next. Remember when Disney produced wholesome family-oriented entertainment in the '50s, '60s and '70s? Now look at the trash they feed our children. Shows featuring children with no parents around to supervise them. Some of its stars like Miley Cyrus and Lindsey Lohan have not been the best role models for our young girls.

The city of Atlanta has come out against this bill. Atlanta, of course, wants money and will do whatever is necessary to get it. Also, Atlanta is a major center for human trafficking in our nation, which Georgia Baptist churches have been fighting, by the way.

The NCAA is another one. This is a group that is backed by the major universities of this nation that deny a higher education to millions by charging too much for tuition and then has the gall to ask all taxpayers to pay for it. They haven't officially, but their professors are organizing this effort.

The NFL is a fine one to criticize this bill. This organization puts on lurid halftime shows that feature women stripping or being stripped. They barely slap a fine on football players who beat their wives unconscious. They rehire football players who are involved in major dogfighting rings. They run players, like Tim Tebow, out of the game who profess their religious beliefs. Maybe we should boycott them.

I think the people who support this bill know there are more important things in this nation than how much money we can stuff in our pockets. Georgia is a vibrant state with mostly solid Christian values. That's why we are blessed. I don't think we should have to bow to corporate interests that are concerned about their money. Jesus himself said that the love of money is the root of all evil.

I believe that Gov. Deal is better than this. I hope he would reconsider and vote to protect the only organizations that will ensure sound moral teachings are taught to our generation and generations to come.

Chuck Fore is a resident of Eastman.

This story was originally published March 29, 2016 at 9:07 PM with the headline "Gov. Deal yielded to outside pressure to veto important bill ."