From Loon Central:
“What do they have to gain by backing down like this?” Mr Hastie said.
“They were subjected to online bullying and mass outrage and unfortunately they took counsel from it.
“This is the spirit of the age. You can’t even endorse a civil, respectful conversation between two disagreeing friends about an important issue.”
…Publican turned Liberal MP Craig Laundy says he finds it ironic that the same sex marriage lobby used the potential for vilification as an argument against holding a plebiscite, but boycotted a Coopers brewery sponsored video depicting a respectful debate of the issue.
“I find it ironic that at the time of the discussion about the plebiscite it was said that for those that were in favour of same sex marriage, there wouldn’t be a respectful debate and they’d be vilified,” he said.
…Former human rights commissioner Mr Wilson, who has been a vocal supporter of same sex marriage, said the boycott showed there was a section of society that is intolerant of a difference of opinion.
“I don’t think it’s inconsistent to support an organisation like the Bible Society and be a supporter of marriage for same sex couples,” he told the ABC.
Liberal backbencher Eric Abetz said the outcry over the Coopers-sponsored video showed the absolute intolerance of those who most seek to preach tolerance.
One thing is certain, this is the worst marketing stunt since New Vegemite. Reader, Nathan, summed it up nicely for the snowflakes of the Right:
Coopers was/is looking down the barrel of a huge loss of business. Not mentioned is that apart from its SA stronghold, its main customer base is young and progressive, and it is the bog standard in many Inner city pubs/gay clubs in the east coast capitals. The loss of business from this disaster was apparently dire: some gay and gay friendly clubs/pubs have accounts with Coopers in excess of $500,000 a year, some of which have now cancelled these orders (most would have been following suit)
Like it or lump it the ‘debate’ has moved on in the community’s eyes. Most Australians support marriage equality, and if people like Hastie think they have a right to civilly ‘discuss’ denying someone else’s equality/rights based on their own quite out of step conservative religious and cultural views, they can think again. You aren’t entitled to civility from your opponents if you are arguing against their equality under the law. Tough luck.
Silly Coopers is now caught in roaring culture war, via The Australian:
Family-run company Coopers Brewery was subjected to a stream of obscene abuse from gay activists, along with a boycott of its products, in the lead-up to its owners capitulating and joining Marriage Equality Australia.
An opponent of same-sex marriage said yesterday the vitriol directed at the Adelaide-based brewer after its beer featured in a Bible Society debate between Liberal MPs Tim Wilson, who is gay, and Andrew Hastie, who is a conservative Christian, had become a strategy to pressure companies.
“What we have seen with Coopers is the same we see with other corporations and everyday Australians — the strangling of free speech by those advocates for changing the definition of marriage,” Marriage Alliance spokeswoman Sophie York said yesterday. “It is simply not tolerable to disagree, to express a different view. Australian businesses are forced to ‘take the pledge’ and conform to the same-sex marriage agenda with a reputation gun held to their heads. Coopers is just the latest example of this.”
Caroline Overington joins the push to put Coopers out of business ASAP:
A gay man and a former soldier walk into a bar … and we better stop there, because nobody in this country can take a joke any more. Nor can we have calm and measured debate.
Everything has gone toxic, and the result is an Australia our forebears would barely recognise.
Certainly it’s nothing like the free country they fought and died for. The old values — civility, for example, letting people agree to disagree — are dead, or dying.
Don’t believe me? Try walking in the shoes of the gentle folk at Coopers Brewery company. That’s if you can find them, given they were last seen looking like they were about to enter witness protection. The fear in their eyes!
So, it’s OK to deprive folks of rights but not OK for them to be pissed about it? Snowflakes of the Right unite!
