Hello faithful readers – today is Tuesday, August 8, 2023, and here are the topics I am providing commentary about today:

• Hey, Culligan Man
• Update – Miles City United Christian Church
• Animal Attack Bingo
• One More Thing

HEY, CULLIGAN MAN:

In June the Great Falls LGBTQ+ Center hosted its first annual Pride Fest and as reported in a column posted at WTF406.com dated July 18, 2023, the event had one protestor:

The only blight on an otherwise lovely day was a single angry man. Holding a sign that read, “F*gs Deserve Oppression” the lone “protestor” walked the perimeter of the Festival. He alternated between blowing a whistle and screaming slurs at passersby.
A Festival volunteer followed a few paces behind the man in an attempt to prevent any violence. But violence was clearly what this man was after.

It was also reported by WTF406.com: “After sharing photos and videos on social media, numerous citizens wrote in identifying the man as William Ross.” Then they discovered where he worked: After Ross was identified, WTF406 reached out to his employer, Culligan Water. Culligan’s website lists the company’s “Commitments” with #4 reading “Increasing diversity, equity, and inclusion.”

Yesterday, the E-City Beat blog posted a letter from Ross with the headline:

Great Falls Man Fired From Job After Protesting At LGBTQ+ Event

In the column, Ross writes:

During my protest, I was threatened multiple times and was twice assaulted. On July 18th, the organizers of the “Pride Festival”, led by failed local politician Jasmine Taylor, published a blog post with my information, including where I worked. The post encouraged others to call in and complain about me. By the 21st, I had been fired from my job.

As you might imagine, Ross has a different view of what happened at the protest, so take a look at both posts to get the full picture.

Ross writes in his letter:

My former boss informed me that I was being terminated, not for my work performance, but because of the wording on my sign. I lost my job because I exercised my rights in a lawful manner, on my own time. What is the point of having free speech if people can lose their jobs over it?

I don’t think Mr. Ross understands freedom of speech.

As was relayed in the WTF406.com blog, “Freedom of speech is not freedom from consequences.” He embarrassed his employer with the message on his sign. I’m sure his boss received his instructions on how to legally terminate him from the company attorney or from the Human Resources department. Companies have a right to protect their interests.

Here’s some good information called “The Cost of Free Speech” by David Oberly. Click HERE to read the report that closes with this:

While the First Amendment protects employees’ right to speak their minds, the First Amendment does not protect workers from suffering the natural and foreseeable consequences of being disciplined or terminated for undesirable or unwanted speech.

It’s too bad that there’s so much hate in our communities. William Ross learned a valuable lesson. That’s a good thing.

UPDATE – MILES CITY UNITED CHRISTIAN CHURCH:

Last Friday, I wrote about there being another black mark on Montana, this time in Miles City, where MTN News reports that vandals placed a message on a sign and ripped a Pride flag at the United Christian Church.

Yesterday the Daily Montanan reported that Miles City Police confirmed Monday two teenage girls admitted to vandalizing a rainbow flag at the United Christian Church last week. Capt. Dan Baker told the Daily Montanan the girls came into the police station Saturday and admitted to the crimes that took place at the church, ending the ongoing investigation.

It was also reported that Rev. Amber Dixson told the Daily Montanan on Monday the girls came to the church Saturday with their parents to confess to ripping the flag and bringing the sign before going to the police.

You can read the full report from the Daily Montanan HERE.

ANIMAL ATTACK BINGO:

Every summer here in Montana, we hear about people being attacked by wild animals. Some attacks are because people get too close to the animals in national and state parks.

Recently three women were attacked by a river otter while floating on inner tubes along the Jefferson River in southern Montana. One woman had to be airlifted to a nearby hospital. Ouch.

That got me thinking that some non-profit group should develop an “Animal Attack Bingo” game to raise money each summer. The attacks would have to happen in Montana and the animals could range from alligators to zebras. OK, there are not too many alligators and zebras running wild in Montana, but there might be some in a zoo that could attack a visitor. The easy ones would be bison and bears since they attack people almost yearly.

It might be a great money-maker!

ONE MORE THING:

Just a reminder that the Mega Millions Lottery jackpot is $1.55 billion – that’s $1,550,000,000.

The next drawing is TONIGHT (Tuesday)! More information can be found HERE.

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