1st Amendment Stops at Mozilla's Front Door

1^st Amendment Stops at Mozilla’s Front Door

Commentary by Sanford D. Horn
April 7, 2014

Once again political correctness and hypocrisy rear their ugly head as the First Amendment to the United States Constitution and the right of free expression is under assault by the extreme left thought police.

The hypocrisy comes from Mozilla, the Mountain View, CA producer of the web browser Firefox for pushing out its CEO Brendan Eich under threats and intimidation and a feckless, gutless inability to stand by its own corporate belief system.

Mitchell Baker, the executive chairwoman of Mozilla issued a completely hypocritical statement. “We know why people are hurt, and they are right: It’s because we haven’t stayed true to ourselves. We have employees with a wide diversity of views. Our culture of openness extends to encouraging staff and community to share their beliefs and opinions in public.”

Not so fast, Ms. Baker.

Brendan Eich was an employee – he did not own the company. Eich has views that differ from others within the company. Eich shared his beliefs and opinions with the public. And yet, he is on the outside of Mozilla looking for another employer simply because he dared have a different set of beliefs. But wait, wasn’t that encouraged? Apparently at Mozilla it is only encouraged if it is popular and politically correct. Otherwise it is frowned upon – virulently.

What heinous sin did Eich commit? In 2008 he contributed $1,000 to support California’s ban on gay marriage. That non job related activity, funded out of his own wallet, not Mozilla funds, has now put Eich on the unemployment line in a de facto firing.

If a person can’t be fired for his or her sexual orientation, how can a different person be forced out of a job for sharing his or her beliefs on that same very subject?

Threats of boycott by an on-line dating service called OKCupid also helped Mozilla push the panic button in shoving Eich out the door.

Demonstrating its hypocrisy was Sarah Kate Ellis, president and CEO of GLAAD (Gay & Lesbian Advocates & Defenders) who issued this statement: “Mozilla’s strong statement in favor of equality today reflects where corporate America is: inclusive, safe and welcoming to all.”

Ellis could not be more wrong. Welcoming to all? Apparently not welcoming to Mr. Eich. No equality for Eich. No inclusivity for Eich either.

On the other hand, if a company can force out its CEO for supporting a belief antithetical to the corporate mantra, that same concept should work just as easily for the Hobby Lobbys of the world. Its ownership, the Green family should be able to fire all the employees who believe contraceptives ought to be part of the corporate health insurance policy. After all, those employees do not share the same belief as the corporate heads, and just as Mozilla forced out Eich, Hobby Lobby could force out those who possess contrary beliefs. Sounds truly dangerous were that to commence nationwide. It should not, nor should Eich be out of a job.

This action by Mozilla sets a scary precedent that anyone could be fired for their off the clock actions, opinions, ideas, or comments. That anyone could be fired if they don’t tow the company line of political correctness. That anyone could be fired for having contrary beliefs. That anyone could be fired for assuming the First Amendment exists within the confines of the corporate boundaries. Shame on them, shame on the lemmings who fall prey to this, most of all shame on America for allowing George Orwell’s 1984 to become reality where the thought police really do put the kibosh on free thinking and free expression. May G-d save the Republic.

Sanford D. Horn is a writer and educator living in Westfield, IN.