Which is what a lot of the screaming about the Indiana law is about. Which brings me to this article from Volokh on the subject of religious freedom laws. The basic from way down in the piece:
The government’s requiring people to do something they sincerely believe
is religiously forbidden, or even financially pressuring them to do so,
is a classic example of what the Justice Brennan / ACLU view thought
was presumptively unconstitutional.
4 comments:
When did "We reserve the right to refuse service to anyone" become a crime? I find discrimination distasteful, and believe it should be illegal in government and emergency services, but private business is just that, private. If you don't want to serve people who praise the Flying Spaghetti Monster, that's your right. If those same Pastafarians take their business elsewhere, also their right, and your business fails, then it's on you. Not them. By the same token, if you see a need, open a business, and serve ONLY Pastafarians and your business thrives, that too, is on you. Discrimination based on race, place of birth, hair color, eye color, or any accident of birth is ridiculous. But the right to criticize, and discriminate, based on a belief is a fundamental right. Laws that deny that right are just another way to whine to Mommy that someone hurt your feelings. My basic response to those with hurt feelings? Suck it up, buttercup. Life ain't fair. Like I told my kids. Fair is where old men judge livestock.
That closing line is gold, and I'm stealing it.
I think I'll wander in to a halal deli and order a pulled pork sammich. If they don't serve me, they're intolerant bigots.
At some point businesses need to understand the media is the enemy, and request them to leave while pointing at the "No Trespassing" sign while stating "all media communications are conducted through our attorney."
Just like there's nothing you can say to police on the scene that will improve your position and avoid arrest, there' s nothing you can say to media that will help you.
If enough businesses - and individuals - refused to talk to media personnel (of any type), while it wouldn't change their outlook, it would deny them ammunition. They'd surely paint "X declined to speak with us" as concealment of the bigotry they were certain was there, but it's much thinner gruel than "we wouldn't cater a gay wedding."
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