Quote:
Originally Posted by Onkel Neal
Yeah. 
And further thoughts on the subject: If I was a baker, I could not refuse service to a gay couple, because while I may object to gay marriage, I certainly cannot claim a legitimate religious objection.
If I did make a cake for them, I would go ahead and make a wonderful, delicious cake, because that's what being a professional means and despite my difference in opinion over gay stuff (mostly I object to hearing about it nonstop 24/7), they are both probably great people. |
Yes, maybe they are great people. But does this mean they can demand you to do something in support of their wordview when that violates your world view? If they really were this great people - they would not demand this in the first from you.
So maybe they are not that two great people at all.
I know one thing. I would not go and insist that a Hindu should slaughter a cow and sell the meat to me. Nor would I demand a baker who is against gay marriage that he should make me a cake and write "Gay marriage is great" on it.
No. Probably no great people these two are indeed.
I would avoid them. And probably by that woudk amke them going after me. Claiming a right to be loved by all, and a right that I must not avoid them.
Note, however, that I think the issue on the legal basis is far more profound than just the first amendment controversy as described in the NYT article. Its more profound for me, and nothing specifically American at all, but generally of importance everywhere. Can you go out there and claim that people having a business shall not be allowed to freely decide whether they agree to have you as a customer and make a deal with you, are they your submissive servants per se, even if no contract exists and no advance payment was paid, no contract exists? My answer to that is an unconditional "No". Like customers have the right of choosing which baker they buy at, bakers must have the right to choose their customers.
I do not want to dramatize this, but this once again is about freedom. That somebody chooses you - does not already give him claim for you. He can ask you, and you must be free to say "Yes", "Yes, if you..." or "No".