Smart Republican

[Jim in CT]

Originally Posted by spence

Interesting that there's not a problem with religious freedoms being violated, but they want to pass a bill just in case. -spence

Spence, from where do you get the idea that no religious freedoms are being violated? There have been cases, valid cases, of the government ordering people to do that which violates their beliefs. I posted one about a Christian baker who wanted nothing to do with a gay wedding, and the govt said "serve that wedding or we'll fine you." In other words, the government said "we have the authority to tell you what you can believe and what you can't believe".

Let's say a black person owns a house-painting business. If I ask him to paint a confederate flag on the side of my house, does he have the right to say no, or doesn't he?

Like hell no religious freedoms are being violated. The proposed bill is not anti-gay, it is pro-first amendment. Big difference.

I support gay marriage. But I have huge problems with the government telling its citizenry what they are allowed to believe. Everyone should be appalled at that. We cannot ignore the parts of the Constitution that aren't fashionable at the time. If we decide religious freedom only exists until someone's feelings are hurt, we need to amend the Constitution to reflect that. Until then, someone should tell homosexual agitators that freedom of religion applies to everyone, even people they don't always agree with.

Freedom of speech means that someone can hang a painting of Christ covered in feces. Freedom of assembly means that the Klan can hold a rally. Freedom of the press means that Ed Schultz can call Laura Ingraham a "right-wing slut" on the air. And like it or not, freedom of religion (in a country that truly is free) means that I have the right to decline to provide services for, or attend, a gay wedding.

Freedom ain't free. It means you'll occasionally have to put up with that which makes your skin crawl. There's this liberal tolerance and inclusion on display, where liberals want diversity in everything, except in ideas. If you will tolerate others to express their opinions which you despise, you respect freedom. Anything else is called totalitarianism. Which do we want to be, Spence?