Free and Brave

I've noticed that there is a huge commotion over a law that has been passed in Arizona. If you're not familiar, basically the Arizona State Legislature passed a bill that would allow business owners to refuse services based on religious beliefs. I'm pretty sure that this law was made to give Christian business owners the right to deny Gays and Lesbians services to their establishments. As you can guess, there is a huge stink. People are shaking their fists at the state of Arizona, calling them bigoted and intolerant. Other groups are saluting the lawmakers for allowance of religious freedoms.

I always ask this question: Why are people so enthralled with getting something from people who clearly don't want anything to do with them? If you're one of those people who are being discriminated against, why go through all the trouble? If someone doesn't want to give you business, go somewhere else. Here's how it usually plays out: person goes to business; business says, "no"; person files huge lawsuit, spending hard earned money on lawyers who couldn't give two spits about your predicament because they just want your money; and you still didn't get the service you were looking for. Sounds kind of stupid to me. Instead of wasting all your time, money, and energy on silly things like lawsuits and picket signs, why not just go somewhere else.  Then when someone asks why you didn't go to the original, you can calmly say, "they weren't good enough."

Look, I understand that discrimination exists and isn't right. However, we can't be so in love with getting someone back that we forget that other people have rights, too.  No matter how archaic and medieval the beliefs are in your mind, it's still theirs. You don't have the right to try to ruin someone because they don't think like you do. Again, I know about discrimination.  I grew up in a town that thinks the Ku Klux Klan is just misunderstood and that Martin Luther King, Jr was just a troublemaker who didn't know how to leave well enough alone. I get it.  However, I will always believe in every person's right to whatever they choose.

People might ask me what God thinks about my stance. God believes that people should ultimately follow His will. What that will is, you have to let Him tell you. I do believe that God isn't going to go out of His way to make sure a gay couple can't marry in a garden because the owner has convictions. If the owner values money, it really won't matter who comes walking through the door. However, if the owner has convictions and beliefs, no amount of money is going to change his mind.

This happened in the 60s and 70s with black people. Except, of course, they were hosed down and had dogs released on them. If someone doesn't want my business, I leave. I go about my business and find a place that will take my money. No need to go fussing and complaining and spending my money on a lawsuit.  Just roll out.

American businesses have the freedom to choose who they serve. American people just need the bravery to accept it and move on.

And this is Arizona, you should be used to this by now, right Chuck D?