Sorry, I'm watching this debate on CSPAN (yes I'm that nerdy) about the Employment Nondiscrimination Act and including discrimination based on sexual orientation or gender identification as being illegal. And rather than just outright say they don't like homosexuals or anybody that falls under the GBLT umbrella, they like to prance around the issue and state that "it'll create all these lawsuits because then a potential employee who does get the job will accuse the employer "you didn't hire me because I'm gay.""
Now I'm a bleeding heart liberal, so take all this with a grain of salt, but good Lord, how dense do these people have to be? If that was the case that the religious right, then you'd have a legal system full of people claiming discrimination of color, race, or what fucking baseball team they support. Granted there are lawsuits, both legitimate and not, that are being tried in the legal system today. But that doesn't invalidate the fact that there is still prejudice out there.
Now I'm all for the freedom of religion. I think that every person should be able to express themselves and their beliefs as they so choose. But it brings me to question freedom of speech when we can't "scream fire in a crowded theater." Why can't we scream fire in a crowded theater when we have the right to freedom of expression? Because our rights extend "as far as the nose of another person." Meaning, we can express ourselves to the extent that our freedoms do not infringe on those freedoms or safety of others.
So why not apply that to freedom of religion? We can't commit human sacrifices in the name of religion for the same reason. So why do we allow the freedom of religious practice to infringe on, not only the right of a person to love and care for who they choose, but also the economic prosperity of those who represent the GLBT community, prosperity guaranteed to all men and women without qualification?
Like I said, take my rant for what it is, but it is still a hurdle we have yet to overcome. And while our freedoms are a right we are given by our creator, let's not figure that one freedom supersedes another, just because it is convenient to our fears.
Now I'm a bleeding heart liberal, so take all this with a grain of salt, but good Lord, how dense do these people have to be? If that was the case that the religious right, then you'd have a legal system full of people claiming discrimination of color, race, or what fucking baseball team they support. Granted there are lawsuits, both legitimate and not, that are being tried in the legal system today. But that doesn't invalidate the fact that there is still prejudice out there.
Now I'm all for the freedom of religion. I think that every person should be able to express themselves and their beliefs as they so choose. But it brings me to question freedom of speech when we can't "scream fire in a crowded theater." Why can't we scream fire in a crowded theater when we have the right to freedom of expression? Because our rights extend "as far as the nose of another person." Meaning, we can express ourselves to the extent that our freedoms do not infringe on those freedoms or safety of others.
So why not apply that to freedom of religion? We can't commit human sacrifices in the name of religion for the same reason. So why do we allow the freedom of religious practice to infringe on, not only the right of a person to love and care for who they choose, but also the economic prosperity of those who represent the GLBT community, prosperity guaranteed to all men and women without qualification?
Like I said, take my rant for what it is, but it is still a hurdle we have yet to overcome. And while our freedoms are a right we are given by our creator, let's not figure that one freedom supersedes another, just because it is convenient to our fears.
VIEW 4 of 4 COMMENTS
pollypocket:
Soooo if I get my car by the 30th I'll be there. 
lillithvain:
Invite anyone you want. The more cool people the better. Then I won't be bored to tears all night 