Injustice is an unfortunate part of human history. As humankind, we have dropped the ball on equality, and it is passed time we address injustice and inequality in a better way. The “religious freedom bill” in Arkansas should force us to raise fundamental questions in a public setting. We must recognize that the discussion considering a private business’s rights to refuse service is complicated, primarily because each side believes they are inherently right without exception.
It would serve us all well to try to see the other perspective. It is not okay for reporters to interview small business owners in an effort to make them explicitly state that they will not serve members of the LGBT community. But it is also not okay for people to feel so compelled by the media that they threaten those same business owners, send hate mail or cause individuals to fear for their safety. We should all be asking the question: is our fight for freedom restricting someone else’s?
Should people even be allowed to discriminate against LGBT people with claim of “freedom of religion?” Conor Friedersdorf, writer for The Atlantic, said that serving LGBT people does not have to conflict with your religious beliefs. You do not have to agree with someone’s actions to treat them as an individual. His article “Why Christian Photographers Should Work at Gay Weddings” reads: “… don’t Jesus’ teachings command us to associate with people even when we believe them to be sinners? Aside from sinning oneself, isn’t going as far as one can to accommodate others exactly what Christ’s actions ought to inspire?”
My opinion on the “religious freedom bill” and the national question of businesses’ rights is that each side has contributed in some way to perpetuate the problem. By using violent actions and language to communicate, we allow injustice to persist. We need to create an environment that allows thoughtful communication. When that is the case, we can fight together the injustices that exist on both sides of this issue: because injustice demands action. Who deserves the right to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness? We all do, so let’s act like it.
