Comments on: Religious Freedom, my ass http://blog.4d2.org/2008/07/31/religious-freedom-my-ass/ Because everyone else already has one Fri, 09 Jan 2009 23:32:52 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.6 By: Kara http://blog.4d2.org/2008/07/31/religious-freedom-my-ass/#comment-879 Kara Thu, 31 Jul 2008 17:06:54 +0000 http://blog.4d2.org/?p=515#comment-879 That's really what I meant, when I said,"Here’s where claims of religious intolerance make me cackle in outright horror: when they’re used to support other intolerance." The funniest part of the issue is that the accusations of religious intolerance are really disguising a deeper intolerance. The intolerance that comes with seeing your beliefs as the only beliefs that matter and thinking that your beliefs can be enforced on society and other human beings willy-nilly with no concern for how those actions might impact them. That’s really what I meant, when I said,”Here’s where claims of religious intolerance make me cackle in outright horror: when they’re used to support other intolerance.” The funniest part of the issue is that the accusations of religious intolerance are really disguising a deeper intolerance. The intolerance that comes with seeing your beliefs as the only beliefs that matter and thinking that your beliefs can be enforced on society and other human beings willy-nilly with no concern for how those actions might impact them.

]]> By: Michael http://blog.4d2.org/2008/07/31/religious-freedom-my-ass/#comment-878 Michael Thu, 31 Jul 2008 16:47:19 +0000 http://blog.4d2.org/?p=515#comment-878 Kara, you hinted at the implicit assertion behind the arguments in support of this government interference, the assertion that fills me with disgust: "Some religious beliefs are more valid than others." What we have here is a pharmacist who holds one set of beliefs and a customer who holds another, different, set of beliefs. No contemporary standard of morality or legality can conclusively prove either of their belief systems to be intolerable. To allow the pharmacist to impose his beliefs on his customer, when he is inherently in a position of authority by virtue of his ability to dispense drugs, is to say that his beliefs are more valid than the customer's. It's like we have to find the lowest common ethical denominator. Some of us think ova are people, so we must all act like ova are people to keep anyone from getting upset. Regardless of the imposition on personal liberty and lack of demonstrable social harm. I am further annoyed because dispensing the medication is the "default" action in this situation. The doctor has prescribed it and the pharmacist must <em>choose</em> not to dispense it rather than doing what is expected of him. The pharmacist has to be awfully self-righteous in order to feel that his moral integrity is compromised by following medical orders that he finds disagreeable. Kara, you hinted at the implicit assertion behind the arguments in support of this government interference, the assertion that fills me with disgust: “Some religious beliefs are more valid than others.”

What we have here is a pharmacist who holds one set of beliefs and a customer who holds another, different, set of beliefs. No contemporary standard of morality or legality can conclusively prove either of their belief systems to be intolerable. To allow the pharmacist to impose his beliefs on his customer, when he is inherently in a position of authority by virtue of his ability to dispense drugs, is to say that his beliefs are more valid than the customer’s. It’s like we have to find the lowest common ethical denominator. Some of us think ova are people, so we must all act like ova are people to keep anyone from getting upset. Regardless of the imposition on personal liberty and lack of demonstrable social harm.

I am further annoyed because dispensing the medication is the “default” action in this situation. The doctor has prescribed it and the pharmacist must choose not to dispense it rather than doing what is expected of him. The pharmacist has to be awfully self-righteous in order to feel that his moral integrity is compromised by following medical orders that he finds disagreeable.

]]> By: Melissa JG http://blog.4d2.org/2008/07/31/religious-freedom-my-ass/#comment-877 Melissa JG Thu, 31 Jul 2008 13:24:20 +0000 http://blog.4d2.org/?p=515#comment-877 Sometimes I wonder if these types--the pharmacists--just got into the game to make a stink. So stupid. Sometimes I wonder if these types–the pharmacists–just got into the game to make a stink. So stupid.

]]> By: Kara http://blog.4d2.org/2008/07/31/religious-freedom-my-ass/#comment-876 Kara Thu, 31 Jul 2008 13:12:10 +0000 http://blog.4d2.org/?p=515#comment-876 I think the idea is this: if someone's religious beliefs are under attack, our gov't has a responsibility to protect them, free market and all. The same is true of racism or sexism... our government does have a responsibility to protect minorities because the free market won't. Which I support, in theory, if there was actually any evidence of religious intolerance here, rather than people choosing not to do their jobs. Damn, if I did that, I'd get fired. "I'm sorry. According to "Bob" I really shouldn't be answering phones. See, there's this great big conspiracy and..." You're fired. You have ten minutes to get off my property before I release the hounds. I think the idea is this: if someone’s religious beliefs are under attack, our gov’t has a responsibility to protect them, free market and all. The same is true of racism or sexism… our government does have a responsibility to protect minorities because the free market won’t.

Which I support, in theory, if there was actually any evidence of religious intolerance here, rather than people choosing not to do their jobs. Damn, if I did that, I’d get fired.

“I’m sorry. According to “Bob” I really shouldn’t be answering phones. See, there’s this great big conspiracy and…”

You’re fired. You have ten minutes to get off my property before I release the hounds.

]]> By: Michael http://blog.4d2.org/2008/07/31/religious-freedom-my-ass/#comment-875 Michael Thu, 31 Jul 2008 12:56:28 +0000 http://blog.4d2.org/?p=515#comment-875 How is what the administration is proposing <em>not</em> unwarranted government interference in the private sector? No true conservative should support this crap. The free market is a major part of what makes this country great. How is what the administration is proposing not unwarranted government interference in the private sector?

No true conservative should support this crap. The free market is a major part of what makes this country great.

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