Friday, December 9, 2016

Define.. PATRIOTISM, DISCRIMINATION & COERCION

Define..  PATRIOTISM,  DISCRIMINATION & COERCION 

There is a vast difference between discriminating against a person... and refusing to participate in an event.

True acts of discrimination are done against people, not events or symbols. 

The one who chooses not to participate... 
(in a wedding ceremony, or a patriotic tradition)
May hold strong views about the event but still may have high regard for the people involved.  

President Trump has expressed outrage and a desire to impose financial punishments on the football protesters, as do the Colorado Civil Rights Commission toward the Cake Maker who won against them in the Supreme Court.


Both rage from their populist and elitist positions. Both instill fear through threats and the divisive controversy they sew, as do Mr. Knight of NIKE who chose to promote the Kaepernick controversy, and the couples who sought financial exploits rather than a cake through the referrals Jack offered. 


And we on the sidelines cheer or rage compliantly oblivious to the greed, avarice and disregard of our leaders.


That leaves only Kaepernick  and Philips; both standing for their principles. But only one initiated a public protest, and won a lucrative  advertising contract. Only one was incessantly publicized and catapulted to the status of an American Hero, becoming the,"Citizen of the Year," of the publication shown. 


While the other created history by going to the Supreme Court in his battle for freedom of expression, AND WON! And the was mostly ignored by our press like the Pro-Life Women who were considered unfit for the Woman's March and shunned.

So you say you never heard of the story about Jack Philips? 

These questions were on the doorstep of the U.S. Supreme Court and in the mind of Jack Phillips as his case, the Masterpiece Cakeshop v. Colorado Civil Rights Commission was reviewed.

In Colorado, the Colorado Civil Rights Commission had ruled that that bakers could refuse to bake cakes that included Biblical messages for events like weddings, but could be forced to create cakes for same-sex events. It also forced many that were not compliant to take compulsory "re-education," classes as mandated in the state's anti-discrimination laws.

It is ofen even worse in Europe. In Northern Ireland, Lord Chief Justices Morgan, Weatherup and Weir recently refused an appeal by Asher Family Bakery and upheld the Northern Ireland Equality Commission charges in support of gay rights activist Gareth Lee. 

Asher Family Bakery had declined to make a cake promoting the advancement of same sex marriage in Northern Ireland, where it is currently illegal. The bakery was found guilty of discrimination of persons as well as being discriminatory in their politics and was fined heavily.Jack Phillips refusal also occurred before the legalization of same-sex marriage in Colorado.'



Jack's is a story of discrimination by religious persecution like many others listed in the first and last links. One where he continues to be targeted by activist forces in Colorado's Government. Jack is the one who fought successfully in the Supreme Court to protect your freedoms. Thank you Jack!

And... Thank you President Trump for resisting those who attempt to circumvent the public argument through litigation. See his response at https://www.wsj.com/articles/trump-administration-backs-baker-who-refused-to-make-wedding-cake-for-gay-couple-1504843234

...to hear directly from Jack and similar people who are involved watch, ... 

starting at minute 9 as well as others like them by clicking the first link.


Shortly After the Last Election....
People Magazine reported on a fashion designer's refusal to work with Melania Trump. Was this discrimination?


Could her garments be seen as symbols of an acceptance of Trump's behavior or his political views? Could they be interpreted as endorsements.



Designer, Sophie Theallet thought so and refused to work with Melania. In her view she was taking a “stand against all discrimination and prejudice.” 


But was this choice an act of discrimination and prejudice?









Here is one of Sophie's Designs on a past customer.

Should Sophie's political beliefs due to her conscience be protected? What about the religious and political beliefs of her neighbors due to their consciences? Should they be ignored?

Why not bakers and photographers, who, because of their religious beliefs, have politely but firmly declined to provide service for gay weddings. 

They have not declined service to homosexuals. They have just made it clear that they cannot morally participate in a Ceremony that goes against their religious principles.

Not a rejection of a person as a person, but participation in an activity.

Consider Barronelle Stutzman, a florist in Washington who has served and employed people of all backgrounds, including homosexuals, for her entire career. However, after she declined to provide flowers for a homosexual wedding, in accordance with her faith, both the ACLU and Washington state attorney general have sued not just her business, but her personally. 



Seattle times Opinion

Why we sued our favorite florist: Marriage equality must be truly equal



Gabriel Campanario / The Seattle Times


Discrimination hurts, and anyone who’s ever been singled out or rejected for being perceived as “different” knows it’s exhausting to keep shoring yourself up when other people try to cut you down.


As Plaintiffs Curt Freed and Robert Ingersoll explain , "Why we sued our favorite florist: Marriage equality must be truly equal" In the Seattle Times

Consider Aaron and Melissa Klein, Bakers in Oregon? They baked a cake for a woman who was so happy with their work that she and her partner asked Melissa to bake their wedding cake. The Kleins politely explained that due to their faith, they could not endorse a wedding that violated their beliefs. In response, the state sued them, put a legal order on them banning them from talking about their desire to work according to their faith, and said they “needed rehabilitation.” The fine the state assessed and the subsequent hate mail and threats forced the Klein’s to close their business and led Aaron Klein to go to work as a sanitation worker to pay their bills.

I am glad that Melania Trump is not an activist and that she avoided the option to punish or persecute. I am glad that she used her freedom to hire someone else and allowed Sophia the Liberty of free expression of her conscience.

But isn't Theallet refusing to serve the Trumps as persons, and this not related to any specific activity. Isn't she refusing to serve them in all venues, not just the inauguration?.... Isn't this the true meaning of discrimination?


These are the questions on the doorstep of the U.S. Supreme Court and in the mind of Jack Phillips as his case in the Masterpiece Cakeshop v. Colorado Civil Rights Commission is now being reviewed.
.
In Colorado, the Colorado Civil Rights Commission held that bakers could refuse to bake cakes for customers who wanted cakes with Biblical messages, while forcing others to create wedding cakes for same-sex events, as well as forcing compliance with compulsory "re-education” for any who questioned the state's anti-discrimination law.
.
In Northern Ireland, Lord Chief Justices Morgan, Weatherup and Weir recently refused an appeal by Asher Family Bakery and upheld the Northern Ireland Equality Commission charges in support of gay rights activist Gareth Lee.



See full Interview of Mr Asher in Ireland on video at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PR7xc-OKAf0&t=628s
.
Asher Family Bakery had declined to make a cake promoting the advancement of same sex marriage in Northern Ireland, where it is currently illegal. The bakery was found guilty of discrimination of persons as well as being discriminatory in their politics and was fined heavily.

Jack Phillips refusal also occurred before the legalization of same-sex marriage in Colorado.




Until recently, America gave high precedence to conscientious objection. 




.
Religious liberty is much more than the freedom to attend church, synagogue, or mosque. It is the freedom to actually live out your religious beliefs.
.
The Liberty Bell got its name from being rung July 8, 1776, to called the citizens of Philadelphia together to hear the Liberties declared in our Declaration of Independence as it was read out loud for the first time!
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My hope is that civil discourse leading to representative legislation will soon return as our chief form of legal communication.
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Hopefully we will rise from the wallow of activist coercion and embrace the values of cooperative effort and mutual respect.

Although badly flawed, my hope is that Liberty will ring true for everyone.



Misunderstanding and Persecuting
Not so new

"Pilgrim's Progress," by John Bunyan's was penned in 1678 and translated into more than 200 languages. It is a Christian allegory like the Lord of the Rings, and The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe of today. Many consider it the first complete novel written into English, the most widely read book next to the Bible. Much of the story was written while Bunyan was incarcerated for holding unapproved religious services. The video clip below follows a portion of the story in modernized language.

The full title is: The Pilgrim's Progress from This World, to That Which Is to Come







from link below:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QcQvf3sKpcg


sources..
Read more at http://www.wnd.com/…/liberty-bell-called-citizens-to-hear…/…
http://people.com/…/sophie-theallet-open-letter-melania-tr…/
http://www.visionandvalues.org/…/melania-trump-fashion-and…/


Photo sources:


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