Re: Michigan lesbian couple says pediatrician denied baby care due to sexual orientat
If you do not discriminate you are not a bigot. It is action that makes on, in my view at least. We all like and dislike any number of things, but it is our actions vis-a-vis people that can turn us into bigots.
See, this is why I asked this question of you, and specifically to those that throw that word around hap-hazard. We do discriminate, ALL OF US, and our discrimination is generally brought about by our understanding brought about by experience of the world around us. I'm not a religious person, nor would I discriminate if I owned a business, mainly because I love money more than I hate anything in particular. But that being stated does not negate the fact that some people choose to discriminate based on any number of variables, and of which sexual proclivity being one of them, whether for religious or personal reasons, we have a right here in America to do exactly that. Some can debate whether a business or a service is directly reflective of the individual, and the SCOTUS has somewhat hinted at that being the case with recent campaign finance legislation, but I would welcome that debate, as I'm sure people on both sides have valid arguments for and against. In a weird sort of way, this is what I was getting at all along; in that, people are so afraid these days to even begin the debate, to have the talk about politically charged topics because of the terms and rhetoric thrown about by either side. That isn't America, our congress doesn't avoid topics that are hard, our Executive doesn't, nor does our Judicial. In fact, our whole existence was to promote exactly this kind of debate, and to form a consensus or compromise with the knowledge that sometimes we'll get it wrong, but eventually it'll correct itself.
You can't correct something if no one is willing to voice any concerns, conversely, you can't get something done if no one is willing to come forward and present compelling arguments for why a change needs to be made. I find it somewhat ironic that on a message board specifically designed with that concept in mind, we often devolve into rhetorical, illogical attacks on the others ideas. I think if someone has a silly argument, or inarticulate, or illogical, it is the responsibility of the members here to present a more compelling rebuttal, but do it a respectful manner without impugning or otherwise inferring motives.
There are many legitimate reasons for someone to be put off by homosexual lifestyles, religious expression being but one of them, but like any other character trait, we should be able to choose with whom we associate, and I think that ultimately that was the intent of the founding Fathers.
Tim-
