Slippery Slope or Jagged Edge?

As a comment in the most recent post, "A Fine Line", Larry Bassett wrote, "If a religion wants to decide that it will only allow certain men into certain positions, I can avoid that religion. If that religion provides health care or other public services and even receives tax money to support their good work, they had better not expect to be granted the ability to discriminate. Not by me, anyway."

Great point and one well taken. This blogger agrees with Mr. Bassett, for the most part. However, our government made the 1st Amendment years ago for a reason. This blogger does not like that the church can play "god" or use the religious card but it's their right - right now. Let's remember that this same law allows gay activists the right to fight against religious discrimination. But, amending the Human Rights bill really doesn't help at all...it only creates more controversy, does it not?? Again, it’s a slippery slope...or perhaps a jagged edge.

Look, people discriminate. Is it right? No! Does it happen? Yes! Every day is a million different ways! Our government, right now, should be focused on the more immediate needs of this country. Forcing religious organizations to hire gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgender persons is not an immediate need. Then again, it's just this blogger's opinion.

On a side note, this blogger has many gay and lesbian friends, though sexual orientation is not the issue at hand. It’s Human Rights versus the 1st Amendment. Consider the recent appeal filed with the Michigan Supreme Court: http://www.mlive.com/newsflash/michigan/index.ssf?/base/news-33/1145398161290380.xml&storylist=newsmichigan#continue. (Note: This webpage will first ask you to provide some demographic info before allowing you to view the article. It’ll take 2 seconds to do and worth it if the topic interests you at all). This blogger highlights this story because the group BAMN (By Any Means Necessary) supports preferential treatment to groups or individuals based on their race, gender, color, ethnicity or national origin. The following link lays out BAMN’s purpose and principles. http://www.bamn.com/1/principles.asp.

Here is one problem with groups like these. If the Supreme Court accepted BAMN’s appeal to allow universities and government agencies to give preferential treatment to the above listed groups then the wonderful stories that brought about the Human/Civil Rights movement, and ultimately legislation, would be meaningless. Let’s go ahead and teach people today how to file appeals, lawsuits, and so forth instead of teaching integrity, perseverance, humility, and respect for others…Let’s just spoon feed them solutions to issues that have no real merit.

More to come on this topic…hopefully thought provoking comments will be made! Game on!