"Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof."
You're free to be an ignorant jerk about your religion, and I'm free to take my business elsewhere. In this case, I wonder if the message is actually illegal religious discrimination akin to saying "we don't serve non-Christians or non-believers".
All business owners should do this - would rather not give my money to someone who believes in fairy stories that tell us to discriminate against women and gays.
To be fair, I'm totally ok with the fairy stories that tell us to love each other, be nice, and generally not be jerks. In fact, we probably need more of those kind of fairy stories.
How about if you put 3 cents worth of gas on your credit card? And get a few thousand other people to do the same? Credit card transaction fees would surely upset the bigot. I mean the believer.
A private business has this right. If you'd shop at another gas station, why not leave the country, since we have that in our Pledge of Allegiance? When you buy here, you are actually striking a blow, perhaps in a somewhat backward manner, for the First Amendment.
Look, most Americans are Christians; if not literally, then at least in the sense that that is the worldview that most closely identify with.
To be honest, though, if I went to a station and it said, "There is no God, and if you think so, you're a fool," I'd take my business elsewhere. At the same time, it's not like this man is expressing some controversial, minority opinion. Most people believe this way. Toleration runs both ways...and I think if the majority feels a certain way, then as long as they don't cram it down your throat, you need to do the tolerating.
And yet... freedom of religion is promised us in that same Constitution you're so proud of. The fact that 'under God' is included in the Pledge is itself a blatant contradiction of that fact. It's also worth noting that those words were never included in the Pledge until 1954, which pretty much invalidates the 'all or nothing' nature of your opening statement. After all, before 1954, God wasn't mentioned. Are you suggesting people weren't loyal Americans before that, due to some oversight?
You're dealing with several logical fallacies in your claim here. Most notably the hasty generalization (most people believe this way), the false dichotomy (shopping vs leaving the country), and appeal to authority (your invoking of the First Amendment and the Pledge). This, sadly, thoroughly invalidates your argument without any further need on my part.
Just because 'you think the majority feels a certain way', that doesn't make you right, and it doesn't do a thing to help your argument. Focus on facts, not feelings. Oh, and the word you want is 'tolerance' not 'toleration'. Better luck next time.
That's the nice thing about this country. If you agree with the guy, keep going there. If you don't, just go to the next gas station.
ReplyDeleteI did think it was interesting that they either couldn't find someone who disagreed or just didn't put them in the report.
"Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof."
ReplyDeleteYou're free to be an ignorant jerk about your religion, and I'm free to take my business elsewhere. In this case, I wonder if the message is actually illegal religious discrimination akin to saying "we don't serve non-Christians or non-believers".
Well I for one would not be going there, and I find it a bit of a worry that these people think like that.
ReplyDeleteAll business owners should do this - would rather not give my money to someone who believes in fairy stories that tell us to discriminate against women and gays.
ReplyDeleteTo be fair, I'm totally ok with the fairy stories that tell us to love each other, be nice, and generally not be jerks. In fact, we probably need more of those kind of fairy stories.
DeleteYour gas station, your message. My money says go elsewhere, but who am I to argue with your statements of belief?
ReplyDeleteI agree with Nathan
ReplyDeleteHe obviously knows his customer base well - a pretty shrewd move on his part.
ReplyDeleteI, however, would make it a point to shop elsewhere.
How about if you put 3 cents worth of gas on your credit card? And get a few thousand other people to do the same? Credit card transaction fees would surely upset the bigot. I mean the believer.
ReplyDeleteI'm a (non-fundamentalist) Christian and I would jump back in my car and drive to the next station.
ReplyDeleteA private business has this right. If you'd shop at another gas station, why not leave the country, since we have that in our Pledge of Allegiance? When you buy here, you are actually striking a blow, perhaps in a somewhat backward manner, for the First Amendment.
ReplyDeleteLook, most Americans are Christians; if not literally, then at least in the sense that that is the worldview that most closely identify with.
To be honest, though, if I went to a station and it said, "There is no God, and if you think so, you're a fool," I'd take my business elsewhere. At the same time, it's not like this man is expressing some controversial, minority opinion. Most people believe this way. Toleration runs both ways...and I think if the majority feels a certain way, then as long as they don't cram it down your throat, you need to do the tolerating.
And yet... freedom of religion is promised us in that same Constitution you're so proud of. The fact that 'under God' is included in the Pledge is itself a blatant contradiction of that fact. It's also worth noting that those words were never included in the Pledge until 1954, which pretty much invalidates the 'all or nothing' nature of your opening statement. After all, before 1954, God wasn't mentioned. Are you suggesting people weren't loyal Americans before that, due to some oversight?
DeleteYou're dealing with several logical fallacies in your claim here. Most notably the hasty generalization (most people believe this way), the false dichotomy (shopping vs leaving the country), and appeal to authority (your invoking of the First Amendment and the Pledge). This, sadly, thoroughly invalidates your argument without any further need on my part.
Just because 'you think the majority feels a certain way', that doesn't make you right, and it doesn't do a thing to help your argument. Focus on facts, not feelings. Oh, and the word you want is 'tolerance' not 'toleration'. Better luck next time.