By the NYTimes Editorial Board
...This is not a question of religious freedom. (click here) It is a question of whether to allow religion to be used as an excuse to discriminate in employment against a particular group of people. Many states already have laws protecting gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender workers. There is no such federal law, so the presidential order (promised but not yet produced) would extend those rules to companies that receive federal contracts in states without those kinds of anti-bias laws, protecting millions more people....
There is a small minority of Christians that believe gender identity is a choice. Unfortunately, they are wealthy and have found a way to make power serve their purpose. There are signs of this highly destructive religion on many places around the world. They have found a way to pay for the power they enjoy without having a member as a representative in any government.
Sexual identity is not a choice. Sexual preference can be, but, then no different than any bedroom antics of any home anywhere. The idea that a religion can misconstrue the Bible's recordings to facilitate their own form of hatred is one matter. But, to have that hatred transcend societies globally through power brokering and political manipulation of economies is quiet something different.
Evangelical christians have become very dangerous people. They were tolerated for a sincerely long time in the USA without any concern, but, when power brokers realized the USA Constitution and democracy could be lent to bending in an arch of power to make the Evangelicals 'call to duty' real, the rest is history.
The current headwinds of justice in the USA is very strong. There are members of the Supreme Court full of their own hubris and 'ideas' about their roles and the place of the US Constitution in today's society. The recent decisions by the court are troubling. They should NOT lend themselves to a greater power or understanding than what was obvious in the responses by the court. This is not at all a great court with decisions of astounding intellect. Not even close.
For any American to expect another to be judge and jury on a person's soul is more than arrogant. I can't speak for the good Pope, but, he also has indicated he cannot make those decisions. The relationship between god and person is uniquely individual. It is not channeled through a emperor or queen.
Employment is necessary in the USA. It is a capitalist based society. To actually have anyone in this country believe they should have the power over a man or woman's work choice or career choice and actually load the dice against them even when the most prepared candidate is LGBT is unthinkable. Such discrimination is hate based, it seeks to ride a religious hubris unlike the Christians that are humble and do not seek to judge others.
I don't know when this monster of a religion will be departing this Earth, I hope it is soon. They are always asking and expecting Armageddon. For everyone's sake I hope their Armageddon comes swiftly and justly and leaves the rest of us alone. But, until that happens, we, as a society, have to make clear choices about our society and it's content. We cannot afford to be mistaken for a hate monger and should dispell their presence in which ever form or voice it takes.
President Obama has been paid a great deal of disrespect by the US House Speaker within the last few days. President Obama never earned any of it and all to frequently measured his response to what might be racism or bigotry. To say he is a good sport is putting it mildly.
President Obama needs to one more time shake off the disrespect exhibited and go forward for the benevolence of the country he leads. He is a great President, unfortunately, his time in office has come at a really lousy time for the two party system. I trust him today, no different than the first day of office and expect him to lead no differently.
