Thursday, December 25, 2014

The "Gay Wedding Cake Wars," Equality v. Freeom and Religious Freedom.

Don't let anyone kid you, no system can maximize both the values of both equality and freedom.  Personally, I believe freedom should trump equality.  Freedom will disappear under the push for equality.  The "Gay Wedding Cake wars" (small bakery owner refuses to make wedding cakes for gay couples, state civil rights commission threatens to punish owner) are an example of  both culture wars and legal wars.   I am having trouble deciding this one.  If the decision is purely a personal one, e.g. who to have a child with, freedom must triumph even if racism is behind the decision.  Fortunately, we still believe in this country, that not everything is within the power of the government.  However, when one starts a business, new dimensions enter.  On the other hand, if one's faith "informs" their business, and it is not a publicly traded business, but a personal or family business, this is both a personal and business decision.  This is a close case.  I would have to with freedom of the business person here.   As stated above an obsession with equality destroys freedom. Without a healthy dose of freedom the idea of a representative democracy/republic becomes meaningless.
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3 comments:

  1. 44January 5, 2015 at 3:32 PM

    IMO, recognizing equality is different from looking at choice. The prior deals with natural factors such as race, age, gender, cultural origins and mental/physical abilities. These items are mostly out of one's control. Choice, on the other hand, is driven by preference or conviction which involves the good, the bad and the ugly. In other words, one can pursue wellness or become a drug addict. Unequal outcomes given similar opportunities regardless of intrinsic characteristics.

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    1. UnknownJanuary 6, 2015 at 1:27 PM

      44: Excellent point! Were you talking about personal action, government action, or both., I'm not sure of the implications. There are situations where choices regarding certain matters are protected by the Constitution. For instance, refusal to bow one's head at a commencement address cannot be punished by government. In general, all viewpoints must be treated equally when it comes to the First Amendment.

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  2. 44January 7, 2015 at 11:28 AM

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