FA_Q2
Gold Member
"...As long as the law codifies racism to hide in the shadows, racism will forever exist. The only way for it to truly be dealt with, IMHO, is to let society deal with it. There was a time when law was necessary to show people the way. Now we know and that law is more of a hindrance than it is a help; consistently reminding us that we are different and that those that are different are going to use FORCE to make you serve them. That does not allow racism to fade into history as another failed human construct."
I think we may be coming at this from two similar but not identical angles.
You (and, perhaps one or more colleagues) seem to be coming at this from the angle that we should not have such Equal Product/Service Access Under Law, at all; rather, we should let Society and Time sort that out.
You may be right, but I also see that as a related but separate topic.
I am coming at this from the angle of what IS... and that is, that providers of goods and services to the general public are increasingly being prohibited at-law from discriminating against one or more client-demographics... so...
IF we intend to maintain such laws on the books... and I assure you that "we" do... then... the laws must apply to all, not just to those demographic groups and mindsets which we as a society approve of...
That includes a Black photographer providing publicly-offered product to members of the KKK, or a Jewish photographer providing publicly-offered product to members of a Nazi hate group... just as a conservative and pious baker or florist who is taught to shun Gays is obliged by law to provide that product to those whom he-or-she finds repugnant...
IF we create and maintain such laws, then they must apply to all, or none at all.
It is the other (and undesirable but necessary) side of the double-edged sword.
Excellent post. THIS I can understand and I have to (grudgingly) admit that you are right there. Carving exceptions into laws for those that we do not like is an unacceptable practice one that I am very vocal on other matters about like speech and it diminishes law all around. That type of thinking allows politicians to pay favors and curry special interest groups, a practice that I am thoroughly against.
I would like to see the laws done away with entirely but as long as they are there they need to be adhered to. On a similar point, and one that I was thinking on going into earlier, the laws already do this to a degree as they set up protected classes. Essentally, those classes RIGHT NOW receive more protections than those that do not fit under them. Examples earlier were of KKK members not being able to force the photographer to take pictures at their Klan meeting but the gay couple being allowed to do so.
I think that no matter how you structure that law, there are ALWAYS going to be groups left out unless you were to take the entire choice of who to serve away and that is, quite frankly, not possible.