Jennifer Galm | Blogger

We humans seem to enjoy repeating things, whether it be for good or ill. There is a sense of nostalgia we get from seeing something that we loved from the past enter into our lives again like a long lost friend. For example, who knows how many times I’ve watched “The NeverEnding Story” movie. I know the plot, every line, the musical score, the whole shebang by heart. But, I’m not sure I will appreciate the remake of the movie set to come out this year. The first one is just too good. Who knows, maybe the remake will be okay.

However, on the other hand, there are some things so horrible that we should never even think of repeating.

Unlike the potential unpleasantness of a movie remake, inequality is one thing from our nation’s history that should stay in our history. Arizona’s governor, Jan Brewer, just vetoed a bill slated as a “religious freedom” bill. Its main purpose was to allow business owners to deny services to anyone who doesn’t align with their religious beliefs. People in the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer, (LGBTQ) demographic were the particular targets for this rash legislation. Can you imagine signs outside of hotels, restaurants, bakeries, or theaters saying, “No gays allowed?” Do we really want to regurgitate that kind of blatant discrimination against a class of people? Again?

This kind of legislation protects no one and harms all. Individuals have the protection of the Bill of Rights to the freedom of and from religion. This right to religion is an individual’s right, not a business’s right. Businesses are expected to offer the same services to everyone, regardless of who their customer may be. If this kind of bill were to be passed, how would a business owner prove that they denied services to those they find unsavory because of their religious beliefs? Just by saying so.

This legislation goes far beyond businesses having the legal right to deny LGBTQ people the right to sit down to eat at a restaurant. This legislation is one enormous loophole that will allow businesses a legal right to deny services based on anything their owners feel is in opposition to their religious beliefs…other religions, people of other races, birth control, people with tattoos, and so on.

Unfortunately, Arizona was not the only state that has been toying with personal liberties: Georgia, Idaho, Mississippi, Ohio, Oregon, South Dakota, Maine, Tennessee, Utah and Colorado are currently tweaking their versions of the bill. Kansas also had a “religious freedom” bill, but thankfully it died in the Senate. It is important to get involved in stopping these kinds of threats to personal liberty by voting, signing petitions, talking to your family, or even writing a blog. Get out there and do something.

Fifty-four years ago, four brave young men woke up the world when they sat down at a lunch counter together and asked to be served. Today, their request seems so simple and the denial of their right so shameful. I wish there was some way to make the past a better place for everyone, but we can’t go backwards. The only thing we can do is to try to make things better for everyone today and in the future.

We may not have a luck dragon to help us make it through this journey, but I think that with a bit of compassion and a rear-view mirror to see what it was we’ve left behind, we may just be able to make it through this quest for equality for everyone.

Graphic by Justice Gage