Letter to the Editor

Broaden Arizona law

I've been thinking about the religious freedom bill passed in Arizona that would allow any business, church or person to refuse service to homosexuals if they firmly believe homosexuality is wrong in the eyes of God. A proposition that could be broadened considerably with a little work.

If the test is sincere religious belief we might include people of African descent, those with a Jewish background, Muslims, those who espouse women's liberation -- the sky's the limit; there are so many to judge and find wanting. How can you expect a photographer to take pictures of a Jewish family if he sincerely believed they killed Christ? How could you wait on a table of African-Americans if Noah damned them to eternal servitude? How could you serve a Muslim if you believed they worshipped a false god? And don't get me started on the women's libbers.

The problem with the Arizona law is identification of the transgressors. We could require each of the sinning groups to wear a visible and public identification symbol that would clearly identify their transgression. Perhaps a star of David. You could use self identification such as a placard saying "we don't serve _ here" but that would open the possibility they could come in anyway if their sin wasn't readily apparent. We could also have a website concerned citizens could access showing where these transgressors live.

Our founding fathers would be so proud of the Republican legislature in Arizona fighting on the front lines of religious freedom.

LARRY EASLEY, Cape Girardeau