Another Modest Proposal

 (I know. I'm full of them -- or it, as you choose.)

One of my Facebook buddies is outraged that Hobby Lobby would dare to run national newspaper ads on the Fourth of July, urging that Christian ideals be part of our current government. The ad included several quotes, including this one from George Washington:

"It is the duty of all nations to acknowledge the providence of Almighty God, to obey His will, to be grateful for His benefits, and humbly to implore His protection and favor." 

Asking God for help in running our country?!?  How dare they!

What surprised me was that this is not the first ad the craft chain has run during holidays. According to the article:

In a holiday message posted on its website, Hobby Lobby said they'd been placing holiday advertisements since founder David Greene felt "commissioned" by God to make them after he saw advertisements during the 1995 Christmas season.

"Before long, Hobby Lobby was placing beautiful full-page ads celebrating the real meaning of Christmas, Easter, and Independence Day in newspapers across the country. The impact and relevancy of these messages is ongoing," the message said.

I'm not sure my FB friend realized they've been doing this for ages. (I sure didn't.) Have these ads caused outrage among some? Obviously, yes. Lots of screaming, threats and yelling about separation of church and state, not to mention slapping on the usual "racist" labels. (I am hard-put to understand how urging politicians to follow God is racist, although I'm guessing that if a Muslim organization ran a similar ad, urging us all to follow Allah, that would be ok. Especially from the viewpoint of AOC and her fellow Squad members. Diversity and all that.)

     Here's my struggle:      Christianity is a voluntary action. No one can MAKE you become a Christian, nor can they force you to act like one. I am a Christian myself, and know this from personal experience. I grew up in a church atmosphere, and knew how to appear to be one. But I never became a real Christian until I was 15.

In a very strong sense, Hobby Lobby's ad is not a demand -- because it can't. Instead, it's a rallying cry to patriotism and morality. It has no power to make anyone do anything -- including President Biden or VP Harris. 

I'm not sure this logic, though, is making the screamers happy. So here's my proposal:

Is a company like Hobby Lobby making you angry, because you don't agree with them? 

Stop shopping there. Take your business elsewhere. If you want to be particularly forceful, write them a letter saying you will no longer be buying anything -- and why. 

Feel free to use the same tactics for Chick Fil-A. Their founder dared to say he didn't believe in gay marriage. However, the chain had no problem hiring gay people, married or otherwise, to work there...something the LGBTQ people tried desperately to hide. (Ironically, thie boycott has backfired in several areas, in part because their chicken sandwiches are so darn good.)

And remember Jack Phillips, the Denver baker who refused to make cakes for occasions he didn't agree with? (He won against the gay couple who sued him, by the way, in the Supreme Court.) Don't demand that he make you a cake for something you KNOW he won't do, like this transgender lawyer did, then act 'surprised' when he refuses. (According to Phillips, she was already threatening to sue before she tried to order the transgender celebration cake -- on the same day that the Supreme Court agreed to hear the earlier case. According to her, it wasn't a setup. "It was more of calling someone's bluff," she said.)

    The lawyer then filed a complaint with the state of Colorado even before she filed a lawsuit. However, the state and Phillips' lawyer agreed to drop the complaint. (Colorado's Civil Rights Commission had already gotten lots of nasty publicity, even though they once again said that Phillips was discriminating, by his refusal to make the cake.)

    Phillips, whose business, Masterpiece Cakes, still operates in Denver, had no issues with these people's life decisions -- he just didn't want to make cakes celebrating those decisions. (By the way, he doesn't make Halloween-themed items, either.) 

So...are there other bakeries in the Denver area that would have cheerfully made those celebration cakes? 

     Of course. 

Could the lawyer have picked out one of Jack Phillips' regular offerings, instead of insisting on a custom cake? Again, you bet. The gay couple was offered that option -- and indignantly refused. 

So why not take your patronage to someone who will appreciate you better, instead of insisting that that baker alone, and ONLY that one, must make your cake?

Punish Jack Phillips and his Masterpiece Cakes by taking your business elsewhere! (Feel free to write or e-mail, so he knows why. A snippy phone call works, too.)

Don't just rely on insults for businesses you don't like, or don't agree with. Deal these businesses a body blow by never letting any of your hard-earned money darken their doors again. Ever.

You have the right to do this in our free country. It's patriotic -- and very much American. If others disagree with you, insult and denigrate them for doing so. Trot out the labels. That's also, sadly, the American Way.

(And no sneaking over to Chick-Fil-A because you're craving their fried chicken salad.)

There. Don't you feel better already?