Just last night I read a Washington Post article about a woman in
Arizona who was told the child inside her, that she wanted, had died. Her
choices were to continue with the pregnancy, regardless of the child being dead
inside her, have the fetus surgically removed, or take a pill that would cause
the fetus to be fully miscarried. She opted for the last choice, but the Walgreens
she went to was not obliging, specifically the male pharmacist who refused to
service her due to HIS religious beliefs.
The fact that a male pharmacist, who will
never experience pregnancy, could be so heartless to treat a woman whose just
found out that the child she wanted was dead inside her, because his religious
views were more important than taking care of a patient in need shows why these
so-called religious liberty bills will never work (and also shows he may be in
the wrong profession). These growing bills and laws favor the holder of one
particular religious view over the other person involved in the transaction,
who might also have deeply held religious views that differ. You can’t say one
religion is more important than another (or force a person who doesn’t share
those views to follow them) in a country based on freedom of religion, yet
right-wing groups are doing just that.
These groups (and individuals) are showing
what I’ve known all my life – that many people who claim to be religious behave
contrary to any concept of kindness and compassion that one might believe
should be part-and-parcel to religious beliefs. Wouldn’t Jesus (I’m assuming
the male pharmacist is a so-called Christian) tend to this woman, comfort her,
and help her in her moment of need rather than treat her like a criminal and
send her away crying and in even more distress?
I think it’s this inhumanity that these
believers have that their views are correct and everyone else must abide by
them that gets to me the most. That may be freedom for them, but not for anyone
else. It also makes obvious how such inhumane actions taking place from the current
presidential administration has occurred, with many members taking part in bible study that
we tax payers are being forced to pay for.
I grew up with a deeply religious Baptist
mother, who told me I could be anything I wanted, do anything, yet it was made
clear what she really meant was as long as it fit within her religious beliefs.
She believed her views were the only correct views, just like many right-wing
religious people, including those in the White House. What a surprise that they
have no trouble thinking people different from themselves, with different
views, aren’t human, which allowed them to do despicable things that no one
with a heart, brain, and conscience would believe would be okay. Yet to them, the only heartless person is a restaurant owner (and all her staff) who were
suitably revolted by what this administration was doing to immigrants and
asylum seekers that they asked this lying press secretary to leave (by the way,
she and her party received free appetizers and drinks, so don't feel too sorry for her).
I guess we all have very different views.
Sadly not all are being protected these days.