Faith or intolerance?

Some faith-based adoption agencies in Florida argue their efforts to deny adoption rights to gay or lesbian couples is “all about the children,” when it’s clearly about intolerance. The last thing our obstructionist Florida House of Representatives needs is a bill that tolerates discrimination.

We can’t accept the justification that supporters of the bill are simply following their conscience for the children’s sake. The truth is that citizens of any faith cannot in good conscience deny loving parents the right to adopt from any agency they choose. Great religious values do not include claims to higher moral ground that discriminate against specific Florida families.

In addition to the unfounded religious justification for this bill, I don’t think supporters have thought it through in practical terms as they alienate so many voters. Studies show that lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender citizens in our country make up about 3.5 percent of the population. Most of those LGBT folks have two parents, perhaps some brothers and sisters, cousins, aunts, uncles and friends who love and support them. What starts out as a small percentage of our population feeling the sting of intolerance and discrimination is actually felt by more than half of us.

Let us pray the Florida Senate will say, “Judge not lest ye be judged” to House Bill 7111. or Christmas cake wouldn’t be prepared by an agnostic baker?

Yet many find it perfectly acceptable to refuse service to an individual or group of individuals they might not agree with. As a business owner, I teach values and morals to my children through my own actions. My focus is on providing the best service possible, whether my customers are Christian, Muslim, white, black, gray or gay.

My guess is Jesus would approve.

House Republicans are not driven by hate

At a time when so many people are weary of the mean discourse in the political arena, I was disappointed and offended at the tone of Scott Maxwell’s Sunday Sentinel column, “GOP’s practical legislators battle obstructionists.”

Not content with simply disagreeing with House Republicans, Maxwell had to educate us that “… you have the House … which is fueled by hate.” Among the “haters” named were Reps. Eric Eisnaugle, Scott Plakon (my representative), Jason Brodeur and Speaker Steve Crisafulli. I know each of these men and know them to be men of character and not driven by hate.

Maxwell is OK with disagreeing with their perspectives, but it’s wrong to introduce hate as their motivation.

This is an over-the-top example of what is wrong in America today. His column only adds fuel to a fire most Americans would like to see extinguished.

Gov. Scott’s irony

Gov. Rick Scott prides himself on luring out-of-state businesses to the Sunshine State.

But why would any corporate leader move his team to Florida where our governor/CEO refuses to invest in health-care coverage for his own citizen work force, or fund a viable and healthy education system for our children, our future work-force leaders?

The irony is glaring.