It is pretty much old news now that former owners of Sweet Cakes Aaron and Melissa Klein refused to bake a cake for a same-sex couple because they did not want to participate in the wedding. Last month the couple were ordered by Oregon Labor Commissioner Brad Avakian, to pay the same sex couple of which cake they refused to bake, $135,000 in “emotional damages.” Many people in support of gay marriage, will say serve them right, they should have just baked the cake. I say, the case against the Klein’s shows that this country is the biggest hypocrite when it comes to its own constitution.
The first Amendment of the Bill of rights states that “congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech or of the press.” This means that the government has no right to tell the people the ways that they want to exercise their religion. The Klein’s decided to exercise their religion by not baking a cake because they felt to do so will mean to be in direct violation of their religion. Now because they have decided to freely exercise their religion, they now have to pay fines for that same freedom that this same country states in its constitution. Not to mention, they have been “ordered”, according to the Christian post not to speak on their stance for their Christian faith or on the fact that they refuse to take part in same sex marriage. Excuse me, Mr. Commissioner, but does not the first amendment of this country give the Klein’s freedom of speech as well as of the press?
Not only were the Klein’s asked to pay a ridiculous amount in damages, but they were found guilty of discrimination. Well, isn’t that the kettle calling the pot hot? To discriminate, if we were to look at the definition for a minute, means according to dictionary.com, “the treatment or consideration of, or making a distinction in favor of or against, a person or thing based on the group, class, or category to which that person or thing belongs rather than on individual merit. The Klein’s are Christians, they decided that based on their faith not because of the same sex couple’s life choices but on their faith, they will not make a cake. Is that discrimination? Sure, they favored their faith, they favored God. But, discrimination as is stated above can either be in favor or against. The court ruled in favor of the same-sex couple because they were a gay couple and the Klein’s were Christians.
Moreover, the commissioner’s ruling is simply idiotic. It is stupid, absolutely and completely stupid and the fact that the same sex couple took the bakers to court is hypocritical, foolish and shows what is wrong with this political system. When we look at the context of the world; the starving children, the women who are being degraded, what is important is making someone bake a cake for you? Forget the racial uproar of the country, forget ISIS, forget children who do not have a meal at night; what you care about is making someone do something that is against their belief. That is the most selfish thing I have ever heard. It is wrong on so many levels, but hey, I hope the couple enjoy the money they receive. I hope the importance they placed on cake makes them feel that justice has been served.
For the rest of the world that is still waiting for justice to be served, we will keep waiting for our turn, maybe one day it will get to us.
