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Houston Gardener Refuses to Work for Homosexual "Partners"
The Houston Chronicle ^ | 10/21/06 | Rick Casey

Posted on 10/21/2006 2:30:15 PM PDT by GOP_Thug_Mom

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To: Jeff Chandler

Well, I think they view it as participating in their "setting up housekeeping," so to speak. They should have the right to freedom of association. And frankly I cannot identify with the "what about all sinners" argument. Okay. What about NAMBLA members? See, no one would think they should be forced to do landscaping for known NAMBLA members even though apparently the group can legally exist. So the "What about all other sinners" argument is really a statement about the person making the argument. They don't find homosexuality repulsive enough to warrant that response. Fine. They don't have to. But give this couple their right to differ.


61 posted on 10/21/2006 4:28:03 PM PDT by The Ghost of FReepers Past (Woe unto them that call evil good, and good evil; that put darkness for light..... Isaiah 5:20)
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To: brivette

They do have the freedom to refuse to do business with anyone they choose, do they not? That's what they chose. Obviously they feel strongly about it, or Paul's words re marriage would not be posted front and center on their website.

I personally believe the gay guys chose them BECAUSE of those words, so they could be 'discriminated against' and make a big deal about it, possibly bring a lawsuit against them for DARING to stand with their beliefs.

My sister quit the floral business rather than take the chance that she would have a gay couple come in wanting wedding flowers. As a Christian.

Why should you be forced to do business with people whose lifestyle is totally against what you believe is right? Where does it end? And WHO gets to make you?

There is still freedom in this country.


62 posted on 10/21/2006 5:04:09 PM PDT by bboop (Stealth Tutor)
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To: tjd1454

Their position about marriage is very evident on their website. That is why this gay couple chose them -- they want money, or fame, or to slander them, or something.

The gays set themselves up to be victims in this, and they would take it to the Supreme Court if they could, I'll bet.

Standing for what you believe is a freedom we have here in America.


63 posted on 10/21/2006 5:08:31 PM PDT by bboop (Stealth Tutor)
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To: AntiGuv
although everybody may get what they want, not everybody wins, because what some of them want is stupid and self-defeating.

The homos want their lawn landscaped. The landscaper doesn't want to landscape a homo's lawn. If the homos have to call a homo landscaper, then they get their lawn landscaped and the landscaper doesn't have to work for homos.

The homos get what they want. The landscaper doesn't have to do anything he doesn't want to. I don't see anything "stupid and self-defeating" about that result.

64 posted on 10/21/2006 5:30:14 PM PDT by IronJack
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To: AntiGuv
it reminds me of the Muslim airport cab drivers who refuse fares that have alcohol in their luggage. That also strikes me as rather stupid and silly.

Maybe so. But that is the wonderful thing about freedom. What strikes you as "stupid and silly" may strike someone else as a demonstration of principle. I would take your example one step further and refuse to get into a cab with a raghead driver.

65 posted on 10/21/2006 5:32:53 PM PDT by IronJack
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To: GOP_Thug_Mom
He said he didn't notice, . . .

Of course, he lied when he said this. But that very obvious fact will be completely passed over in all the righteous huffing and puffing the MSM will put out over yet another attempt to make Christians look bad.

66 posted on 10/21/2006 5:38:35 PM PDT by madprof98
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To: IronJack

The "stupid and self-defeating" part in my view, as I already made clear, is the part where they refuse to take money. It's one thing to boycott by refusing to part with your money; it's quite another to 'boycott' someone by refusing to take someone's money. I realize that it's worth it to them; I simply think their priorities are stupid and self-defeating, for the reason I've made clear.


67 posted on 10/21/2006 6:08:49 PM PDT by AntiGuv (o) ™ (o)
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To: AntiGuv
I suspect your principles are a trifle confused. It is intellectually honest to decline money from someone when you feel the service you're being asked to perform goes to enhance the lives of people you find abominable. You're not trying to change the world or even the perverts. You're simply trying to LIVE the beliefs you profess, to walk the walk. If that costs you money, so be it. The money you DO earn is not tainted by compromise.

I'm not sure how that constitutes "stupid, silly, and self-defeating," but you're entitled to your opinion. To me, it seems principled, valid, and self-affirming.

68 posted on 10/21/2006 6:18:15 PM PDT by IronJack
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To: Jeff Chandler
Heck, I would never design an explicitly pro-sodomite web site. But landscaping? I don't get it.

Maybe the packers wanted lewd or suggestive trimmings.

69 posted on 10/21/2006 6:23:52 PM PDT by Spirochete
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To: IronJack
I suspect your principles are a trifle confused.

You suspect wrong. My principles are not even remotely confused.

I'm not sure how that constitutes "stupid, silly, and self-defeating," but you're entitled to your opinion. To me, it seems principled, valid, and self-affirming.

Well, you're certainly entitled to your opinion as well, so it doesn't seem there's much more to debate about this. I understood both the landscaper's position and your position to begin with.

70 posted on 10/21/2006 6:27:18 PM PDT by AntiGuv (o) ™ (o)
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To: panaxanax

I don't think so, you're not my type.


71 posted on 10/21/2006 6:43:23 PM PDT by ChildOfThe60s (If you can remember the 60s...you weren't really there.)
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To: IronJack

PS. My principles are those of a rational utilitarian atheist, so whatever their merit, or lack thereof, they are anything but "confused"..


72 posted on 10/21/2006 6:49:39 PM PDT by AntiGuv (o) ™ (o)
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To: madprof98
But that very obvious fact will be completely passed over in all the righteous huffing and puffing the MSM will put out over yet another attempt to make Christians look bad.

They would do that anyway.

There is no point worrying about how the MSM will react.

73 posted on 10/21/2006 6:53:22 PM PDT by JCEccles
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To: AntiGuv
My principles are those of a rational utilitarian atheist

Reformed or Orthodox?

so whatever their merit, or lack thereof, they are anything but "confused"..

HAHAHA! An absence of morality begets few such troubling conundrums, eh? All acts must be measured against the Benthamite Calculus, with none of that pesky absolutist baggage.

74 posted on 10/21/2006 7:06:47 PM PDT by IronJack
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To: Jeff Chandler
Landscaping a yard for someone is not participating in their sin, for goodness sake.

A lot of people think that being principled means turning off their brain at the door.

75 posted on 10/21/2006 7:08:08 PM PDT by HitmanLV ("If at first you don't succeed, keep on sucking until you do succeed." - Jerry 'Curly' Howard)
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To: IronJack

Rest assured that I am absolutely absolutist. There is no doubt about that whatsoever.


76 posted on 10/21/2006 7:11:44 PM PDT by AntiGuv (o) ™ (o)
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To: Mr. Brightside
Regardless of your judgment on the matter, if you are going to extend grace and right of conscience to the one, surely you have a little to spare the other. Get yourself a landscaping business and serve whomever you please. But should not these people be free to follow their conscience? Whatever happened to free association? So what if those people need to call a different landscaper.

All the proclaimers of "sin is sin" never seem to be able to extend that to the ones who offend their own sensibilities.

And I am not saying I would do the same in their shoes. I just think that if "sin is sin" and we overlook everything these days, then why is it such a big deal that these people are overly cautious about appearing to support something that is truly immoral. Their motive is good even if it might be misapplied.

77 posted on 10/21/2006 7:13:03 PM PDT by The Ghost of FReepers Past (Woe unto them that call evil good, and good evil; that put darkness for light..... Isaiah 5:20)
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To: therut
"There is a big difference in accepting sinners and accepting those who claim their sin is not a sin."

Ah...but there lies the problem. Gays are not the only ones who expect society to accept them as is.

As others have said, I support their right to refuse service and even explain the reasons why they did so. I just don't find it a worthy excuse and probably wouldn't hire or recommend them. They sound like whackos.

78 posted on 10/21/2006 7:22:41 PM PDT by TNdandelion
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To: panaxanax
As a former Master Gardener for my local extension office, I'm quite familiar with gardening and landscape work. I can't say that I was ever propositioned or assaulted by anyone in the field and never heard of it happening to any of my fellow Master Gardeners. And I assure you that you'd find us with our butts in the air quite often.

As for the rest of your post...I'm pleased to say that I don't come across people of your ilk very often. I thought they had all died out years ago.

79 posted on 10/21/2006 7:30:41 PM PDT by TNdandelion
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To: panaxanax

You know what they say about those that protest too much. Your freaking me out with your obsession about gay sex. Really.


80 posted on 10/21/2006 7:37:16 PM PDT by TNdandelion
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