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Would the restaurant accept the Jewish Motzi as public prayer?
What about a Muslim change of thanks to Allah?
If an Atheist simply showed appreciation, would that be good enough?
I think this restaurant owner should be able to do as she pleases-- and as publicity obviously this policy is worth its weight in gold.
However is it fair to non-believers? To those who prefer to keep their prayer private? Is it wise to mix business and religion?
As a business owner, I don't mix religion or politics with business. Everyone's money is green.
1) It doesn't need to be fair to anyone. It's a private business and they can bestow discounts when and where they feel like it. Every hear of "Ladies' Night" at a bar? That's a discount for being female that is clearly unfair to males. Do you hold the same concern for bars that run that special trying to attract business?
2) I've eaten at restaurants with gospel passages on the place mats and 12' tall pictures of Jesus of the wall. No, not a church, not a religious organization, just a plain old restaurant in G-d_fearing_town, USA. And? So what?
3) If the idea of people getting a 15% discount for openly praying before dinner bothers you, don't patronize that establishment. That'll show 'em!! With the number of G-d fearing folks out there who pray before every meal anyway, a restaurant that gives a discount for it would probably be pretty popular, or at least so much so that easily_butt_hurt atheists boycotting out of absurd "fairness" ideas wouldn't much matter to the bottom line.
Well, that's the argument some have. Religious discrimination is federally prohibited. Does this discriminate against those who don't pray publicly or have no religion at all? Are their rights violated in some way?
1) It doesn't need to be fair to anyone. It's a private business and they can bestow discounts when and where they feel like it. Every hear of "Ladies' Night" at a bar? That's a discount for being female that is clearly unfair to males. Do you hold the same concern for bars that run that special trying to attract business?
This ability is limited. Can you do "Whites Only" discounts? Religious practice (or lack there of) is protected the same way race is. Obviously this restaurant's practice in now way rises to the level of a "no blacks" policy, but would the same legal principal apply?
Quote:
Originally Posted by Volobjectitarian
2) I've eaten at restaurants with gospel passages on the place mats and 12' tall pictures of Jesus of the wall. No, not a church, not a religious organization, just a plain old restaurant in G-d_fearing_town, USA. And? So what?
I don't know. So what> We don't have restaurants like that in New England-- except maybe Buca di Beppo which has tongue-in-cheek religious displays.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Volobjectitarian
3) If the idea of people getting a 15% discount for openly praying before dinner bothers you, don't patronize that establishment. That'll show 'em!! With the number of G-d fearing folks out there who pray before every meal anyway, a restaurant that gives a discount for it would probably be pretty popular, or at least so much so that easily_butt_hurt atheists boycotting out of absurd "fairness" ideas wouldn't much matter to the bottom line.
Why are you so angry? I am simply raising questions...
Well, that's the argument some have. Religious discrimination is federally prohibited. Does this discriminate against those who don't pray publicly or have no religion at all? Are their rights violated in some way?
Religious discrimination by public institutions is federally prohibited. A restaurant is not a public institution.
Further, a private individual has a natural freedom of religion and the free exercise thereof, as well as the freedom of assembly and speech. All of those things together say that if a restaurant owner feels like giving a discount to someone based on some religious reason, or for any reason at all really...then they can.
Religious discrimination by public institutions is federally prohibited. A restaurant is not a public institution.
Further, a private individual has a natural freedom of religion and the free exercise thereof, as well as the freedom of assembly and speech. All of those things together say that if a restaurant owner feels like giving a discount to someone based on some religious reason, or for any reason at all really...then they can.
This again?
No. Restaurants can't discriminate. It's not just the federal government. A restaurant is a public accommodation, and therefore subject to Federal antidiscrimination laws. They can't discriminate if they choose to do so.
They can't choose to give a discount to Whites only, for example.
Would the restaurant accept the Jewish Motzi as public prayer?
What about a Muslim change of thanks to Allah?
If an Atheist simply showed appreciation, would that be good enough?
I think this restaurant owner should be able to do as she pleases-- and as publicity obviously this policy is worth its weight in gold.
However is it fair to non-believers? To those who prefer to keep their prayer private? Is it wise to mix business and religion?
As a business owner, I don't mix religion or politics with business. Everyone's money is green.
Thoughts?
Their choice and they do not do it every time, even with those that pray.
No. Restaurants can't discriminate. It's not just the federal government. A restaurant is a public accommodation, and therefore subject to Federal antidiscrimination laws. They can't discriminate if they choose to do so.
They can't choose to give a discount to Whites only, for example.
They're not discriminating. Nobody is being refused service. Nobody is being penalized for membership in a protected group. A specific activity is being rewarded with a discount, which happens at all kinds of restaurants for all kinds of reasons all over the place all the time.
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