O Pinions!

MY RIGHT TO _____ IS MORE IMPORTANT THAN YOUR LIFE?

No one is denying you your religion
22 May 2020, 13:40

Trump announces that houses of worship are ‘essential,’ calls on governors to open them up (Fox News)

Another MY RIGHT TO _____ IS MORE IMPORTANT THAN YOUR LIFE.

Oh ... Supreme Court here we come! A dictator not understanding that large groups of people, regardless of type of gathering, is the issue. That the coronavirus doesn't care how religious thou art. That no one ever restricted people's religious beliefs, speech, sharing. Another issue to divide the American people and pander to his base. President Donald Trump threatened to “override” state leaders’ restrictions if they do not do so by the weekend.

I'll be contrary as usual. Closing venues where more than 50 gather is not unconstitutional. Not the 1st, 2nd or any other amendment. No one ever banned churches from sharing their messages or worshiping; the ban was only on gathering. Of course, allowing WalMart to be 'essential' or the forcing the meatpackers to work in unsafe conditions wasn't smart at all and, in my opinion, criminal. I state that no exceptions should be extended to religious groups when it comes to gathering. The problem to me was how uneven this was enforced due to deciding what was 'essential' in the first place. As for opening up? Same rules should apply to everyone and any gathering. Are people wearing masks? Can distance be maintained? Is it safe to suspend all rules? Each region is at a different stage right now.

A comment to Joey Huestis: I think the narrative of 'essential' is bogus at this point. Everyone is essential even if what they do for a living isn't. BUT ... it would have been possible to promote masks, distance, proper working conditions, banning large gatherings (pick a number 10, 50, 100) instead of categorizing people as 'heroes', worthies', 'un-worthies'. What we do and who we are is worthy. Certain types of places may not have been able to comply: theatres, hair-dressers, sports-events, mega-churches. But the local chapel, the lone barber taking care of one person at a time, playing tennis ... these may have been doable.

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