A short story
Kim Davis goes into Burger King on her lunch break. She waits in line, approaches the first cashier, and orders a Bacon Double Cheeseburger.
"I'm sorry," says the first cashier. "I am a devout Hindu, and it is against my religious beliefs to do harm to cows."
"But that's ridiculous!" says Kim, "You work in a burger franchise! Your job is to serve burgers!"
"I am sorry," repeats the cashier. "but I have a right not to be made to choose between my faith and my livelihood. I cannot serve you, but there are plenty of other cashiers on shift who can."
Kim moves onto the next cashier and repeats her order.
"I'm sorry," says the second cashier. "I am a devout Muslim, and my religious beliefs forbid the eating of pork."
"But those laws were formed hundreds of years ago!" says Kim. "We understand much more about the importance of rearing food animals hygienically now, so pigs have better diets and are healthier than they were back then."
"I am sorry," repeats the cashier, "But the Qur'an is quite clear, and pork is haram. I cannot serve you, but there are plenty of other cashiers on shift who can."
Kim moves onto the next cashier, and repeats her order.
"I'm sorry," says the third cashier. "I am a devout Jew, and it is against my religious beliefs to mix meat and dairy products in the same meal. It is not kosher."
"But I'm a Christian!" says Kim. "I don't have to obey Jewish dietary laws! Acts 10:9-15 removes that restriction from Christians!"
"I am sorry," repeats the cashier. "But it violates my religious freedom to have that burger made in my name. I cannot serve you, but there are plenty of other cashiers on shift who can."
Kim loses her temper, and calls for the manager. "This is absurd!" she shouts. "I just want a Bacon Double Cheeseburger! Your cashiers - the people that my money goes towards supporting in their jobs! - keep telling me that I can go to the next one, but if they all use that excuse, I can't get my lunch!"
"You could always go to Subway instead," suggests the manager. "That's kind of like a sandwich too, right?"
"I don't want Subway!" insists Kim. "I want my Bacon Double Cheeseburger!"
"But I can't trample my employees' First Amendment Rights!" replies the manager. "What are you, un-American or something?"
"No..." replies Kim, "...just hungry."
D.F.
"I'm sorry," says the first cashier. "I am a devout Hindu, and it is against my religious beliefs to do harm to cows."
"But that's ridiculous!" says Kim, "You work in a burger franchise! Your job is to serve burgers!"
"I am sorry," repeats the cashier. "but I have a right not to be made to choose between my faith and my livelihood. I cannot serve you, but there are plenty of other cashiers on shift who can."
Kim moves onto the next cashier and repeats her order.
"I'm sorry," says the second cashier. "I am a devout Muslim, and my religious beliefs forbid the eating of pork."
"But those laws were formed hundreds of years ago!" says Kim. "We understand much more about the importance of rearing food animals hygienically now, so pigs have better diets and are healthier than they were back then."
"I am sorry," repeats the cashier, "But the Qur'an is quite clear, and pork is haram. I cannot serve you, but there are plenty of other cashiers on shift who can."
Kim moves onto the next cashier, and repeats her order.
"I'm sorry," says the third cashier. "I am a devout Jew, and it is against my religious beliefs to mix meat and dairy products in the same meal. It is not kosher."
"But I'm a Christian!" says Kim. "I don't have to obey Jewish dietary laws! Acts 10:9-15 removes that restriction from Christians!"
"I am sorry," repeats the cashier. "But it violates my religious freedom to have that burger made in my name. I cannot serve you, but there are plenty of other cashiers on shift who can."
Kim loses her temper, and calls for the manager. "This is absurd!" she shouts. "I just want a Bacon Double Cheeseburger! Your cashiers - the people that my money goes towards supporting in their jobs! - keep telling me that I can go to the next one, but if they all use that excuse, I can't get my lunch!"
"You could always go to Subway instead," suggests the manager. "That's kind of like a sandwich too, right?"
"I don't want Subway!" insists Kim. "I want my Bacon Double Cheeseburger!"
"But I can't trample my employees' First Amendment Rights!" replies the manager. "What are you, un-American or something?"
"No..." replies Kim, "...just hungry."
D.F.