A judge recently ruled that Abercrombie and Fitch wrongly fired a Muslim employee who was wearing a headscarf. It did not matter that the head scarf violated the company's uniform policy or that the clothier considers the dress of employees to be a key part of its marketing strategy. No, all that mattered was that someone felt aggrieved and the court's, as they are wont to do, decided the sadness of an individual employee outweighed the desires of the corporation that paid her salary.
I'm curious to know where this ends. What if an employee wanted to wear a niqab? I mean, this look doesn't exactly scream Abercrombie:
But, then again, who is Abercrombie and Fitch to decide what their employees should wear? Their brand concerns are certainly unimportant in the face of limitless self-expression and religious propriety. I'm sure if an evangelical whose religion required him to proselytize was fired for wearing a Jesus Saves! shirt the outraged mob would be just as outraged. And I'm sure if a Catholic employee was fired for wearing an "abortion kills" button the outraged mob would be just as outraged.
I'm sure.
Given the fact that our courts and our cultural sentinels are such stalwarts for religious freedom—such defenders of the right of an individual to allow his or her religious needs to triumph over the needs of commerce!—I imagine we'll see some judicial reversals in the near future.
For instance, what about the wedding photographers who were recently sanctioned for refusing to take photographs of a gay marriage, citing religious objections? I'm sure the courts will now take a look at their case and realize, oh man, their religious objections are valid now.
I'm sure.
Or what about the bakery that recently closed its doors because it was targeted by the gay rights community for not working a gay wedding citing, again, religious objections. I'm sure those who now support religious freedom in the face of filthy commerce will rally to their side and protest the discrimination complaint filed with the state, right?
I'm sure.
It seems that when it comes to exemptions for religious liberty, some religions are more equal than others in the eyes of the law.