Letters | 7-27-15

Religious beliefs and discrimination

Bertrand Russell opined that the rights we have can be summarized as simply the right to be left alone. Some people disagree with rights that the courts have confirmed, such as self defense or marrying the person they choose. They then claim that not being allowed to discriminate against someone else is somehow a violation of their right of religious belief.

If a business refuses to do business with a certain class of customer it needs a better reason than that, because we settled that argument with the Civil Rights Act more than 50 years ago. Public accommodation serves the entire public. Of course, the potential customers can boycott the business. There is always another bakery.

If a public employee refuses to perform a legal function of his job for some members of the public then he is not qualified and should not be in that position. Would we pay firefighters to only rescue people whose faith they approve of? (See Civil Rights Act above.)

Does the right to practice one’s religion extend to telling others how to practice theirs or what they can do on property that is not theirs?

Ken Obenski

Kaohe, South Kona

Aloha is alive and well in Kailua-Kona

I thought I’d write and say that Kailua-Kona has got it going on and tourism seems to be alive and well on Alii Drive. It is great to see virtually all the businesses and restaurants packed this side of the “Gold Coast” and it is because of the hospitality displayed by the people in Kailua-Kona.

It was great to see my friends at the Lanihau Shopping Center where a live DJ played a lot of great music in addition to giving out prizes. Such entertainment makes Kailua-Kona that much a bigger draw that one cannot help bu revisit the place.

I just wanted to say thanks for the aloha, which is alive and well in Kailua-Kona.

Dean Nagasako

Honokaa