Exercising Your Conscience > Religion Gets Personal + Public

Religion versus Equality? . . Which one of these statements is not like the others? My religion forbids me from eating pork. My religion prohibits me from saying the Pledge of Allegiance. My religion requires me to wear special clothing. My religion requires me—as a private business owner—to refuse services to same-sex couples who are planning weddings. 
The fourth statement is the outlier in this series, and it’s wrapped up in a culture war that pits religious freedom against individual rights.
This war is being fought very publicly all over the country but just at a slow and long-delayed simmer here in Mesa to take action even for consideration on the Mesa City Council for proposed action on an Non-Discrimination Ordinance.
While Mesa is the third largest in size in the State of Arizona, this city we all love frequently lags behind the other two larger and more diverse metropolitan areas Phoenix and Tucson.

 

Even long after the advent of the Civil Rights Movement in the 1960's, Arizona became the butt of jokes and boycotts by corporations and companies for being the last state to honor a national holiday Martin Luther King Day.
Arizona Governors and state legislators have faced impeachments and recalls from office for any number of violations, most recently with the passage of SB1070.

And yet on the Heritage Wall outside of City Hall Plaza a certain version of history is proudly put on display like the bronze plaque dated 1953
Civil Rights for All.

And now that the issue of non-discrimination has come up again, we see another plaque with the date 1996

Celebrating Diversity
To finally honor the birthday of one of America's great political and religions leaders for the protection of equal rights under the law.
[Mesa does remember oftentimes in hindsight that injustices were committed, for instance noting in 1953 that swimming pools and housing were segregated]

It might be asked - and perhaps all too easily - will Mesa end up on the wrong side of history when it comes to guaranteeing by force of law current issues dealing with prejudice, discrimination and religion?