A New Law for Indiana and Arkansas

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            There has been much ink spilled over the new “Religious Freedom” act passed now in both Indiana and Arkansas. It is clear from listening to the arguments that it is time for some remedial logic training here in these United States. I am going to point out just two of the major logical fallacies that are being spread there are others. Then we will attempt to exegete the reasons for all of the confusion regarding this law.

            The first fallacy is that of the “straw man”. Opponents of the law bring up the specter of segregated lunch counters and other images from our racist past. They say that restaurants and other places will be able to refuse service based on sexual orientation. This ignores the fact that in this economy no restaurant owner or manager I know would be willing to turn away someone on this basis. They may not like their lifestyle, but their dollars would be welcome. The straw man of segregation and discrimination simply are fear based attempts to sway public opinion but have no basis in fact. This can readily be seen in the states where similar laws are already on the books.

            The second fallacy that is brought up is attacking the man. (Ad Hominem) It seems that some of the people standing around the governor when he signed the legislation have less than stellar records when it comes to gay rights. Then condemn the entire legislation on the basis of their presence alone. Clearly they did not write the law and will not be responsible for its implementation therefore attacks on the law via their persons are invalid.  

            The reasons for the confusion regarding this law are numerous. But they all boil down to fear and fearmongering. Opponents of the law have thus far managed to make people afraid of the law without actually having read the bill. (I have.) Thus they are able to sway people in directions which they would not ordinarily go. As I said earlier there are more logical fallacies operating here than the two I have pointed out. All of them are designed to make people afraid of this law.

            Religious freedom should not make anyone afraid except those who wish to deny this liberty to others. As the descendant of folks who came to these shores in the 1600’s I stand for the religious liberty for which my family sacrificed so much. In coming to these shores my family said no to tyranny. I now say no to the tyranny of fear being foisted on us by irresponsible fearmongering demagogues.

            It is my hope that these laws are kept in place and more like them are put on the books. And let the people judge whether there is an increase in discrimination against any group or individual because of their being in place. After all we have to pass the law in order to know what is in it, (Or we could just read it, it only costs us about 10 minutes of our lives.)

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