Letter: Empathy is the core of religion, not antipathy

Editor,

If I was a photographer, a baker or a florist, it would never occur to me to deny service to another human couple because they were different. If they were Jews, Muslims, Christians, Hindus, Scientologists or Atheists, I’d take my camera equipment to the synagogue, the mosque, the church, the temple, the celebrity center, or the botanical gardens, and take the most exceptional photographs I could. If they were in the Tea Party, I’d knock out some gnarly Obama jokes.

If my customers were of different races, different religions or different backgrounds, my only focus would be creating the greatest cake for one of the best days of their short human lives. If the couple were divorcees, veterans, widowers, transgendered or gay, I’d listen to their visions, hopes and dreams, and provide them with the most exquisite flower arrangements.

If you open a business to the public, I’m having a difficult time understanding why any person would start denying these basic public services. From my parents, I learned about empathy, common sense, having an exceptional work ethic and public service. I have a great respect for the faith of my grandparents, which was rooted in human and individual strength, never judging others.

In all my studies of human religion, the common thread among all of them is simply the golden rule. The Golden Rule or ethic of reciprocity is a maxim, ethical code or morality that essentially states: One should treat others as one would like others to treat oneself. It really is just that simple. This is holy week. I can’t imagine Jesus Christ denying wedding cake, fishes, or wine to anyone — not a single person.

The Republican Party needs to check itself before it wrecks itself. Gay money is just as green as straight money. In fact, gay weddings have probably been one of the largest economic drivers since the Great Recession. There is a lot of money to be made in this market, I’m telling you.

We live in a Republic, not a theocracy. Humans have unalienable rights that cannot be voted or legislated away. Ideas like Islam, Christianity or Scientology do not.

Sincerely,

Brian Fejer,

UNM alumnus