Press Secretary Sarah Sanders denied service at The Red Hen in Virginia

General
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So if you haven’t heard yet, Sarah Sanders was denied service at a restaurant in Lexington, Virginia. This trends with two popular topics in the U.S.

  1. People being denied services based on personal beliefs:
    - The most prevalent story is the recent decision by the supreme court who ruled in favor of a Colorado Bakery who refused to bake cakes for same-sex weddings because of religious objections.
    https://www.cnn.com/2018/06/04/politics/masterpiece-colorado-gay-marriage-cake-supreme-court/index.html
    - There have also been recent stories of people upset with their police forces, denying cops service: http://www.foxnews.com/food-drink/2017/07/21/mcdonalds-employee-fired-for-refusing-service-to-police-officer-cops-wife-calls-its-disheartening.html and https://www.cnn.com/2018/03/09/us/oakland-police-denied-coffee-shop/index.html
    - And people of color being denied services https://www.usatoday.com/story/money/2018/04/16/black-man-videotapes-starbucks-refusal-let-him-use-restroom/521233002/

  2. Public shaming of Trump officials:
    - Kirstjen Nielsen was heckled at a Mexican Restaurant in D.C. https://www.nytimes.com/video/us/politics/100000005964109/kirstjen-nielsen-heckled-at-mexican-restaurant.html
    - Pam Bondi was heckled at a movie theater in Florida
    http://www.tampabay.com/florida-politics/buzz/2018/06/23/pam-bondi-confronted-by-protesters-outside-screening-of-mr-rogers-movie/

The most glaring thing from each of these stories is that people are spreading hate. I am personally very upset with the current administration, but I do not think heckling officials in a public setting is appropriate or going to accomplish anything. I think that the public voice is very loud right now, and hopefully being heard. I think it is important that we use this voice right now, but no matter what side of the issues you are on, I suggest taking the high road.

My favorite quote on this subject is from Cory Booker, "We’ve got to get to a point in our country where we can talk to each other… some of those tactics that people are advocating for, to me, don’t reflect that spirit.”

What are your opinions? Is the Red Hen in the wrong? How can we make our voices heard? How can we start having meaningful conversations?

Some different news articles on this:

http://www.foxnews.com/opinion/2018/06/24/red-hen-teaches-sarah-huckabee-sanders-that-virginia-is-for-pc-bullies-not-for-lovers.html

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Out of everything that has been going on for the past year or so … this seems like an odd place to take a stand. I feel like anyone should be able to deny service to anyone. Christian cake makers should be able to deny service to gay people, and the Red Hen should be able to refuse service to the spawn of Mike Huckabee… let their reputation of excluding a client base be the downfall of their business… if I knew I was being served because they legally had to but were clinching their teeth hating my guts the whole time… I wouldn’t want to eat there. Would much rather them be open about it.

There is meaningful conversations taking place, but the loudest are from the far left and far right. If you get off of the internet and talk to real people, you will see a majority define themselves closer to moderates.

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I have mixed feelings about this one. I think both parties are wrong, but I also think there’s a bit of poetic justice that hopefully might someday dawn on people like Sarah Sanders who are on the receiving end of these things. I sympathize for Sanders and her family for having to be subject to such rejection and vitriol simply because of their position or their politics. It isn’t at all in the American spirit of tolerance, acceptance, and freedom.

That said, what she experienced is just a tiny, tiny, tiny taste of what some people are going through as a direct result of the Trump administration’s policies if not at least from Trump’s rhetoric. Immigrants, ethnic minorities, LGBTQ, and other historically marginalized groups are feeling that same rejection and vitriol on a level Sanders and Trump will never be able to fathom, but at least now Sanders might be able to sympathize with what it feels like to be hated and dehumanized.

It’s still wrong though, and the value described above doesn’t outweigh the negative impact of treating each other this way. Tolerance and intolerance both beget themselves, and if we want a unified people we have to avoid turning away from each other like this.

What bothers me more, however, is Sanders’ violation of ethics laws by drawing attention to this from an official government account. By doing so she is acting on behalf of the government to effect a private business. This is objectively illegal. While this specific instance might feel minor, allowing this precedent is extremely dangerous.

But of course, it’s very likely that nothing will happen, and that’s incredibly frustrating. For an administration that is supposedly all about upholding our laws, it sure doesn’t seem interested in leading by example. But hey, Trump also pardoned Joe Arpaio, so while depressing, this is hardly surprising.

As for having meaningful conversations, I think it just comes down to tolerance. Red Hen failed here, and in that moment became what they despise.

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If I ever own a business, I would not deny anyone of any difference AS LONG AS they respect other people.

I mean, if you have a right to refuse a service to other people, it have to be a very good reason, such as health hazard or disrespectful to other people. Let’s say, if you refuse service to gay couple, it just give other business people an idea to refuse service to other people for different wrong reason. And it gets bad for everyone. Not everyone are the same.

What about religious people? Should I refuse them? Color of people? Deny them?

Stop this madness!

I don’t know. It can get messy if this keep going on.

I am a liberal but I am not going to deny service to conservative people, but I will kick them out if they disrespect other people. This goes the same for liberal people. Respect is key.

This is so sticky issue. :frowning:

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