SLD

DC, this same type of argument was made a long time ago with respect to race and the Supreme Court struck it down many times. In Griggs v. Duke Power Co. the Court held that tests given to applicants that were "race neutral" were in fact a subterfuge for race discrimination. They had a disproportionate impact on African Americans because of the way they were used and the company couldn't justify the use of the tests as necessary for job performance. While that case was a job discrimination one, the Courts have basically held since the passage of civil rights laws that practices that on their face are not discriminatory are nonetheless illegal if they have a discriminatory effect. That is what Taco Bell is doing - putting a special burden on people because of their religious belief. Maybe it's not that difficult a burden, but we should never have to compromise our integrity in order to get the exact same service as any other American, anymore than an African American should have to compromise his integrity by going to a KKK meeting. (and no, for the record, I do not believe that the KKK and religious groups are co-equal.)

As I stated above, Burger King changed their policy after a polite letter from American Atheists, and I'd bet Taco Bell would do the same with a little prodding from their general counsel.

R/

SLD

Buddrow_Wilson

In opposition of pandering to religionists, I pretty much do equate organized religion with hate and discrimination.

Rusting Car Bumper

Stop changing the subject with false analogies.

You can't change your skin color. If they give a discount or only provide service to one race over another then that *is* requiring you to be a member of a class.

That is not the case here. They are not requiring you to be a member of a class.

DC

simian

How about this:
get a discount if you bring in white supremesist literature (expand it to any racial spremesist literature, if you would like). It would not require people to take the view, merely bring in the literature.

And, to some degree, skin color can be changed - not to mention the portion of the population that is of mixed race that can pass as one or more races.

And, by the way, I can't bring myself to pretend I am a religious person, so the offer actually being offered does leave me out.

Simian

Rusting Car Bumper

If all you can do is argue from analogy then your argument is weak.

By producing the "I can't fake believing" argument you are saying that Taco Bell is only offering it to members of a class. They are not.

You don't have to pretend. You can take the bulletin and scrawl across it "I don't believe any of this crap but I want my discount" which would send an interesting message to Taco Bell management.

As was also proposed, there are secular and atheistic alternatives.

DC

SLD

DC,

Respectfully, I know you are not a lawyer. But the law is blatantly obvious on this point - whether you like it or not. This is a violation of the law. It matters not that it is religious issue or a race issue. The standard under 42 U.S.C. 2000a is the same regardless of whether the issue is race or religion. Therefore the race cases are very much a guide and indeed are exactly on point. It matters little that they are not actually requiring you to believe in God or subscribe to a particular religion, the effect of the policy is the same. Yes you can "fake" it by getting a bulletin, but the whole purpose of our anti-discrimination law is that you don't have to. I don't believe you would ever find a judge out there who would buy that argument.

Here's the statute in its entirety:

42 U.S.C. 2000a

(a) Equal access

All persons shall be entitled to the full and equal enjoyment of the goods, services, facilities, privileges, advantages, and accommodations of any place of public accommodation, as defined in this section, without discrimination or segregation on the ground of race, color, religion, or national origin.


R/ SLD

hezekiah jones

Originally posted by DigitalChicken
Stop changing the subject with false analogies.

But it's not an analogy at all. Religion and race are both "suspect classes," treated equally by the courts to the same level of scrutiny: strict scrutiny, the toughest test going.

[Edit: Oops, just saw SLD's post. There's the federal statute, right there.]

spurly

You've got to be joking. Taco Bell is not trying to convert anyone or get anyone to go to church. They are just capitalizing on the fact that many people do, by offering a sale to ANYONE who brings in a bulletin, whether they believe it or not.

Kevin

hezekiah jones

Originally posted by spurly
Taco Bell is not trying to convert anyone or get anyone to go to church.

Where else would you get a church bulletin?

Never

I think it would be extremely entertaining (if it were possible) to get a long line of people standing outside the nearest church on a Sunday morning saying "no, we don't want to come in, we just need a bulletin for our Taco Bell discount".