This is my first diary and it's mostly that. I wrote a letter than I'm mailing (old school!) to Hobby Lobby Headquarters in OK tomorrow and I just wanted to put it online somewhere that a few people might see it. Kept it short (for me) to improve the chances of being read.
Dear Hobby Lobby Family,
Congratulations on winning your actual Supreme Court case on “personal beliefs” over scientific facts and the rights of others. Way to stick it to the people who depend on you for their livelihood.
But that’s not really what I wrote to say. I wanted to let you know that I won’t be boycotting your store because I never shopped there anyway. My muscular dystrophy prevents me doing much with my hands. (Good thing I knew it was genetic and had myself sterilized so I could get married without getting pregnant and dying. And I got it done before my reproductive issues became subject to another’s religious beliefs. Lucky me.)
Anyway, I buy a lot of handmade items for my own use and as gifts. Some of the crafters I buy from used to buy from you. None of them will anymore. I asked. Just as I will ask everyone I ever buy from, as long as your stores are in business.
It doesn’t seem possible to me that you don’t understand the grave evil you’ve committed here, impinging on the freedoms of others in the name of your religion. It’s not only un-American, it is unchristian. How can you not know that? I was a Christian for a long time and it was hypocritical fools like you, people with gold blinders on, that made me realize that not only did your holy book not make sense, if it gives excuses for people like you to behave this way then it may actually be evil. (Glad you’re not missionaries.)
But I don’t really care about whatever it is you have “faith” in. Whichever fairy tale puts you to sleep at night is your business. What I do care about is the harm you’ve done to our country and everyone in it by getting this absurd decision handed down. How can you not know? Everyone is saying there’s no way anyone will try to use it to deny vaccinations or blood transfusions or organ transplants or any medical care at all, just because their religion holds those views. You’re probably saying it too, to each other, even, practicing for interviews to come. Learning to say it with a straight face. Convincing yourselves.
Because you know you’re wrong. It will happen. If one person can shift the burdens of his religion onto another, who may not even follow it, just to save money that he has and the other doesn’t, he will. After all, you did it, and in doing so, you opened the door for everyone else.
So I hope your profits tank and your business fails, but most of all, I hope you actually look around at this country in which the vast majority of the people (read: your customers) have, compared to you, no money at all, and notice their actual, literal suffering. I also most sincerely hope that you realize the money isn’t worth it. Because it’s not. Not when it harms, maybe kills, people and degrades an entire nation, as you have degraded ours.
Not at all yours,
bonnybedlam*