by Gary Boyd
Esau Jardon moved from Mexico to Canada, in search of greater freedom of religion and freedom of speech. He probably has enjoyed greater freedom of expression in Canada than he would have had in Mexico, until recently when he blew it, and expressed the wrong belief.
Professionally, Mr. Jardon is a jeweler. A same-sex couple hired him to make a pair of custom engagement rings. Jardon treated them politely, and delivered the requested rings for a price with which the couple was pleased. The couple even referred business to Jardon, on account of his superb service and competitive prices.
A friend of the couple’s, presumably referred to Jardon by the couple, pointed out to them that Jardon displays a sign advocating marriage as only between a man and a woman. The couple asked for a refund, which Jardon initially refused, but eventually granted, due to a number of threats he received.
I do not judge Jardon on his capitulation. I lack familiarity with the specific facts and circumstances of the situation. At the same time, his capitulation yields ground moving toward the next major objective. While this objective could be named or identified in a number of ways, I will simply call it the negation of opinion on anything that does not conform to the rhetoric of the anti-Christian cartel.
This fight, regardless of whether the front is same-sex marriage, legalization of marijuana, abortion, or any other prominent issue, is tackling its fourth and final objective. The first objective took a practice widely accepted as immoral, and usually illegal, and ignore those who practiced it. The second objective went further, seeking to legalize the practice. The next objective pushed those opposed to the practice to condone it, through intimidation by the minority. An example would be state and local requirements imposed upon businesses to not refuse service to those whose practices or lifestyles are believed to be abominable by the business owners.
Lastly, all citizens must be made to demonstrate in every way that they recognize the righteousness and justice of practices, which, to them are abhorrent, essentially, not to merely condone, but to actually support, at least in word and deed.
Do those who love liberty possess the stuff necessary to beat back the culture rebels on this last and most important front?