Sue Lani Madsen’s Feb. 18 column is a very flawed piece of logic when she touts the “rightness” of the florist who refused service to a gay customer.

The fruits of that religion-based bias were starkly displayed in the South, and other parts of the country, including Benton County, until just a few decades ago, as white business owners legally could deny service to blacks, Native Americans, Chinese and others for similar “morally superior” reasons. This same logic at various times applied to Jews, Irish, Italians, Catholics, Asians and others in this country. Do we want “whites only” signs back on restaurant doors? Or “Irish need not apply”?

I think the recognition of our common humanity is beyond all of that demagoguery and it certainly has no place today. Just over 100 years ago my struggling great-grandmother, right here in Spokane, was turned away by “Irish need not apply” signs as she sought jobs as a maid to feed, clothe, house herself and her young daughter. Her sin? Though a Protestant, she had an Irish surname through marriage.

Madsen, even though our new president sows divisiveness, most of us passionately know we’re better than that.

Bob Gregson

Spokane

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