They Took The Baby Jeebus Exemption Out Of The Law

Sometimes when you apply a little pressure, shine a little light, or raise your voice to bigotry, things can change.

Case in point: Rick "The Senator Formerly Known As Asshat" Jones, a Michigan state Republican senator, has agreed to drop the “sincerely held religious belief or moral conviction” provision in that state's anti-bullying bill, so no longer will the "The baby jeebus made me bully" be an excuse, or a right, or reason, to bully.

Jones announced that he would drop his amendment and vote for the House version--which contains no such "religious" provision--after critics said the language could allow gay, Muslim or other minority students to face harassment.

Now, this is all nice and sweet, but, it still makes me wonder, what is wrong with people who think you need to include language in any legislation that allows intolerance and bigotry and bullying, verbal, emotional, and, perhaps, even physical bullying.What was Jones thinking in the first place?

Senate Republicans, like Jones, say they were just protecting free speech and never intended to create a religious exception for bullying. Had he foreseen the controversy, Jones said he would have removed the problematic language. he didn't see that a young person walking up to another young person and saying, "God hates fags" or "The Bible says you're an abomination" are 'problematic.

But, again, I ask, how can you not see it?

Perhaps because you aren't looking at it the right way.

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