>>>I read something about Indiana and religion in a headline in the NYT and skipped over it.
>>>What happens in Indiana generally means very little to me and people's opinions about religion in Indiana mean even less.
>>>
>>>I realize that's a flip reply but if people on either side of these non-issues would just close their ears, most of them would go away after a few hours.
>>>As you say, people do criminal things over this nonsense while serious issues go unattended.
>>
>>Sorry, Bill, but it's not okay to ignore this stuff. Here's the analogy (and I know I'm bringing Godwin's Law into play). It's November, 1938 and you saw something about attacks on Jewish shops in Germany in the NYT, but what happens in Germany generally means very little to you and people's opinions about religion in Germany mean even less.
>>
>>The so-called "Religious Freedom Restoration Act" in Indiana was a direct attack on the rights of gay Indianans and other gay people who visit Indiana. Allowing it to stand would have given license to bigotry to spread farther. As Americans and as human beings, we have a responsibility to stand up and call out bigotry where we see it.
>>
>>Tamar
>
>Sorry, Tamar, but some things need to be put in perspective.
>Someone in Indiana who can afford a pizza, and is refused service for whatever reason, will probably never make it to my list of concerns.
>I am concerned, however, about the millions of people in this country who go to bed at night hungry because they can't afford a pizza.
>There are lots of them right here in Hamilton, Newark, Trenton and Camden.
>When those issues are taken care of maybe I'll start looking westward to Pa. but Indiana???
>Why not Venezuela?

Yes, being unable to buy a pizza where you want isn't a big deal, except for the attack on a person's dignity. However, in 29 states in the US (including some, like PA, that now have gay marriage), you can be fired for being gay. And it happens. That is an important issue.

Tamar