Michael Mitchell: Archive

What about the religious right to be a bigot? It's a belief like any other. Why should Muslims be allowed to practice Islam freely, but "Islamophobes" not be allowed to practice "fearing" Muslims practicing Islam freely?

Freedom of religion means you can think and speak (free speech) what you believe. It doesn't mean you can practice it without regard for the rule of law. It doesn't mean you can violate someone else's rights to practice their beliefs without legal consequence, by claiming freedom of religion as your defense, as your "right" to violate someone else's rights, as if your religious freedom is above the law that protects it -- and it certainly doesn't mean you can use the law to promote it.