Re: Freedom Forum report on the State of the First Amendment

At 12:55 PM 12/23/97 -0500, Colin Rafferty wrote:
>Freedom of expression is not the same as freedom of oppression.

How is someone 'oppressed' by my choosing not to deal with him for some
reasons, but not for other reasons? Either way, he does not get my services.

I refuse to hire you because you are black -- you are oppressed.
I refuse to hire you because you're an Aquarius and my astrologer told me
not to hire Aquarians -- you are not oppressed.
I refuse to hire you because you're a Republican and I'm a Democrat, and I
don't think we'll work well together -- you are not oppressed.

But in all cases, you are not hired.

Explain the logic of this to me.

(Yes, it is perfectly legal to not hire someone based on star sign,
political affiliation, or having freckles.)

No human being has a right to compel service from another human being. If I
do not wish to engage in trade with you, that's my right. Would you be less
oppressed if I just closed up shop and refused to trade with ANYONE? 

The issue here is not expression, but association.

(Obviously, this does not apply in any area where there is government
involvement, such as civil service, access to public places, receipt of
government benefits, voting rights, public education, and the like.)

Lizard <lizard@mrlizard.com> writes:
> How is someone 'oppressed' by my choosing not to deal with him for some
> reasons, but not for other reasons? Either way, he does not get my services.

The eye of the beholder.

> I refuse to hire you because you are black -- you are oppressed.
> I refuse to hire you because you're an Aquarius and my astrologer told me
> not to hire Aquarians -- you are not oppressed.
> I refuse to hire you because you're a Republican and I'm a Democrat, and I
> don't think we'll work well together -- you are not oppressed.

I refuse to hire Colin@ML because I during the technical interview I asked him
the same questions I ask all other candidates, and he demonstrated his utter
ignorance and stupidity. Hence I discriminate against the clueless.

I refuse to hire Colin@ML because his skin lacks the appropriate pigmentation
(I presume: I know first-hand that very few blacks work for ML), and the
gubmint mandated that I set aside most of my contracts for folks with the
appropriate skin color. Am I discriminating against Colin@ML?

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Dr.Dimitri Vulis KOTM
Brighton Beach Boardwalk BBS, Forest Hills, N.Y.: +1-718-261-2013, 14.4Kbps