The Lunch Counter

Eat It : reason.com

In the above link two women are claiming "racial discrimination" because they were refused service at a Florida bar for food.  However, according to the owner of the bar - nobody is served food there because they don't even have a food service license!

If the bar owner is telling the truth - then this is a perfect example of people being way too quick to charge others with prejudice (be it racial, sexual or gender based - the type of prejudice doesn't matter - simply that many of various backgrounds are too quick to claim it).

If however the two ladies are telling the truth then this would be a perfect example of a place of business that needs to be hung out to dry as this type of legitimate prejudice needs to finally be eradicated from our society.

My reason for pointing this case out is that it seems to me, with no further evidence, that the bar owner is the one to default believing simply because it's too easy of a justification to prove.  If the place of business has no food on hand, has no means of preparing food and regular customers can testify to the fact that one never gets food there - a very simple investigation would show either the truth or lie behind that statement.  It would be beyond stupid to claim just a reason for denial of service when all any investigation would have to do is look at the facility.

I fear that society has become insensitive to these type of claims simply because there are too many illegitimate claims like this made.  It's a classic case of the boy who cried wolf.  The same thing happens with false rape claims and sexual harassment.  Those that make quick claims such as this endanger those who have truthfully suffered due to the actions of true racists and others who commit harassment.

Please, please, please - don't make a false claim such as this.  Regardless of whether or not you yourself jumped to the wrong conclusion or if you are doing it to get attention or money out of someone else.  You hurt the true victims of this type of injustice out there by attempting to hijack sympathy from the public for something that didn't happen.  If it keeps up eventually there will be someone who truly has suffered a situation such as this and they, instead of the guilty party, will be the ones condemned for making a "false" claim.

Think before you act - every action has a consequence.  While you may feel that the consequence may not harm you directly you have to look at the bigger picture.  If you create an environment that is not sympathetic to legitimate claims you damage your whole social group that you say the false claim was against and create a future environment where others, perhaps even your own children or family, can not get the support they deserve.

Stop thinking about just yourself and consider others for once.

If it turns out the ladies claims are true - then it's a very simple choice for the public.  Use this commercial enterprise to set an example as to how this type of discrimination will no longer be tolerated anywhere in this country.  People of all backgrounds need to stand up for any group that is harassed - but only once the harassment is proven.  Most times it's pretty easy to see in this type of a claim, what the truth is.  Get behind the truth and do what is right - wherever that path of truth may take you.

~ alesia

Image via Wikipedia