# Fired Home Depot cashier - how do Right-leaning people feel?
**URL:** https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fired-home-depot-cashier-how-do-right-leaning-people-feel/515609
**Category:** Great Debates
**Created:** [October 29, 2009, 2:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fired-home-depot-cashier-how-do-right-leaning-people-feel/515609 "2009-10-29T14:56:01Z")
**Posts on this page:** 20
**Page:** 1
### Author:  [@Rumor\_Watkins](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rumor_Watkins)
#### Post date: [October 29, 2009, 2:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fired-home-depot-cashier-how-do-right-leaning-people-feel/515609/1 "2009-10-29T14:56:01Z")
Sorry, “Home Depot associate”
Front page of Yahoo news:
> [@](#):
>
> WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. – A former cashier for The Home Depot who has been wearing a “One nation under God” button on his work apron for more than a year has been fired, he says because of the religious reference. The company claims that expressing such personal beliefs is simply not allowed.
>
> “I’ve worn it for well over a year and I support my country and God,” Trevor Keezor said Tuesday. “I was just doing what I think every American should do, just love my country.”
>
> The American flag button Keezer wore in the Florida store since March 2008 says “One nation under God, indivisible.”…
[http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/us\_god\_button\_home\_depot](http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/us_god_button_home_depot)
So, how do the righties handle it? It’s like the perfect scenario where their two cherished beliefs - the existence of a christian god and the mandate that this entire nation get on board with that concept as it is fundamental to ordered society, and the belief that government should get the eff out of people’s lives and not tell them what to do and think, and let private actors do as they please – are diametrically opposed to each other.
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### Author:  [@DanBlather](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DanBlather)
#### Post date: [October 29, 2009, 3:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fired-home-depot-cashier-how-do-right-leaning-people-feel/515609/2 "2009-10-29T15:15:05Z")
Like usual, they will hold both positions simultaneously.
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### Author:  [@lalenin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lalenin)
#### Post date: [October 29, 2009, 3:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fired-home-depot-cashier-how-do-right-leaning-people-feel/515609/3 "2009-10-29T15:22:30Z")
> [@Rumor\_Watkins](#):
>
> Sorry, “Home Depot associate”
>
> Front page of Yahoo news:
>
> [http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/us\_god\_button\_home\_depot](http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/us_god_button_home_depot)
> So, how do the righties handle it? It’s like the perfect scenario where their two cherished beliefs - the existence of a christian god and the mandate that this entire nation get on board with that concept as it is fundamental to ordered society, and the belief that government should get the eff out of people’s lives and not tell them what to do and think, and let private actors do as they please – are diametrically opposed to each other.
Well, how do you feel about it? If this is just a poll perhaps it belongs in another forum.
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### Author:  [@smiling\_bandit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/smiling_bandit)
#### Post date: [October 29, 2009, 3:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fired-home-depot-cashier-how-do-right-leaning-people-feel/515609/4 "2009-10-29T15:24:46Z")
> [@Rumor\_Watkins](#):
>
> So, how do the righties handle it? It’s like the perfect scenario where their two cherished beliefs are diametrically opposed to each other.
No really. The two are not absolutes in either case. Home Depot has a perfect right to fire the worker.
That does not mean its actions were wise or useful at all; that’s as may be. There has been a growing intolerance of anyone displaying religious sentiment in public (except during campaign speeches), and I say that’s rather stupid. I don’t agree with Islam, but I wouldn’t fire someone who wore a button saying “There is not God but God.” Now would I fire a Hindu for having a small desktop shrine or a Jew for… uh… well… doing something Jewish (sorry, drawing total blank right now).
I believe in _tolerance_. I do not necessarily believe in _approval_, and I’m free to seperate the two. However, if Home Depot decided it didn’t want to support the worker’s message, that’s their right. And more likely it just wanted to avoid being “offensive” to whomever happened to walk in the door, or wanted to maintain a veyr high level of professionalism (i.e., eviscerate any trace of personality 😉 ).
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### Author:  [@Simplicio](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Simplicio)
#### Post date: [October 29, 2009, 3:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fired-home-depot-cashier-how-do-right-leaning-people-feel/515609/5 "2009-10-29T15:32:13Z")
> [@smiling\_bandit](#):
>
> NThere has been a growing intolerance of anyone displaying religious sentiment in public (except during campaign speeches), and I say that’s rather stupid..
Eh, its not really clear that Home Depot had any particular problem with the content of the guys pin so much as they didn’t want him wearing any not officially approved pin. For all we know, the same thing would’ve happened if he’d worn a “hooray for cookies” button. Just from the article, it sounded like his boss was in a pissy mood and decided to give him crap about breaking a minor regulation, and the guy told him to take a hike, leading to his firing.
Note the Home Depot was in Okeechobee. Not exactly a hot-bed of atheism.
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### Author:  [@Sateryn76](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sateryn76)
#### Post date: [October 29, 2009, 3:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fired-home-depot-cashier-how-do-right-leaning-people-feel/515609/6 "2009-10-29T15:34:56Z")
Don’t forget that not all “righties” are with Jesus. I am a “rightie” economically, but have no use for “the Lord”.
I see it this way…assuming the business is in an “at-will” state, they can legally do whatever they want in terms of firing the guy, assuming no civil rights discrimination.
Personally, I prefer it when people wear buttons like this. That makes it easy to figure who the smart ones are 🙂
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### Author:  [@JXJohns](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JXJohns)
#### Post date: [October 29, 2009, 3:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fired-home-depot-cashier-how-do-right-leaning-people-feel/515609/7 "2009-10-29T15:35:12Z")
Self described Righty here chiming in here. The First Amendment applies to to .gov not Home Depot. Their business, their rules. Most RW leaning boards that I frequent agree with me, except for the occasional wing nut crying out for a boycott of the Depot.
Sorry if you were looking for more drama.
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### Author:  [@Rumor\_Watkins](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rumor_Watkins)
#### Post date: [October 29, 2009, 3:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fired-home-depot-cashier-how-do-right-leaning-people-feel/515609/8 "2009-10-29T15:38:46Z")
> [@JXJohns](#):
>
> Self described Righty here chiming in here. The First Amendment applies to to .gov not Home Depot. Their business, their rules. Most RW leaning boards that I frequent agree with me, except for the occasional wing nut crying out for a boycott of the Depot.
>
> Sorry if you were looking for more drama.
not looking for drama. just curious to know which one of the republican party’s tenets gets thrown out the window first.
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### Author:  [@Airman\_Doors\_USAF](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Airman_Doors_USAF)
#### Post date: [October 29, 2009, 3:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fired-home-depot-cashier-how-do-right-leaning-people-feel/515609/9 "2009-10-29T15:39:19Z")
> [@JXJohns](#):
>
> Self described Righty here chiming in here. The First Amendment applies to to .gov not Home Depot. Their business, their rules. Most RW leaning boards that I frequent agree with me, except for the occasional wing nut crying out for a boycott of the Depot.
>
> Sorry if you were looking for more drama.
This is exactly what I came in here to say.
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### Author:  [@Oakminster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Oakminster)
#### Post date: [October 29, 2009, 3:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fired-home-depot-cashier-how-do-right-leaning-people-feel/515609/10 "2009-10-29T15:44:25Z")
Home Depot has a rule that says something like “Only buttons issued by the company may be worn as part of the company uniform”. Employee breaks rule. Home Depot says hey, stop doing that. Employee refuses. Home Depot fires him. Not seeing any problem here.
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### Author:  [@Bricker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bricker)
#### Post date: [October 29, 2009, 3:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fired-home-depot-cashier-how-do-right-leaning-people-feel/515609/11 "2009-10-29T15:45:09Z")
> [@Rumor\_Watkins](#):
>
> So, how do the righties handle it? It’s like the perfect scenario where their two cherished beliefs - the existence of a christian god and the mandate that this entire nation get on board with that concept as it is fundamental to ordered society, and the belief that government should get the eff out of people’s lives and not tell them what to do and think, and let private actors do as they please – are diametrically opposed to each other.
I doubt you’ll find any huge contingent of conservatives calling for government action to cure this problem.
In my view, the Home Depot has every right to dictate what uniform elements their employees wear, and I don’t have the slightest concern with this firing.
But let’s pretend I did.
What would be my “righty” reaction?
Calling for a boycott of Home Depot would not intrude the least on the second “cherished belief” the OP mentions. A boycott is, after all, private actors doing as they please. If I felt the firing was unjustified, and the remedy for it was cutting up my Home Depot credit card and shopping at Lowes from now on, I’d be perfectly consistent with that second cherished belief.
So I’d be curious to ask the OP – or, indeed, anyone else – is anyone aware of any “righty” source that suggests the firing should have been illegal, that the fired employee has or should have some sort of legal remedy at hand?
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### Author:  [@furt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/furt)
#### Post date: [October 29, 2009, 3:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fired-home-depot-cashier-how-do-right-leaning-people-feel/515609/12 "2009-10-29T15:46:26Z")
> [@Rumor\_Watkins](#):
>
> not looking for drama. just curious to know which one of the republican party’s tenets gets thrown out the window first.
In other words, you weren’t looking for a serious discussion, but a pit thread.
Consider your ignorance fought.
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### Author:  [@Bricker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bricker)
#### Post date: [October 29, 2009, 3:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fired-home-depot-cashier-how-do-right-leaning-people-feel/515609/13 "2009-10-29T15:47:29Z")
> [@DanBlather](#):
>
> Like usual, they will hold both positions simultaneously.
Who is doing that?
> [@Rumor\_Watkins](#):
>
> not looking for drama. just curious to know which one of the republican party’s tenets gets thrown out the window first.
Why should either of the identified ideals be discarded?
Are either of you familiar with a _strawman argument_?
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### Author:  [@mswas](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mswas)
#### Post date: [October 29, 2009, 3:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fired-home-depot-cashier-how-do-right-leaning-people-feel/515609/14 "2009-10-29T15:49:03Z")
What an asinine move. They could’ve just asked him to take it off.
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### Author:  [@Simplicio](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Simplicio)
#### Post date: [October 29, 2009, 3:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fired-home-depot-cashier-how-do-right-leaning-people-feel/515609/15 "2009-10-29T15:49:36Z")
> [@mswas](#):
>
> What an asinine move. They could’ve just asked him to take it off.
And you could’ve just RTFA. They did indeed ask him to take it off, and fired him when he refused.
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### Author:  [@mswas](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mswas)
#### Post date: [October 29, 2009, 3:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fired-home-depot-cashier-how-do-right-leaning-people-feel/515609/16 "2009-10-29T15:51:25Z")
> [@Simplicio](#):
>
> And you could’ve just RTFA. They did indeed ask him to take it off, and fired him when he refused.
Yes, I suppose I could do that too.
Regardless it’s a dumb move, Home Depot doesn’t need the constituency that builds stuff with their hands hating them.
But hey at least the liberals who hire Mexicans to do the work for them will approve. 😉
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### Author:  [@Rumor\_Watkins](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rumor_Watkins)
#### Post date: [October 29, 2009, 3:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fired-home-depot-cashier-how-do-right-leaning-people-feel/515609/17 "2009-10-29T15:53:50Z")
> [@furt](#):
>
> In other words, you weren’t looking for a serious discussion, but a pit thread.
>
> Consider your ignorance fought.
what if the person is fired for being a certain color or gender? to many, religious affiliation is (just as) immutable. so it’s not entirely out of the realm of possibilities that people would take offense to being told that they couldn’t express an immutable componnent of their personality for 8/24ths of a day. like the employee apparently did.
it’s not a pit thread - it’s a valid question as to whether people on the political right have more regard for their religiosity or the government’s staying out of this issue. there are many times commentators on the right bring up the notion of “christian values” as guiding lights for the political direction of this country - it’s not unreasonable that some of these commentators would therefore take offense when a private actor is telling another party to rid themselves of their religious iconography.
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### Author:  [@JThunder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JThunder)
#### Post date: [October 29, 2009, 4:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fired-home-depot-cashier-how-do-right-leaning-people-feel/515609/18 "2009-10-29T16:07:07Z")
> [@Rumor\_Watkins](#):
>
> not looking for drama. just curious to know which one of the republican party’s tenets gets thrown out the window first.
I don’t want to be snarky, but do you realize how that phrasing comes across? It sure sounds like an appeal for some drama.
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### Author:  [@Simplicio](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Simplicio)
#### Post date: [October 29, 2009, 4:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fired-home-depot-cashier-how-do-right-leaning-people-feel/515609/19 "2009-10-29T16:08:07Z")
> [@mswas](#):
>
> Regardless it’s a dumb move, Home Depot doesn’t need the constituency that builds stuff with their hands hating them.
Probably, though again, the Home Depot policy seems to be that they don’t want any non-approved buttons, so it’s not like they were gunning for a religious controversy. Presumably the point of the blanket ban was to avoid having managers have to figure out whose buttons might piss people off or were some obscure reference to something offensive
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### Author:  [@mswas](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mswas)
#### Post date: [October 29, 2009, 4:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fired-home-depot-cashier-how-do-right-leaning-people-feel/515609/20 "2009-10-29T16:32:07Z")
Well the guy ultimately was a self-important twit. The idea that having some piece of plastic trash pinned to your clothes supports God and Country in any way is childish facile nonsense.
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