# 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:** 2
### Author:  [@Sam\_Stone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sam_Stone)
#### Post date: [October 29, 2009, 4:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fired-home-depot-cashier-how-do-right-leaning-people-feel/515609/21 "2009-10-29T16:51:56Z")
I think you’re going to get a completely consistent response from most ‘righties’: Home Depot has a right to fire the guy. Others have the right to organize a boycott or shop elsewhere if they find the firing offensive.
I’m completely confused by what principles you thought would come into conflict here.
Let me ask YOU a question: How would you feel if the person was fired because he refused to remove a ribbon pin in support of gay rights? How about if a Muslim woman refused to remove her veil? The ‘righty’ answer is still consistent: Home depot can fire them if it wishes, and we are free to not shop there, or to organize a boycott if we feel strongly enough about it. How about you?
And if you really wanted to have a reasonable debate and you weren’t just trying to bait people, you might have tried penning a more even-handed and factually correct OP.
> [@](#):
>
> 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.
This is flat-out wrong. First of all, being religious is not a ‘righty’ thing. Religion spans all political beliefs, as does atheism. Check out the religious status of the current occupant of the White House for confirmation. Second, ‘righties’ do not require any sort of religious mandate. I have not heard a single ‘righty’ call for Christianity to be the state religion, or for other religions to be persecuted. This includes the religious right. What they are sensitive to is what they perceive as being a lopsided attack on their faith under the guise of separation of church and state. For example, someone’s child being barred from giving a valedictorian speech because she wants to thank Jesus. That feels to them more like an attack on their religion than a protection of others against a state-supported church.
But ‘righties’ understand the difference between government and private industry. You might have gotten a more interesting result if you had asked how righties would feel if a citizen was not allowed into a government hearing because she was wearing an overtly Christian symbol, or if a student was told to remove a crucifix pendant while in school because it was a display of religion in a government setting.
---
### Author:  [@cwthree](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cwthree)
#### Post date: [October 29, 2009, 4:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fired-home-depot-cashier-how-do-right-leaning-people-feel/515609/22 "2009-10-29T16:59:39Z")
> [@Rumor\_Watkins](#):
>
> 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.
“The many” are wrong. In any case, the employee wasn’t told that he couldn’t express or indulge his religious affiliation. He was told not to wear a pin as part of his work uniform. Unless his branch of Christianity requires the conspicuous display of this item, this argument doesn’t hold water.
---
### Author:  [@aruvqan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aruvqan)
#### Post date: [October 29, 2009, 5:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fired-home-depot-cashier-how-do-right-leaning-people-feel/515609/23 "2009-10-29T17:00:48Z")
> [@Oakminster](#):
>
> 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.
+1
If they want to wear it UNDER the apron where it is not visible, not a problem.
---
### Author:  [@furt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/furt)
#### Post date: [October 29, 2009, 5:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fired-home-depot-cashier-how-do-right-leaning-people-feel/515609/24 "2009-10-29T17:30:58Z")
> [@Rumor\_Watkins](#):
>
> 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.
As several people have pointed out, the way your posts are phrased, you do not sound as if you are not sincerely asking a question about what other people think, but looking for a “gotcha” against "the righties.
---
### Author:  [@Bryan\_Ekers](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bryan_Ekers)
#### Post date: [October 29, 2009, 5:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fired-home-depot-cashier-how-do-right-leaning-people-feel/515609/25 "2009-10-29T17:42:52Z")
If he’s wearing the button in question in the news photo, I gotta say, that’s one big blue button. It’ll certainly clash with the standard orange Home Depot smock, so not only does he loves his country, he wants to be damn sure everybody _notices_ he loves his country.
I’d fire ‘im just for bein’ a jerk!
---
### Author:  [@Thudlow\_Boink](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Thudlow_Boink)
#### Post date: [October 29, 2009, 5:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fired-home-depot-cashier-how-do-right-leaning-people-feel/515609/26 "2009-10-29T17:49:31Z")
> [@Oakminster](#):
>
> 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.
That’s pretty much it. If he _has_ to wear flair, he should work at Chotchke’s.
But I can’t help but wonder, what’s the difference between this case and [the city bus driver who was suspended for wearing a pink tie](http://www.sj-r.com/local/x23521106/Bus-driver-never-expected-attention-over-pink-tie).
---
### Author:  [@MovieMogul](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MovieMogul)
#### Post date: [October 29, 2009, 5:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fired-home-depot-cashier-how-do-right-leaning-people-feel/515609/27 "2009-10-29T17:59:44Z")
> [@smiling\_bandit](#):
>
> 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).
Performing a bris.
---
### Author:  [@Bricker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bricker)
#### Post date: [October 29, 2009, 6:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fired-home-depot-cashier-how-do-right-leaning-people-feel/515609/28 "2009-10-29T18:06:13Z")
> [@Rumor\_Watkins](#):
>
> 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.
So, does it disappoint you to discover there’s no such dichotomy here?
---
### Author:  [@Stuffy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Stuffy)
#### Post date: [October 29, 2009, 6:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fired-home-depot-cashier-how-do-right-leaning-people-feel/515609/29 "2009-10-29T18:18:09Z")
> [@Thudlow\_Boink](#):
>
> That’s pretty much it. If he _has_ to wear flair, he should work at Chotchke’s.
>
> But I can’t help but wonder, what’s the difference between this case and [the city bus driver who was suspended for wearing a pink tie](http://www.sj-r.com/local/x23521106/Bus-driver-never-expected-attention-over-pink-tie).
The guy worked for a bus company, so it’s probably a quasi-government agency.
---
### Author:  [@BlinkingDuck](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BlinkingDuck)
#### Post date: [October 29, 2009, 6:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fired-home-depot-cashier-how-do-right-leaning-people-feel/515609/30 "2009-10-29T18:24:52Z")
Oh C’mon…this is easy!
They will support the company’s right to fire the worker…but will boycott the store.
Edit - I see I was way late.
---
### Author:  [@StusBlues](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/StusBlues)
#### Post date: [October 29, 2009, 6:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fired-home-depot-cashier-how-do-right-leaning-people-feel/515609/31 "2009-10-29T18:29:27Z")
> [@BlinkingDuck](#):
>
> Oh C’mon…this is easy!
>
> They will support the company’s right to fire the worker…but will boycott the store.
>
> Edit - I see I was way late.
Late, but probably correct.
---
### Author:  [@JXJohns](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JXJohns)
#### Post date: [October 29, 2009, 6:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fired-home-depot-cashier-how-do-right-leaning-people-feel/515609/32 "2009-10-29T18:32:30Z")
> [@stuthehistoryguy](#):
>
> Late, but probably correct.
Sort of like the “lefties” boycotting Glen Beck’s advertisers for his egregious use of the first amendment?
---
### Author:  [@CurtC](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CurtC)
#### Post date: [October 29, 2009, 6:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fired-home-depot-cashier-how-do-right-leaning-people-feel/515609/33 "2009-10-29T18:51:02Z")
> [@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 see why a right-winger would have any conflict. They could be pissed as all hell that Home Depot fired the guy, while never questioning the idea that Home Depot has the legal right to fire whomever they want.
It’s not a Republican tenet that anything someone may do that’s objectionable should be illegal. They make think that in the areas of sexuality, but in employment and economics, it’s the Democrats who see it that way.
---
### Author:  [@panache45](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/panache45)
#### Post date: [October 29, 2009, 7:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fired-home-depot-cashier-how-do-right-leaning-people-feel/515609/34 "2009-10-29T19:04:09Z")
> [@Rumor\_Watkins](#):
>
> . . . the belief that government should get the eff out of people’s lives and not tell them what to do and think . . .
I don’t know where you live, but . . . is Home Depot your government?
---
### Author:  [@John\_Mace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_Mace)
#### Post date: [October 29, 2009, 7:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fired-home-depot-cashier-how-do-right-leaning-people-feel/515609/35 "2009-10-29T19:10:28Z")
There’s a third angle here that hasn’t been explored, although I’m not implying it would create any new “drama”. I first thought of “why does WalMart hate America?” when I read this, since the phrase in question is from the Pledge.
---
### Author:  [@JXJohns](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JXJohns)
#### Post date: [October 29, 2009, 7:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fired-home-depot-cashier-how-do-right-leaning-people-feel/515609/36 "2009-10-29T19:19:52Z")
> [@John\_Mace](#):
>
> There’s a third angle here that hasn’t been explored, although I’m not implying it would create any new “drama”. I first thought of “why does WalMart hate America?” when I read this, since the phrase in question is from the Pledge.
Good question. If the button read “…indivisible” or “…and to the Republic” or “…to the flag” would there be the smug assumption that the “rightys” would get uppity as well?
---
### Author:  [@Wheelz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wheelz)
#### Post date: [October 29, 2009, 7:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fired-home-depot-cashier-how-do-right-leaning-people-feel/515609/37 "2009-10-29T19:22:59Z")
> [@mswas](#):
>
> Regardless it’s a dumb move, Home Depot doesn’t need the constituency that builds stuff with their hands hating them.
Huh? Are you saying that liberals and/or atheists don’t build stuff with their hands? On what do you base this assumption?
---
### Author:  [@Tom\_Tildrum](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tom_Tildrum)
#### Post date: [October 29, 2009, 7:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fired-home-depot-cashier-how-do-right-leaning-people-feel/515609/38 "2009-10-29T19:29:31Z")
I’m curious about the OP’s own views of the incident. Does **Rumor\_Watkins** support unlimited corporate power or unchecked religious fanaticism?
:dubious:😛
---
### Author:  [@Chronos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chronos)
#### Post date: [October 29, 2009, 8:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fired-home-depot-cashier-how-do-right-leaning-people-feel/515609/39 "2009-10-29T20:24:10Z")
C’mon, Bricker, this is just too easy:
> [@](#):
>
> Who is doing that? [holding both positions simultaneously]
Yourself, for one, in the very same post:
> [@](#):
>
> Why should either of the identified ideals be discarded?
Go ahead and argue that the two principles are not in conflict (and frankly, I agree with you on that one), but then don’t also try to argue that nobody’s arguing that.
---
### Author:  [@Starving\_Artist](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Starving_Artist)
#### Post date: [October 29, 2009, 8:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fired-home-depot-cashier-how-do-right-leaning-people-feel/515609/40 "2009-10-29T20:27:09Z")
Like other conservatives here have said, Home Depot was perfectly entitled to fire the guy. He had decided to make an issue of his patriotism and Christianity and was trying to push their buttons. Home Depot had allowed him to wear his non-standard issue flag pin for quite a while. Then he started bringing his bible to work and finally went too far.
But having said that, like **Smiling Bandit** , I believe in tolerance when it comes to religious matters. I favor unfettered display of Christmas scenes and whatever religious symbolism people of various other religions want to display. I think people should be free to believe however they want, including atheism, without sanction, scorn or intimidation from people with other beliefs.
I also think it’s ridiculous that things in this country have degenerated to the point where a store like Home Depot feels it has to suppress the mere mention of God for fear of “offending” someone. People need to be more tolerant of other people’s freedoms and less eager to take offense when someone’s beliefs are different than theirs. Somehow it has gotten to be the case (well, not actually ‘somehow,’ but that’s a subject for another thread) that many people have come to feel we have a virtual Constitutional right not to be offended. Again, it’s ridiculous. People think differently than you do. Get over it.
[Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fired-home-depot-cashier-how-do-right-leaning-people-feel/515609.md?page=1)
[Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fired-home-depot-cashier-how-do-right-leaning-people-feel/515609.md?page=3)