Deep politeness

Proposed outfit for the evangelical baker. Via americanrevolution.org.

I wanted to add, to the discussion of old Brooksy's Deep Politeness column, that I am totally on board with the wedding exception to any legal sanctioning of discrimination against same-sexers. The problem isn't, to begin with, that the customer just has to screw that cake out of those nasty people, it's that she or he has to experience the humiliation of being told, in the middle of the complex negotiations, "Oh, are you one of those people? Afraid I can't do a cake for you. God, you know."

People with that point of view are not going to be good bakers or photographers and you don't, gay or straight, want to walk into their shop at all, but especially, if you happen to be planning a same-sex wedding yourself, to be forced to listen to some asshole telling you you're not qualified for one of their fucking cakes because they're just too morally exquisite for a wretched pervert like yourself. Hence the proposal that they should identify themselves, with a well-placed sign in the window, say, saying "We prefer not to cater to the sodomitical nuptial" or words to that effect. So you won't get trapped into any interactions that will leave you shaking with rage. It's only fair.

David Brooks thinks we ought to take our cue in not discriminating against religious bigots from the "deep politeness" of the broader Jewish community:

In the Jewish community, conservative Jews are generally polite toward Orthodox Jews who wouldn’t use their cutlery. Men are generally polite to Orthodox women who would prefer not to shake their hands. In the larger community, this respectful politeness works best.

Actually I think Reform Jews are pretty courteous in this context on the whole too, and Carlebachers and Reconstructionists, and Marxists, and even a lot of goyim, but that's not what I really wanted to say.

What I wanted to say is that the Orthodox woman takes on some of the responsibility for the politeness by identifying herself with the characteristic "modesty" of her dress, the stockings and the wig. You're not left having your hand rejected out of hand by some woman looking at you as if you were a leper, you know in advance not to extend it.

What Brooks calls "orthodox" Christians (no, I don't think he's entirely clear on the meaning of that one either) in the bakery or photography studio or what have you ought to render the same courtesy to those they are not comfortable serving, perhaps by wearing a wig and thick stockings, so you'd know to stay clear of them, and the mildewed flavor of their bigoted wares.