In their threat, the FFRF stated that Mary's Gourmet Diner was violating that the Civil Rights Act of 1964 by granting a 15% discount to customer who were seen observing a moment of prayer or silence before eating their delicious meal.
Here was Mary's take on what the discount was for:
There's a lot of craziness going on in regard to the 15% discount. I will not respond to all the posts. I will say that it is not a "policy", it's a gift we give at random to customers who take a moment before their meal. This could be prayer or just a moment to breathe & push the busyness of the world away. Who you talk to or meditate on etc. is your business. I have lived in a 3rd world country, there are people starving. We live in a country with an abundance of beautiful food. I NEVER take that for granted. It warms my heart to see people with an attitude of gratitude. Prayer, meditation or just breathing while being grateful opens the heart chakra. It's good for everyone!!!! Thanks to my local community for your support...you know who I am. As for all the people posting negative comments about me & my restaurant who have never met me or been to the restaurant, thanks for sharing, it's your right to speak out, just as it is mine. Peace, love & happy eating!!!!Whatever her reason was for issuing the "prayer" discount, those words should have been enough to shut down any threats by the FFRF. Of course, they're a liberal hate group, so that's never the end of the story. Instead, they chose to press forward, insisting that the Civil Rights Act of 1964 was being violated.
Of course, that's simply not true. The Civil Rights Act, a product of the vision of President John F. Kennedy (possibly the last decent national political figure to come out of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts.) and his successor, President Lyndon Johnson dealt in the main with ensuring that persons of all race, color, religion, sex, or national origin were treated equally, but the main focus (as it should have been at that time) was with regard to the racial divide that was still present in our country at that time.
While there is a clause that dictates that a public establishment (which Mary's is) must provide a full and equal enjoyment clause within the Act, it again was more focused toward racial equality rather than any other lesser detail. If Mary's had stated you had to say 3 Hail Marys prior to consumption of the customer's meal, that would be discrimination. As by Mary's own words, it was not limited to a Judeo-Christian mindset, or any other specific religion. It didn't even have to be prayer (even if it was listed on the receipt that way, probably for efficiency, and to keep from having to ask the customer what they were doing during their moments of silence.)
The difference between Athiests and persons of Faith is that a person of Faith generally couldn't care less what another person believes, as long as it doesn't personally injure them. (Lunatic, fringe members of major religions attempt to bastardize this point, but that is through their own misinterpretations of the religions they claim to espouse.) Atheists, on the other hand, are always spoiling for a fight. It seems as if their day isn't complete unless they've infringed on someone else's rights. Too often, as unfortunately was the case in this instance, the persons they are bullying (man, I can't wait for someone to file charges against one of these groups under all of the new anti-bullying laws that are spreading throughout the land) give in, because it's simply easier than to deal with those who seek to oppress.
To the member(s) of the FFRF: get a life. If someone's business practice is offending you because of their belief systems, it's a real simple solution: don't support their business, regardless of how good a business they may run. Or better yet, at least in this instance: say a little prayer to yourself, the only true god you really serve.
