Put this matter to rest

As another unnecessary battle over religious liberty law lurches to life in Georgia, so does a question of timing. As in precisely what century’s standards and mores does Georgia desire going forward? Shall we abide by the norms of the 19th, 20th or 21st centuries? There should be only one commonsense answer.

The question may seem ludicrous, but it defines what’s at stake as another campaign spools up which is certain to draw negative, damaging attention to our home. Which is tragic, really, considering both Georgia’s fairly recent history and its concerted, contemporary efforts to create a competitive state to live and work for all Georgians. Not to mention that lawmakers had stopped such legislation this year. There’s no sound reason to restart the fight.

The nation’s current grappling over religious liberty pits heartfelt beliefs against the ever-evolving standards of a diverse, secular society. Many believe as sincerely as is possible that issues such as being forced by law to provide marriage licenses for gay couples go well beyond a governmental matter. For many, faith introduces beliefs of righteousness and sin, salvation or eternal damnation. We cannot think of a more-deeply drawn line between opposing attitudes. This, even as Jesus asked in the book of Matthew, “And why do you look at the speck in your brother’s eye, but do not consider the plank in your own eye?”

And, yes, the First Amendment of the U.S. Constitution wisely protects freedom of religion. That civic cornerstone has served this pluralistic nation well.

Then there is the law of the land, which deserves respect too. When the U.S. Supreme Court issued its controversial ruling legalizing gay marriage, Gov. Nathan Deal and Georgia Attorney General Sam Olens showed political courage and wisdom in asserting that this state would follow the high court’s edict. That should have ended the matter here.

It did not, as proponents of religious liberty promise another fight at the Gold Dome next year over legislation that many believe would provide cover for discriminatory acts. Georgia should not go there. No conclusive need has been shown for a new, flawed law.

In recent days, the world has watched the head-shaking sideshow in Kentucky, where Rowan County Clerk Kim Davis was briefly jailed by a federal judge for refusing to issue marriage licenses to same-sex couples, citing her fundamentalist Christian beliefs. Put simply, Davis’ actions violated her duty to serve the law and all of the citizenry. She refused to do her job.

Georgia should not act in such a way that we become the next center of adverse attention.

Losing industry and jobs is a real possibility if Georgia again ensnares itself in infighting over what should be a non-issue. For attitudes are changing. Polling this year by the Pew Research Center shows support for same-sex marriage increasing since 2001 across all measured age groups. That’s especially true among younger adults.

Georgia must decide whether to cling to a departed past or embrace today’s reality. Many of the young people this state’s trying so desperately to attract or retain will be repulsed by attitudes such as that voiced by State Sen. Josh McKoon during an August speech where he railed against leaders of Georgia-based, globally renowned businesses, saying “their executives, many of whom are not from Georgia – have different values than you and I do.” McKoon added that such “liberal, far-left” capitalists “think that their cultural norms … should be applied to our state.”

There’s a barely coded message there. And it’s not a constructive one. McKoon’s sentiments impugning the leaders of some of our largest employers should be an abomination in a state that touts itself as the best place in the U.S. to do business. If we want to be that lodestone for industry, then McKoon should be called to account for his divisive, destructive remarks. He should not be allowed to gain political points at the expense of Georgia’s economy.

If such divisive talk catches fire here, then fewer people indeed will want to be, as McKoon says, “from Georgia.” Good, productive souls will shun this state, writing us off as an unwelcoming backwater – not a state with global economic ambitions.