San Francisco demonstrates tolerance of ... conformity

There’s a large, granite, bank-looking building down at the end of Columbus Ave here in San Francisco, which has been home to the Scientologists for several years. I’ve always regarded it a curiosity, as I have no trouble politely waving off people with fliers or sales pitches.

Upon this edifice, the San Francisco supervisors continue to demonstrate that ours is a tolerant city, just so long as you’re not different:

The Church of Scientology and other religious groups would be banned from buying a historic San Francisco building in the heart of the city's North Beach neighborhood under a proposed city ordinance. [...]

[Board of Supervisors President Aaron] Peskin said he sponsored the measure after fielding complaints from neighbors and merchants concerned the church would aggressively peddle religious materials and disrupt the neighborhood's easy-going ways.

But the measure is not intended to single out the Church of Scientology, he said.

``This legislation is intended to ensure the existing types of uses that have been in the Colombo Building for 100 years,'' he said.

My understanding of the Constitution is that all of us have a right to freely practice religion, even if, gasp, it’s not the same as everyone else’s. Let’s look at Mr. Peskin’s two arguments here:

Reason 1: He (or the “neighbors”) are “concerned the church would aggressively peddle religious materials and disrupt the neighborhood's easy-going ways”.

“Would”? They’ve been there for years. Why the sudden concern? Sounds a bit like guilty until proven innocent. More to the point, if the problem is aggressive peddling, then pass an ordinance against that.

(“Peddling”, by the way, is remarkably similar to “speech”.)

Reason 2: “This legislation is intended to ensure the existing types of uses that have been in the Colombo Building for 100 years”. Apparently, it is city policy that building use must not change. For the love of John Travolta, don’t put a museum in there! Or a café! Because, you know, they weren’t there before.

Let’s sum it up. The city is concerned about aggressive peddling in or around the Colombo building, which they want to make sure is used in traditional ways just so long as it’s not a church. Rest assured, though, it’s not about the Scientologists!

Your humble scribe is not a religious person by any stretch, though I still am recovering from a minor in Philosophy. I would like to think I represent the San Francisco which is tolerant enough to allow our neighbors to differ.

Imagine if this building were being used as a synagogue or a mosque. Think Mr. Peskin would magically find some tolerance?

Cross-posted at California Conservative

Comments

[jeffn]

"Reason 1: He (or the “neighbors”) are “concerned the church would aggressively peddle religious materials and disrupt the neighborhood's easy-going ways”."

jeez, with a statement like that I'm almost worried that they'll start going after the panhandlers next. Oh yeah, this is SF, never mind.