In All Fairness

Here is the story of a wedding (sort of).  One wonders why this particular chapel on the beach was chosen for the union.  Maybe it was the beautiful sunset.  Maybe it was the sandy beach.  Maybe it was the waves.  Or… maybe it was the fact that a Christian ministry owned the seaside chapel.  Maybe a lesbian couple choosing a Christian ministry owned facility would make the headlines. And, what do you know, it did!  Now, the Christian ministry has been found in violation of the New Jersey laws against discrimination for refusing to allow a lesbian civil union at their beachfront chapel.

This case illustrates again the distinction being made in our culture between “fairness” and “justice.”  The two concepts are radically different.  In this instance, justice might say that those who own property have the rights to use or improve it according to their desires.  They own it; they are free to use it.  Fairness, on the other hand, says, “No, no, no… if one person gets to enjoy it, then everyone gets to enjoy it equally.” 

This latter concept—fairness—is completely implausible.  No one can abide by it.  So, for example, no one in the name of fairness says that a mother must be allowed to marry her son (or daughter) in the seaside chapel—even if she wants to or even if the two are consenting adults who love each other.  Likewise, no one in the name of fairness is arguing that I should be allowed to marry three wives at the seaside chapel.  But, why not?  If fairness is the rule, and if fairness means everyone must be treated equally, and if fairness means that each person should equally get that which he lusts after, then why (or how) can we exclude anyone from anything without being unfair?