It saddened me to read the Herald's unnecessary editorial attack against Baronelle Stutzman for her stand as a Christian declining to provide floral services to a gay couple intending to "marry."

When conservatives challenge gays or their lifestyle, this is commonly characterized as intolerance or hate-behavior and roundly condemned by the press and other liberals. Surely the Herald's insensitive bias was likewise hurtful to Baronelle and to others who support her principled stand.

While acknowledging that Mid-Columbia voters opposed Referendum 74 by a two-to-one margin, the Herald seems perplexed that those same local residents might dare to defy a law essentially imposed on them by liberals in the state's west side. Consider that throughout much of the civil rights movement activists have effectively practiced civil disobedience to gain their ends, generally accompanied by effusive praise from the left for their courage and heroism.

Remember the familiar "no shirt, no shoes, no service" signs? If Seattle passes a law that Washington businesses must serve customers going topless just the same as those fully clothed, must we all obey it? Well, if it's the law, I guess we must -- or suffer the public ridicule of the press.

-- SANDY JOHNSON, Kennewick