Doyle, no one, at least as far as I know, is disputing the man's right to express his opinion. However, when a man decides to make his opinion public, then he should expect to have it challenged by those who disagree with him.

The motel-owner now finds himself criticized by those who are offended by his use of what some consider to be a sacred symbol, because he freely chose to take his private opinions out into the public forum. It is not unlike a young person who covers himself with tatoos and piercings and other forms of self-mutilation to "express himself," and then has trouble finding a good job because employers don't feel that that is the image they want to project to their customers. The kid has a right to express himself in any legal way he wants, but he has to accept the consequences of his expression.

If we want to wave our private opinions in the public's face, we should be prepared to defend those opinions.

Sorry, Doyle, I didn't mean to sound so much like a finger-wagging lecturer.