Paniza 1

Dean Paniza
John Kubler
English 115
23 September 2015
The Impacts: Resistance, Violence, and Discrimination
In John Lennons song, Imagine, he says: imagine there is no heaven, no hell below
us.no countriesand no religion too.no possessionsimagine all the people, sharing all the
world He is trying to portray the idea that without religious and cultural differences the world
would be in solidarity. However, it is merely impossible to have the world in perfect harmony
because it is part of humans nature to kindle conflicts and have varying and opposing opinions,
values, and ideas. In the novel, Persepolis, written by Marjane Satrapi, the readers see how
Marjis, the protagonist of the novel, life is molded by the clashing religion and culture pressed
by other countries. With inclusion to Persepolis, cases like The Barronelle Stutzman Floral
Shop Lawsuit, The Elane Photography Lawsuit Court, and the Masterpiece Cake shop Lawsuit
present resistance, violence, and discrimination, which convey the impact of religious and
cultural conflicts in human societies.
Uprisings are one of the major impacts caused by clashing religious and cultural beliefs
in society. For example, when Cultural Revolution broke out in 1980, Marji mentioned that
women were forced to wear veils and everywhere in the streets there were demonstrations for
and against the veil (Satrapi 5). Due to the growing suppression, peoples cultures are
contradicting each other, which cause people to rebel and fight for their freedom and their rights.
As members of society, an uprising is their way to convey to their oppressors that they are
against the pressed principles. Although young and nave, Marji found inequality as her reason to
oppose the revolution so, she went to the demonstration with Mehri, their maid who was a victim

Paniza 2
of social class discrimination and [they] shouted from morning till night (Satrapi 38). At a
young age, Marjis values are being shaped with accordance to the environment she is living in;
although as much as possible, her parents are trying to correct or straighten her actions and
behavior. One can argue that she might be confused on what to believe in since she is still young
so she conforms to the majoritys actions. As Marji gets older, she becomes more aggressive and
rebellious; at school, it is strictly forbidden to wear jewelry and jeans but Marji broke the rule
day after another until she got expelled (Satrapi 143). Now that she is mature, although some
might argue it does not show in her actions, Marjis behavior only display her resistance to the
newly imposed rules and her ability to fight for what she believes is right. Therefore, rebellion is
a significant impact in society when religion and culture are conflicting.
Yet some readers may say that conflicts does not always result to violence, conflicting
religious and cultural beliefs causes violence in society. For instance, in the chapter entitled the
party, Marji had an idea to punish her friend, Ramin, by [putting] nails in between [their]
fingers like American brass knuckles and attack him because one of her friends heard that
Ramins father was responsible for the death of millions of people for being a secret police of the
Shahs regime (Satrapi 45). Marjis way of thinking was most likely related to the war and
coercion around her that she is adapting and becoming violent herself. Due to the fact that people
who are caught committing crimes or taken as prisoners are being punished harshly, it is
becoming a tradition that replaces the old ways of punishment. Moving on to the Floral Shop
Lawsuit case, Robert Ingersoll and his partner posted their story on social media after they were
denied of Stutzmans service; soon, Stutzman received threats of violence and comments like:
hypocriteyou will burn in hell (Andrews 1). Although many would side with the couple
because they were being deprived of their rights, I feel that these types of comments are
inappropriate and unnecessary because each and one of us have our own beliefs that we follow

Paniza 3
and stick to. I believe that we do not have to result to violence like what Stutzman had to go
through because no one has the right to condemn others because of opposing beliefs. Thus,
revealing that violence can be the cause of clashing beliefs.
Even though some students might argue that religion should be set aside when getting
involved in a business so that no one would be discriminated; discrimination would always be
implicated when religious and cultural beliefs clash. In New Mexico, an Act named New Mexico
Human Rights Act or NWHRA, prohibit public accommodations from discriminating against
people based on their sexual orientation; this act was violated when Elane Photography refused
to photograph a same-sex commitment ceremony because of religious beliefs.as if it had
refused to photograph a wedding between people of different races (Chavez 3). Even though the
Court has already ruled against Elane Photography, I still feel like no matter who wins in the
case, there will always be one who would feel like they were discriminated which in this case
would be Elane Photography. Although Elane Photography had no intention to discriminate
homosexual couples, due to their opposing beliefs, discrimination existed and played a
significant role in their case. With similarity to The Elane Photography case, Jack Phillips, the
owner of Masterpiece cake shop, refused to make a wedding cake for a gay couple in 2012
(Colorado Baker Must1). Again, because of Phillips strong and adamant belief, he refused
service to the homosexual couple without the intention of offending or hurting someone.
However, since they stand on two different positions, a decision had to be made and one had to
feel as if they were discriminated because of their religious beliefs or sexual orientation.
Moreover, in the Floral Shop Lawsuit case, Stutzman also refused to give her service to her loyal
customer, Robert and Curt, and said: I am sorry. I can't do your wedding because of my
relationship with Jesus Christ (Andrews 1). Once more, conflicting religious beliefs inflict
feeling of discrimination, although Stutzman mentioned that she has nothing against homosexual

Paniza 4
people. Even though they are both entitled to certain alienable rights, no matter what the decision
would be, one side would have to feel as if they were discriminated of their beliefs or rights.
Because of clashing cultural and religious beliefs, rebellion, aggression, and inequity
lives in todays society. Rebellion is a common impact of varying beliefs and opinions in human
society. Although, nowadays, people act with such aggression for no valid reason, conflicting
principles is one of the reasons why violence is present in our society. Discrimination would
always be linked to the clash of religious and cultural belief. If differences do not exist; if we do
not have opposing views and outlooks; if we act and behave like one another, there will be no
society and more importantly, there will be no humankind.

Paniza 5
Works Cited
Andrews, Annie. "Local Florist Refuses to Service Same-sex Marriage." KEPR 19. N.p., 6 Mar.
2013. Web. 22 Sept. 2014.
Satrapi, Marjane. Persepolis. New York: Pantheon Books,2003. Print.
"Colorado Baker Must Make Cakes for Gay Weddings, Panel Rules ." NY Daily News. N.p., 30
May 2014. Web. 22 Sept. 2014.
https://moodle.csun.edu/pluginfile.php/2416022/mod_resource/content/1/Elane%20Photography.
pdf