Paniza 1

Dean Paniza
English 115
John Kubler
25 September 2014
The Impacts: Resistance, Violence, and Discrimination
Power, territory, and religion have always been the primary sources of conflict, even
dating back to ancient times. Even though the results from these conflicts were not all pleasant,
they are now the foundation of the society we are living in today. In John Lennons song,
Imagine, he says: imagine there is no heaven, no hell below us / no countries / and no religion
too / no possessions / imagine 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. In the novel,
Persepolis written by Marjane Satrapi, the readers see how the life of the protagonist in the story,
Marji, is molded by the clashing religion and culture pressed by other countries. It is part of
human nature to kindle conflicts and have varying and opposing opinions, values, and ideas;
however, individuals do not have to result to rebellion, violence, or discrimination because they
would only make things worse.
Uprisings are one of the major impacts caused by clashing religious and cultural beliefs
in society. For example, when Cultural Revolution breaks out in 1980, Marji mentions 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, rebelling is their way to convey to their oppressors that they are against
the coerced values. Although young and nave, Marji finds inequality as her reason to oppose the
revolution so, she went to the demonstration with Mehri, their maid who was a victim of social

Paniza 2
class discrimination and [they] shouted from morning till night (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 straighten her crooked 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 (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.
Although some readers may say that conflicts do 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 changing 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 way of punishment: rotting in prison. On the other
hand, in 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 everyone of us have our

Paniza 3
own beliefs that we follow 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 result of clashing beliefs.
Even though some students might argue that religion should be set aside when owning a
business so that no one would be discriminated, discrimination would always be invovled when
religious and cultural beliefs in a business clash. In New Mexico, an Act named New Mexico
Human Rights Act or NWHRA, prohibits 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 (Elane Photography). Even
though the Court has already ruled against Elane Photography, I believe that 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 unalienable 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.
Elane Photography Case Court Decision. PDF file.