"the proprietor should have the freedom to decide which patrons to compete for"

So restaurants should be allowed to decide which people they want as customers?

Are you then also suggesting that a private business (a restaurant in this case) should also be allowed to say no Blacks are allowed, or no same sex couples, or no one wearing an Arab headress? Are there limits to which human rights the government should or should not get involved in?

Yes, I'm playing devil's advocate, but it's a pretty fine line of distinction we're playing with here.

Let me preface my answer to Neopolitan by saying that I, like the overwhelming majority of Americans I think, find discrimination dispicable. Not only would I never patronize such an establishment, but I would go to great lengths to convince others not to either. In answer to the question though, yes, I think that type of discrimination should be permitted by private business owners. In short, I think we should be free to be ignorant, prejudiced, morons.

Wow. Certainly not the answer I expected. So you do believe the government should allow any business to operate with any racial or other discrimination they might wish to use? Interesting concept!