The title is part of a resolution being presented to Morley Town Council next Wednesday. It is tied in with a local campaign called "Morley together" that I have expressed reservations about before and am still uncomfortable with the "if you're not for us, you're against us!" approach. I realise it is to keep the BNP out but I think it is just as much about keeping Labour in. There is nothing online about the campaign on the MP's website, indeed he hasn't updated it since April. (He has been somewhat distracted by events, however.)
I have to say that the wording is a nonsense- discrimination is essential to success in life. If we don't discriminate we employ the lazy & feckless, get conned into buying shoddy goods and don't have any choice of who our friends are. Our immigration policies discriminate against Turkish bricklayers compared to Polish ones and our Universities discriminate the applicants with merit from the ones who are of insufficient ability. This is also known as discernment. Once upon a time, to be described as being discriminating was a compliment!
Question- is discriminating against racists and Xenophobes unacceptable?
As an individualist, I prefer "no preference, no prejudice" (ukiphome) to any Politically Correct double-speak about racism and fairness. Life isn't fair, get over it.
Maybe I should sing this song at the Council meeting?
(Hat tip Thunderdragon)
Postscript: As ever, Perry Havilland of Samizdata challenges accepted wisdom in a piece called In praise of discrimination...
"Few Guardian readers seem to have a problem 'discriminating' against racists."
1 comment:
This is all very interesting - the CIPR Diploma students (inc Ellee Seymour) are currently working on an assignment which involves developing a plan for a local authority to address racism (real and/or perceived). The underlying premise is that they need to show the organisation is not discriminating. In the case of housing and recruitment (the two areas highlighted), race shouldn't be the deciding factor, but there will be other areas in assessments that could be seen as discrimination. But, clearly not everyone can get the job or the house, so does that count as discrimination against everyone who isn't successful? Or is it okay if you are open and transparent regarding the criteria used provided they do not break the laws of discrimination?
This assignment has also proved challenging for the overseas students I am teaching. Most claim there is no racism in their countries (such as India, Iran, China, Azerbaijan). I'm not sure this is true - but it does indicate how in the UK race has become seen as a predominant issue that it perhaps isn't elsewhere in the world.
Post a Comment