Being cross about intolerance
It never fails to amaze me how religion brings out media hysteria and the worst of people.
Most recently, a popular BBC newsreader, Fiona Bruce, wore a crucifix on a necklace, to howls of protest and an apology from her bosses. Next, Leader of the House of Commons, Jack Straw, said in public that he would ask whether women that visited his surgery would mind removing their veils when they spoke with him. There were even more howls of protest. (Note to the BBC Website - I'm fed up of seeing the same picture when a story about 'the veil' is reported)
Next, a member of check in staff for British Airways (BA) is suspended after wearing a crucifix which was visible to the public. BA has a policy on this which seems to have been broken, but who knows.
I'm simply fascinated by the lack of tolerance from all sides. Some people may have become upset and fair enough, but I think in-house legislation is over-done: an equality and diversity course I did recenty erred on the side of caution so much one was left worrying about saying anything for fear of offending someone else.
Surely in the UK we all have a right to wear what we want. But society dictates limits - such as uniforms for unity of corporate identity - and there's an enormous debate on what is acceptable dress for people who deal with the public, or religious adherence.
Displaying a religious symbol is not the same as preaching. I suppose that some intolerant types may think that a newsreader displaying a cross means they are biased; that proves to me that the complainers know nothing about how news works.
I wonder how much hoo-ha there would be if a Sikh gentleman read the news, or a pagan displayed a pentagram on a necklace.
Tolerance, I fear, is the gold at the end of the rainbow.
Most recently, a popular BBC newsreader, Fiona Bruce, wore a crucifix on a necklace, to howls of protest and an apology from her bosses. Next, Leader of the House of Commons, Jack Straw, said in public that he would ask whether women that visited his surgery would mind removing their veils when they spoke with him. There were even more howls of protest. (Note to the BBC Website - I'm fed up of seeing the same picture when a story about 'the veil' is reported)
Next, a member of check in staff for British Airways (BA) is suspended after wearing a crucifix which was visible to the public. BA has a policy on this which seems to have been broken, but who knows.
I'm simply fascinated by the lack of tolerance from all sides. Some people may have become upset and fair enough, but I think in-house legislation is over-done: an equality and diversity course I did recenty erred on the side of caution so much one was left worrying about saying anything for fear of offending someone else.
Surely in the UK we all have a right to wear what we want. But society dictates limits - such as uniforms for unity of corporate identity - and there's an enormous debate on what is acceptable dress for people who deal with the public, or religious adherence.
Displaying a religious symbol is not the same as preaching. I suppose that some intolerant types may think that a newsreader displaying a cross means they are biased; that proves to me that the complainers know nothing about how news works.
I wonder how much hoo-ha there would be if a Sikh gentleman read the news, or a pagan displayed a pentagram on a necklace.
Tolerance, I fear, is the gold at the end of the rainbow.
posted by The Stoat | 10:32
0 Comments:
Post a Comment
<< Home