There was a time when ‘discrimination’ was seen as a positive attribute, enabling people to discriminate between good and bad — discerning people even tried to educate themselves to become ‘discriminating’.
TV advertisements for washing powder claimed that ‘discriminating housewives’ used a certain brand of washing soap (and now even the term ‘housewives’ is seen as ‘discrimination’)!
‘Discriminating’ was a by-word for having good judgement. After years of brainwashing by political correctness and the BBC, ‘discrimination’ – an ill-defined, catch all term – has become one of the most unforgivable sins, such that anything portrayed as ‘discriminatory’ in any way is automatically deemed intolerable.
As society has become more “diverse”, with every increasing numbers of minority groups ready, willing and able to take it upon themselves to be “offended”, then “anti-discrimination” laws have been necessary to force an unwilling majority to fall in line.
Added to this is the ability of political correctness to constrict people’s range of thoughts to such a degree that a rational public discussion on discrimination has become almost impossible, and usually descends into learnt ritual denunciation of anyone against the received text.Take for example the plight of Ashers bakery in Belfast, hauled into court last year and found guilty of discriminating against a homosexual activist called Gareth Lee, a member of the so called “LGBT” advocacy group Queer Space.
Lee had wanted a cake featuring Sesame Street puppets Bert and Ernie with the phrase “Support Gay Marriage” for a private function marking International Day Against Homophobia.
He paid the £36.50 in full at Ashers’ Belfast city centre branch but was telephoned two days later and told the company could not fulfil his order.
Bakery manage Daniel McArthur said the issue had never been about the customer.
“It has always been about a message promoting a cause that contradicts the clear teaching of the Bible on marriage, a message promoting a cause with which I and my family fundamentally disagree.”
An appeal was heard before three senior judges at Belfast’s Court of Appeal in May this year, and during four days of technical legal argument, barrister David Scoffield QC, acting for Ashers, said the bakers could not have provided the cake because the message was inconsistent with their deeply held religious beliefs.
But today (October 24 2016) Ashers bakery have lost their appeal against the original ruling.
Members of the McArthur family sat impassively on the front bench of the public gallery as the rest of the crowded court emptied.
Peter Lynas, the Northern Ireland director of the Evangelical Alliance, told Premier Christian Radio today:
“We’re saddened. This is a sad day for freedom of conscience and religions.
“Ashers have lost this case, but more importantly I think we’ve all lost some of our freedoms in this moment because they’ve been forced to promote a view they fundamentally disagree with, and that is the antithesis of a free and fair society, so it is deeply worrying this outcome.”
Deeply worrying and sinister.
BNP – Speaking the Truth and fighting Political Correctness. Join us call 0844 809 4581 today.
