Political correctness, anti-racism and health & safety have become TOTALLY STUPID!! What ever happened to freedom of speech?? In my humble opinion political correctness is possibly making people sympathetic to the "anti foreigners" brigade by constantly being told what they can and cannot say for fear of it offending "people". We all know who these "people" are but nobody ever says it.
I am 60 years of age and grew up with Robertson's jam (and the golliwog). Love Thy Neighbour on tv, the Black & White Minstrels on the Palladium etc. and thought nothing of it - it certainly didn't make me want to make fun of someone with a different colour skin to mine. In fact, between the ages of 9 and 12 my mother was in a relationship with a Mexican Indian who would have become my stepfather had he not been killed. He taught me many valuable life skills, was very kind and loving and I had tremendous respect for him. Although he had a different colour skin to me, I saw the MAN, not his skin colour, even when he disciplined me. I've never heard of ANY other country changing the wording of their school books, removing the word "White" from THEIR language etc. in case it happens to offend the white people living in their country - have any of you guys??
I was responsible Health & Safety in a previous job, and I have to say that some of the rulings were just totally ludicrous, impractical, expensive to comply with and just PLAIN MADNESS. One example that springs to mind is (potentially) having to pay for a scaffold tower so that an electrician could replace a light bulb INDOORS. Had I adhered to this it would have cost my employer an extortionate amount of money for a 2 minute job every time a light bulb needed replacing - STUPIDITY.
This all seems like complete disrespect for all of our brave servicemen and women who fought in 2 wars so that we could live in a free world. We now live in, at best, a "nanny state" and at worst a borderline dictatorship. I think it's disgraceful, oppressive and things need to change - give us back our freedom of speech, give parents the ability to discipline (not beat) their children the way THEY see fit, without the fear of being threatened with assault charges (in some instances by their own child) if they happen to threaten or smack their child's leg as a last desperate measure.
Before someone gets their big guns out for me I will say this:
I believe that if a parent resorts to smacking their child ONCE they will (or should) not do it again and either have not exhausted all other alternatives or may need outside help with their parenting skills - but this is not easily sourced or widely available as our politicians are too busy keeping us PC!
I am NOT a racist and I am TOTALLY opposed to racial words and actions by those who ARE. and those who incite racial hatred, racial attacks etc.
I am not reckless when it comes to H & S issues and have seen, first hand, the consequences of flouting the H & S laws.
Why can't we have blackboards, black eyes and blacklist someone? How are those things (and a lot of others) racist? Am I naive. unintelligent or ignorant to believe that it's not the words or phrases themselves that are racist, but the INTENT to offend individuals or groups by using those same words and phrases in an offensive, derogatory or other manner?
I do not live in a cave, do not beat my wife and children and believe that, regardless or gender, colour, ethnicity or social status (hate that phrase too) that we are all equal and should ALL be treated equally and given the same respect, consideration and opportunities.
Apologies for the rant but I just had to comment on previous posts, The painting was very well done, not on council property but THEY decided (in their infinite wisdom) that it MAY have offended SOMEONE! God (or whatever deity you worship) help us all.