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All guilty of discrimination                    13/8/11

 

Sirs,

What with the Eurozone in crisis ,financial markets in meltdown, London burning and Rangers millionaire playboys stumbling out of the European Cup at the first hurdle, we don't have our problems to seek. And if that were not sufficient for our plate, we now have yet another problem to contend with.

For according to Ms Janine M Mackenzie of Melbost Borve (letters 26/7 ) any Western Isles resident who doesn't give their full blessing and wholehearted approval to homosexual practises in their homes has a serious 'problem.'

Furthermore, she claims that B&B owners who, for whatever reason, are unable to address their  “problem” are flawed human beings who should be stripped of their livelihoods.

Ms Mackenzie also believes that any person who treats other people differently because of who they are is a prejudiced bigot. Harsh words indeed from our Melbost Borve correspondent.

Ms Mackenzie may well be a caring person at heart, but it appears her mental functioning has been temporarily impaired by a lightheadedness possibly induced by inhaling the rarefied air of high moral ground.

We are going to have to bring Ms Mackenzie back down to earth by reminding her that when it comes to discriminating against our fellow men and women ,none of us are blameless

We are all guilty of deliberately or sub-consciously discriminating against others on the basis of their gender, nationality, religion (or lack of it), age, IQ, social status or just simply "I don't like the look of him/her."  Select a personal favourite from the list or add your own.

Having established that we're all guilty of discriminating against others in one form or another, I would contend that discriminating against someone because you find aspects of their lifestyle objectionable and who also happen to be homosexual, is a no worse form of discrimination than discriminating against others purely because of their social status, IQ or looks.  The law may take a different view but as Ms Mackenzie herself admits - no law is perfect.

Another cornerstone of Ms Mackenzie's case for the prosecution is her contention that because an activity is legally permitted it automatically follows that every body must approve of said activity . This cornerstone can be demolished by citing a small but diverse sample from innumerable examples of legally permitted activities through the ages to the present day - slavery , the Clearances, fox-hunting, building wind-farms.

Homosexual practise is just another form of human activity which no one is under any obligation to approve of or facilitate.

I'd also like to correct the misconception that everyone who expresses misgivings about homosexual practises is either steeped in Old Testament theology or a narrow-minded prude.

This 'prude ' has been following the popular music scene since adolescence and can't help but notice that some of the most memorable music has been created by artists fuelled by copious amounts of alcohol and illicit substances, whilst being attended to by an ever changing rota of admiring followers (groupies ) who indulged their every whim It makes for very interesting reading but not recommended for those of a prudish disposition

And whilst on a musical theme, it’s worth remembering that one of Britain's most famous rock icons, Freddie Mercury , went to an early grave through the very practises Ms Mackenzie of Melbost Borve is so eager to defend

Yes, we all have problems of one kind or another, but I would suggest Ms Mackenzie's problem is her inability to accept that in an open democratic society other people are entitled to express opinions diametrically opposed to her own on subjects close to her heart.

Iain M Macdonald

Miavaig

Uig

 

 

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