Boris Johnson is being pilloried for his description of women who wear burkas as looking like letter boxes. Inevitably, he's been accused of Islamophobia and some of those on the left of politics want him investigated for breaches of equality and human rights laws. What a load of old cobblers !
What is 'Islamophobic' about making a statement of the obvious ? The ridiculous face covering worn by some Muslim women is antisocial in the extreme, separating these women from the rest of society. Mr Johnson says that he doesn't favour a ban on such forms of dress but surely the rest of our society has its own rights, one of them being to know who is standing next to them in a queue. This type of dress clearly has the potential to hide wrong-doers and has already created discussion about the extent to which it should be allowed in particular situations, such as in court or when other proper identification is necessary.
With Boris's words being blown out of all proportion, Theresa May has said that he should apologise as his remarks have "clearly caused offence"; this is quite ridiculous. Many things which are said or done may cause offence - I'm offended by the gratuitous nudity and foul language which regales our television screens and by the obscene amounts of money paid to footballers, though I don't expect anyone to apologise for these or any other offences that I perceive. Mr Johnson has used our right to free speech to make a valid point and it would be a dangerous precedent if he is forced to apologise for what were harmless words. Whatever happened to the old saying "sticks and stones may break my bones but words will never hurt me" ?
With Boris's words being blown out of all proportion, Theresa May has said that he should apologise as his remarks have "clearly caused offence"; this is quite ridiculous. Many things which are said or done may cause offence - I'm offended by the gratuitous nudity and foul language which regales our television screens and by the obscene amounts of money paid to footballers, though I don't expect anyone to apologise for these or any other offences that I perceive. Mr Johnson has used our right to free speech to make a valid point and it would be a dangerous precedent if he is forced to apologise for what were harmless words. Whatever happened to the old saying "sticks and stones may break my bones but words will never hurt me" ?
It is insane that we are allowing our country to be dictated to by people, on the one hand, who want to drag us back to the dark days of religious wars and intolerance and who see women as second class citizens and the property of their male relatives, and on the other by those who despise the very notion of anyone holding views contrary to their own and who take offence at the merest whisper of dissent.
Wake up, Britain, before it's too late.
Wake up, Britain, before it's too late.
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