Anyone being persecuted deserves the full support of the law and where there is the biggest problem we should give that the most attention. If that happens to be jews and moslems then that’s what we need to do. Should that mean that sentencing is increased for certain crimes? I see the logic of sending the message but it sits uneasily with me.
Personally I think the concept of “hate crime” is a hollow one as pretty much all violent crime falls under that banner. I had a friend stabbed to death as a teenager just because he happened to have the wrong accent and wasn’t “from round here”.
I can’t understand how or why the crime would’ve be worse had it been religiously or ethnically motivated. The end result was the same. A dead kid, and the life of any child is of equal worth.
Religion is usually inculcated at an early age and is a very strong and deep set of beliefs and attitudes. Most other affiliations are considerably weaker and more shallow.
Neurophysiology also suggests that certain people have brain structures particularly likely to respond to such mindsets.
Antidiscrimination protections to apply to all manner of things - age, sex, skin colour etc… and as such they are not a specific privilege offered to religion.
In general, I have no particular issues with a like-minded congregation asking and receiving protections for an activity or action, should that be a shared desire. The pivot to that is that the requested protection should not in any way infringe on other rights to go likewise, nor inflict undue burden on others in order to facilitate their requests.
All I would suggest (but not expect, due to existing inherent imbalances) is that ALL groups should be given an equal hearing to ask for and be considered for special dispensation for whatever particular desires they hold. Any club, society or fellowship should be offered the same opportunity to garner legal privilege for themselves in the same manner, rather than it being a path open only to religions, and predominantly only mainstream religions at that. I fail to see or how the longevity of a chosen belief should confer superior status in terms of legal protections or privileges and would be curious to see if you would be as quick to offer adherents of Scientology the same courtesy and support?
In short, I don’t agree that any preferential treatment (not also available to others) should be offered solely on the basis of a belief. But protection should be offered to all who request or require it.
A predisposition to religion is not contentious, it has an evolutionary benefit and is deep seated in our make-up. As is a predisposition to tribalism (see the references) political and sporting affiliation are excellent examples of this.
(1)Race includes—
(a)colour;
(b)nationality;
(c)ethnic or national origins.
(2)In relation to the protected characteristic of race—
(a)a reference to a person who has a particular protected characteristic is a reference to a person of a particular racial group;
(b)a reference to persons who share a protected characteristic is a reference to persons of the same racial group.
(3)A racial group is a group of persons defined by reference to race; and a reference to a person’s racial group is a reference to a racial group into which the person falls.
(4)The fact that a racial group comprises two or more distinct racial groups does not prevent it from constituting a particular racial group.
(5)A Minister of the Crown may by order—
(a)amend this section so as to provide for caste to be an aspect of race;
(b)amend this Act so as to provide for an exception to a provision of this Act to apply, or not to apply, to caste or to apply, or not to apply, to caste in specified circumstances.
(6)The power under section 207(4)(b), in its application to subsection (5), includes power to amend this Act.
10Religion or belief
(1)Religion means any religion and a reference to religion includes a reference to a lack of religion.
(2)Belief means any religious or philosophical belief and a reference to belief includes a reference to a lack of belief.
(3)In relation to the protected characteristic of religion or belief—
(a)a reference to a person who has a particular protected characteristic is a reference to a person of a particular religion or belief;
(b)a reference to persons who share a protected characteristic is a reference to persons who are of the same religion or belief.
Judaism and Islam have a dual characteristic of Race and Religion as both relations are predominantly tied to certain races (Ashkenazi and Sephardic Jews, West Asian, African and East Asian races)
Interested to see the peer reviewed research showing that Tribalism is equivalent to political and sporting affiliation in evolutionary terms (I have met Millwall Fans!)
I’m skeptical. Consider how firmly vegetarianism, white supremacism, or superstition is lodged in a person, and also consider the fervor of the recent convert against the lifelong practitioner of anything.
Going back to the niqab, or burqa, some say it’s a tiny minority of women wearing it, and one said it can be a form of rebellion, going against learned beliefs and attitudes I would assume. Orthodox Jews have taken to wearing them in recent years, to much dismay, and one reason you can cross off to explain this recent development is being inculcated at an early age. They are being inculcated now.
I would give her Corporal Punishment. How old she is (that is how many blows to the back with a cane. If she is 30, then give her 30 blows to her back with the cane.