If a baker is obliged to put any kind of message, on a cake, it's a minefield. It's legal to kill and eat a dog in the UK. Should a baker be obliged to put an image of a dead dog on a cake and 'bon appetit' on it for a Chinese fella ... ... even if he's an animal lover with dogs of his own? Is it discriminating against a Chinese immigrant simply because of his beliefs?
It was a few years ago through a legal loophole. They were looking to amend that not sure if they actually done it, though.
**** me. Could imagine it over here as there is a large population of feral dogs that cause havoc on many levels. Would have assumed they were protected in the UK.
Neither of them would be breaking the law. The German can have sex with the 14 year old, anywhere in the UK, and still not be doing anything illegal. After checking this isn't correct but is confusing. The age of consent in Bahrain is 21 which means you can't go as a 20 year old British couple and sleep together. Anyway he's asking for a birthday message on a cake, not inviting the baker on a threesome.
That's the crux of the matter really....they shouldn't be obliged at all. I would say refusing to serve the Chinese fella full stop would be discriminatory, refusing to decorate the cake as requested, wouldn't be discriminatory. As you say, it's a minefield.
Sadly, the answer to that must be YES. If you visit a country, you have to abide by their Laws. Thats just good manners. If there are Laws you disagree with, the answer is easy, DON'T GO.
I’ve just read more about it. Michael Gove tried to put a ban on it but civil servants blocked it as it would be seen as offending cultural sensitivities in the far east So as long as you humanely end the life of your own dog. You can also eat it.
I know, but the point remains that the German isn't breaking the law, or asking the baker to ... ... he just wants a birthday message. If a Muslim man wants a cake decorated for each of his wives he's entitled to ask ... ... if the baker refuses is that discrimination?
Exactly. There are plenty of places you can get a cake decorated so why should someone be forced to go against heartfelt beliefs. If the gay couple are so desperate they could decorate the cake themselves ffs, I've done them myself and they've been great. You can easily buy individual edible letters to spell out anything you like. Is it really worth bullying someone into going against their beliefs?
Asking somebody to just throw away 2000 years worth of religious beliefs? Beliefs which have been engraved in the mind of theirs and their ancestors before them? Attitudes towards homosexuality have changed for the better over the last 50 years but those who celebrate it have to realise that there will be some less tolerant. There are still staunch Christian folk about. The gay couple should had merely disagreed but accepted the bakers beliefs and had the cake made elsewhere. Suing them just gets peoples backs up and has a negative impact on their cause. Hopefully the bakers grandchildren, in 20-30 years time will be more willing.
It seems this wasn't for the special occasion I'd assumed. It was 'a protest' at at a civil event to 'Support Gay Marriage', something illegal at the time. So the baker was being asked to be complicit in promoting something illegal, although not directly involved. It turns out the baker was eventually ruled correct and the judgement overturned ... ... but not until a quarter of a million taxpayers pounds had been spent prosecuting the bakers through the courts.
Sometimes I despair, I really do. Why, in our own prominently white populated Christian/Catholic UK, with our own white faiths/beliefs/culture (with the given choice of free speech) can't anyone say something (without malice) like this, - I don't like gays, I don't feel comfortable around black people, I don't agree with illegal immigrants being welcomed into our UK? In other words, why?, if we have our own beliefs, our own feelings, and our own personal morals, can't we (without feeling that we are walking on eggshells) fearing that others will immediately wave that bloody massive trump-card discrimination banner? We, when we visit other different religious countries, we check their laws and beliefs before we go, and, whether we agree with their laws, or not, we know that we have to abide by those laws, or be punished by their own criminal law systems. We are **** scared to simply have an opinion. Instead, we keep it locked up in our minds, fearing being attacked verbally or physically by those offended Ethnic Minorities. I also bet that some reading this, feel that my words are unacceptable, rather than allowing me my own stance...
A lot of people feel this way but keep quiet due the potential ramifications, I would say though most people feel more comfortable airing this sort of stuff in pubs with mates, where at worst your woke mate will try and appeal to you rather than berate you.
