You did ask for a full answer, so here's my two pennerth, it'll look back to front, but bear with me because some of you won't like the middle bits, and no doubt some will see things that aren't there.
One thing I'll say from the start is that in my opinion and experience, by far and above the group that suffers the most discrimination are the ones that get the least recognition, and cover the whole gamut of isms, the disabled. That I believe to be damning on our society and part of a different set of issues to the ones I'll raise, but that certainly need addressing.
We want a world of true equal opportunity, effectively a meritocracy, where if you can, you can do irrespective of race, gender, sexual orientation etc. (< this bit will get missed even though it's the most important part, and the key to the rest).
The current ways of thinking don't really enable that, as we've created a victim based culture.
The first thing we need is a line drawing. History ends and the future starts here, with a clean slate for all.
We can't forget the past, nor should we, but it is the past and we shouldn't live in, but learn from it.
Each area has culture, even though they're vague, varied and not easy to define. They evolve as people come and go, and other influences change habits and preferences, but it should be by consent, not legislation and incoming cultures should respect the indigenous, and the indigenous should tolerate the incomers, unless it conflicts materially, in which case there's an opportunity for discussion. The aim should be for multi-cultures, not the series of mono-cultures that we seem to have developed and they should be grounded in the key concepts of the host nation. In Britain, I'd say that's tolerance, charity, freedom, equality and a sense of fair play and justice.
Currently, some are continually told they're victims and deserving, and others told they should feel guilty because of historic events carried out by people long dead. That's the past and the other side of the line. Likewise with gender, there are good laws in place to protect against discrimination, but they need to be used for equal opportunity.
We're not equal. That's nature, some are stronger, some are brighter. There tends to be biological reasons and sport is a visible example. The national womens football team won't beat the mens football team, and the start line at the Olympic 100 metre sprint looks different to the swimming events.
The discrimination laws can be used if someone is victimised, and we should look to create equality of opportunity because just looking to balance numbers with roles in society is as daft as expecting Mr Bean to win the world heavyweight boxing title. It leaves some people that earn and deserve their place look like tokens, elevated to balance some book rather than getting the respect they deserve.
I love banter, it's a part of most areas of life and the banter in most workplaces and offices wouldn't get on mainstream tv, but it's tempered to those involved. There has to be limits as it's a fine, yet wobbly line between banter and abuse, but trying to claim that you can go further with some types of people than others is wrong. It's discriminatory, especially if it's okay for some other sections of society to do it.
If it's wrong to be jokey about some cultures, it's wrong to be abusive about other physical features. After all, ginger people can make a case for racial abuse and cultural domination by invaders too.
What we have ended up doing is silencing the words, but not tackling the thinking so it just gets reinforced. That misses the opportunity to challenge bigotry by getting people to talk openly about how they feel. We have laws to protect us from abuse and hatred, extra ones for race etc simply reinforce the victim culture that is divisive, as it makes some feel that the playing field slopes. You only have to look at the abuse by some of posters on here to see the hypocrisy. It also creates an opportunity for those that just feel the need to be outrageous because being funny or making a point is beyond them.
What the current system does by pushing race an other isms onto so many agendas is create division and animosity, and it's the perception of the guilt trip and victim culture as well as the system that has become an industry to keep us divided that generated the recorded increase. It's similar feelings that manifest in the US election and brexit. It's a combination of frustration and repression as well as an industry that needs it to stay on the agenda. A focus on what we share and what unites is more productive.
A clear set of rules that apply to all can help build civic and national pride, and help us all progress together and those remaining with irrational hatreds will be marginalised for what they are, not for what others claim them to be.
Discrimination and mindless abuse is wrong, in whatever form it takes and the rules should apply equally to all.
, The Streets, Moody Blues, Musical Youth, Judas Priest, Magnum and shed loads more.
