Me on thin ice. Again!

by Pseud O'Nym

Maybe it’s just me, but the timing of the current allegations about anti-semitism that have dogged the Labour Party does seem highly coincidental to those wishing to denounce Jeremy Corbyn’s leadership of the Labour Party. I mean, he came to the Labour leadership against all odds about three years ago, and before then any allegations of anti-semitism in the Labour Party were not given as much prominence in the media as they are now. In all probability incidents of anti-semitism have taken place but, as I asked yesterday, when does not liking someone because of their words and deeds become discriminatory?

Yes, anti-semitism is a problem, but it is a problem that is exists in wider society and, like most other forms of discrimination, until society as a whole learns to deal eradicate it, it’s highly unrealistic to expect a small group of individuals from exempt from those biases. Of course, someone guilty of a hate crime needs to be named and shamed, but again when does a frank and robust exchange of views become threatening and bullying behaviour? Who decides if something is hate speech or an ill advised mode expression? Who decides on opinions, on how people felt about what was said? Who judges this, and what are their criteria?

Anyway, it won’t be me. I was once accused of staring at someone in a ‘racist manner’.