Is It Worth Getting So Cross?
24/11/06 20:04
|
Personal
I
have never really understood the need to flaunt one's
religion and the wearing of a cross I see as the
religious equivalent of a football fan wearing their
team's shirt. I find it unnecessary and it does
nothing to convert me to either of those beliefs, but
that is a personal view. If you are truly a believer
- whatever your faith - you surely do not need to
display the fact for all to see, unless of course you
are trying to convince yourself. Surely, true
multi-culturalism will only ever be a practicality
when we are all seen to be the same and are able to
live together with no-one flaunting their beliefs to
another.
So the recent storm
over
an employee's bending of the rules at BA should never
have got so much attention. It did though, because
the application of what is a condition of employment
was not, as usual, administered fairly. Those of
other faiths are openly allowed to 'bend the rules'
by wearing jewellery and clothing that is supposedly
a display of their own religions. This opened the
gate for the employee in question to make a rather
public stand and reap a lot of press. It now has
several politicians and The Archbishop of Canterbury
climbing aboard the publicity train and displaying
their outrage while predictably suggesting a boycott
of British Airways flights.
BA
now have a dilemma of their own making. They either
have to interpret the rules fairly and apply them
evenly amongst all beliefs - and I can almost hear
the cries of persecution coming from some quarters
already - or they lose the patronage of those
politicians and religious leaders who are being
hypocritical by condoning the principle of rule
breaking. After all, the only thing they will
sacrifice is those comforting perks - like free
upgrades and complimentary drinks - received when
they take a flight with BA!
A tough choice for BA but both have their
attractions!! I do not see it lasting long!!
