There are some words that are "hot buttons" in any discussion on subjects where feelings run deep. These words are mostly used as weapons designed to intimidate those who hold an opposing view.
Two of those verbal hot buttons are "prejudice" and "discrimination". No one wants to be accused of "prejudice". We all know that prejudice is a bad thing, don't we? The same is true of "discrimination". We are hard pressed to imagine a positive use of that word. But if you can just label your opponents with one of those negative terms, you will have gained a great advantage in the debate.
I'm thinking at the moment about the issue of same-sex marriage which will shortly be moving to centre stage when the National Labour Party holds its annual conference and gay marriage will be high on its agenda.
Those who are opposed to changing the law so as to allow same-sex marriage are accused of prejudice and discrimination by those who want the law changed. Well, I am opposed to changing the law and I consider myself neither prejudiced or discriminatory. My opponents will have to do better than just label me if they want their case to have any kind of integrity.
So, I want to challenge their accusation.
Not that I think any challenge that I can mount will turn the tide of public opinion but I want to support and be numbered with those who are prepared to wear the stigma that sticks when one is unfairly labelled as "prejudiced" and "discriminatory".
Just what is 'prejudice'? As I understand it, 'prejudice' is making a judgment or assumption about someone or something before having enough knowledge to be able to do so with guaranteed accuracy. We use the expression, "judging a book by its cover".
What is 'discrimination'? 'Discrimination' is the treatment of an individual based on their membership in a certain group or category. Discrimination is the actual behavior towards members of another group. If prejudice is the root, then discrimination is the fruit.
As I ponder those definitions, it occurs to me that there have been times when advocates on both sides of this current debate who, in accusing their opponents, have done so "making a judgment or assumption about someone or something before having enough knowledge to be able to do so with guaranteed accuracy".
While vigorous debate is to be encouraged, we need to be willing to listen to each other. Lobbing verbal hand grenades at each other will do nothing to clarify points of view. Those who act or react out of ignorance are the ones who are guilty of prejudice and discrimination.
The issue at hand is far too important to be reduced to pushing those "hot buttons" that minimize the possibility of mutual understanding if not agreement.
