Posts
State-employed grinches on the loose in the UK
by Scott Gilbreath ~ December 15th, 2008
Today’s news brings two more examples of British officialdom presumptuously instructing citizens to avoid causing offence to non-Christians—even though there’s no evidence that anyone other than minor bureaucrats is offended.
First up: Salvation Army bands have been threatened over rattling tins used for money collections.
Members have been forbidden to shake their charity tins – even if it’s done in time to the music – in case it harasses or intimidates people. One said she had been told it might also offend other religions.
[…]
Councils and police can enforce the no-rattle rule and have powers to prosecute or ban offenders. The restriction was branded ‘bonkers’ yesterday both by donors and long-serving Salvation Army volunteers.
Shaking a tambourine is still permitted, but not a tin. Go figure!
A petty public official went bonkers in South Shields, Tyne and Wear, and warned a woman that Christmas lights on her house might offend her neighbours.
Dorothy Glenn has decorated her house with hundreds of lights every Christmas for many years but, for some reason, a grinch employed by South Tyneside Homes had enough of that holiday nonsense.
[S]he was “shocked and upset” when the housing official told her the festive display would offend Bengali and Chinese neighbours.
Dorothy, a mum-of-three, said: “I saw the uniformed housing worker outside and it looked like he was counting the decorations. I went out to see him and he told me the lights were offensive to the community. But nobody has complained.
In fact, neighbours spoke up in support of her light display after she was asked not to be so festive. South Tyneside Homes has now apologised to Ms Glenn and withdrawn the warning.
In the latter instance, at least, sanity appears to have prevailed.
Print This Post
December 18th, 2008 at 09:31 AM
[...] FUN WITH OFFICIALDOM– State-employed grinches on the loose in the UK …. [...]
December 18th, 2008 at 09:35 AM
[...] FUN WITH OFFICIALDOM– State-employed grinches on the loose in the UK …. [...]
December 18th, 2008 at 11:11 AM
[...] FUN WITH OFFICIALDOM– State-employed grinches on the loose in the UK …. [...]