Acceptance should not be taken for granted

If I came up to you (as a complete stranger) in the street and said, “Unless you change from what you believe in to what I believe in, you will be burned to death,” you would be understandably disturbed in some way, maybe even frightened.

The Crimes Act at Part 11, section 306, states clearly at “ (1) Everyone is liable to imprisonment for a term not exceeding 7 years who – (a) threatens to kill or do grievous bodily harm to any person...”

Very recently an Australian rugby player, whom I do not know, announced publically that unless I and others like me stop being who we are, we shall burn in Hell.  His justification being the Bible says so.

The Bible describes a range of things we shouldn’t do. In the case of this person, there are other things he does that the Bible frowns upon or prohibits. So that makes him a bigot, hypocrite, charlatan, and something of a four-flusher.

Nowhere in Jesus’ New Testament teachings is homosexuality even mentioned, let alone branded sinful. Rather, Jesus is presented as a champion of the downtrodden and an untiring advocate for human dignity and unconditional acceptance of all people. Many of the ancient biblical dictates have yielded to modern common sense.

The organisation the rugby player works for have decided to do nothing of any consequence by way of penalising his threats because he is integral to their team winning. So what does that say about their moral code? Well clearly they have no code probably because they don’t have a backbone to hold it upright. Winning is more important than sanctioning one of their team for announcing to a whole portion of the population that they are going to die in a horrible way if they don’t stop being their authentic self.

Soon after, in a remarkably powerful contrast, NZ Rugby released an advert emphasising inclusiveness and diversity.

This made them the first national sporting organisation in New Zealand to receive Rainbow Tick certification. This certification is an independent assessment designed to make an organisation a safe, welcoming and inclusive place for people of diverse gender identity and sexual orientation.

Of course it comes as no surprise social media lit up, firstly with those condemning the threats, but then came those who shared the views with their own version of venom and hate.

So the law may provide for an equal and fair society, but the appearance of such a society is really only a wafer thin veneer. Despite the best efforts of that veneer or protective covering, hiding below its surface is a reality which, when given the opportunity, rips violently through.

It gives us a glimpse of something quite different, showing and warning all those who may be different, not to be lulled into a false sense of security and acceptance. It seems that for some, it is deemed acceptable that we should be threatened publically with death, with impunity.

[First published on Tuesday 08 May 2018 in the Franklin County News]