Moral Relativism – and Tony Blair

Some while back, I discussed moral relativism. This was because Pope Benedict XVI was preaching to us about it and, frankly, sanctimonious Christian morality is something I find particularly abhorrent. My conclusion was that we all indulge in moral relativism to a greater or lesser degree because we are influenced by our environment, belief systems and upbringing; and ethical decisions must be made in the context in which we find ourselves. However, as Chicken Yoghurt points out, The right dishonourable Saint Tone of Blair takes that relativism to a whole new level He quotes this, from the Independent

A day earlier, Mr Blair had told MPs: “We do not agree with the use of torture.” Pressed over whether that was an absolute rule, Mr Blair added: “I mean absolute in this sense, that you say ‘Look, it is simply the civil liberties of the suspect, or simply the liberties of freedom from terrorism’. You have to balance those two things.”

No, you bloody well do not…ever! This man is condoning the use of torture on (as CY points out) suspects. A point Blair seems to choose to ignore; suspects are people who, so far, have not been convicted of any crime – indeed, they may not be guilty of any crime. This is often the case – suspects are just that, until the investigation is complete and they are determined to be guilty following a trial, or not as the case may be. Yet this nauseating man is willing to condone thugs carrying out beatings, sleep deprivation, threats to suspects’ family and hanging people by their arms, or more precisely, is prepared to use information gained thus in his “war on terror”. I prefer to refer to it as his “war on Britain’s liberty” because that is what it is. Perhaps worse is the way he witters the words “civil liberties” in a classic example of newspeak. I will not allow this repugnant, noxious man to steal our language in this way – our liberties are sacrosanct. Torturing people is not the way we protect them and free societies do not, ever, under any circumstances whatsoever, condone it.

When Chicken Yoghurt makes the point that an absolute rule is one that is

“not limited by restrictions or exceptions”

I agree entirely. I am currently about to follow his advice and give Amnesty International my support. That I should be doing so in protest at the actions of the British government is testimony to how low this vile regime has sunk. These people with their absolute lack of morality do not represent me – I just want to make that absolutely clear.