A gay couple were escorted from Sainsbury’s premises on Hackney Road last week. As I was busy, I didn’t comment at the time. Apparently, this makes Sainsbury’s homophobic, along with the security guard who escorted the couple out of the store . And in a show of solidarity, there has been a kiss-in.
But on 13 August the store was packed with dozens of activists kissing in protest after a same-sex couple had been escorted from the premises for holding hands.
Thing is… Is this not the biter bit? After all, this taking of offence is all in the eye of the offended; y’know, “I’m offended, therefore offence has taken place” and all that? Personally, I feel that the aisles of supermarkets are for shopping, not public displays of affection, so I guess I’m out of step. I wouldn’t go running to the security guard over it, I’d just look the other way in a very British manner and pretend it wasn’t happening.
But, but, but, do we really need an overreaction to what was, after all an overreaction? Sainsbury’s apologised for the clumsy manner in which it was handled and offered the couple shopping vouchers. That was a reasonable response to the “humiliation” these two suffered.
Sainsbury’s apologised and offered the couple a £10 voucher to spend in store, but activists said that the gesture “doesn’t cut it” and urged protesters to gather for a mass kiss-in.
But it’s never enough, is it? Nothing Sainsbury’s said or did would have been enough. No, having been “humiliated” they have to make a meal of it – this, frankly, is a full roast with all the trimmings and chips on the side. They could have accepted the vouchers and put it behind them as rational people do. But they didn’t and this says much about them.
In modern Britain where offence taking is vaulted to new heights on each occasion, there has to be a demonstration, just to rub everyone’s noses in. Hence the kiss-in.
Yet it all comes back to this being the world people have created. Thin skins aren’t reserved for SJWs. They have played the offended card for all it’s worth. Time for someone else to have a go – even the homophobes get in on the act. My sympathies are limited to; you reap what you sow… Besides, can’t you wait until you get home?
I suppose that the issue, from the point of view of the PC and SJW brigade, would be whether a straight couple would have been treated in the same way in similar circumstances.
Of course, Sainsburys would engage in damage limitation because they don’t want to lose customers over this. If the tide of public opinion turns more towards ‘their gaff their rules’ we will probably see more willingness to stand up to these bullies.
We never see the Legion of Perpetual Offence picketing a mosque, do we?
But then if it had been a Muslim who had taken offence at a gay couple holding hands, you’d have had no problem in supporting the gays unequivocally . The charge of hypocrisy cuts both ways, doesn’t it?
How many same sex marriages have been carried out at your local mosque?
Why do you assume I don’t support them here, Stephen..?
Because in Stephen’s little world, everything is monochromatic.
It should be a criminal offence to take offence and be offended so easily: I find it all rather offensive.
this, frankly, is a full roast with all the trimmings and chips on the side
In one.
I’m totally offended!…
…I’m just not sure what about.