In reply to Fickalli:
> (In reply to Chateauneuf du Boeuf)
> [...]
>
> I'm not ignoring the issues nor burying my head in the sand. If you actually read my posts this is quite clear.
They're not.
> My point is, and remains, that highlighting the 'differences' between minorities and majorities and using those 'differences' as a justification for different treatment is not the solution. Apologising for a history that you have not been a part of does not change the past and using history as an excuse for present treatment is not the solution for the future.
History sets the context of the present, its not so easy to have a clear break with it as you make out. If unchanged it will set the context of the future.
> Treating gay people the same as straight people, black people the same as white people and men the same as women is not homophobic, racist or sexist.
Treating all people the same is indeed a noble trait and this isn't what I'm arguing against. However, pretending that everyone is treated the same by society is a complete myth and pedalling it is dangerous. It leads to people being outraged by things like gay games, all women shortlists etc as they think these people are getting special privelidges whereas they are actually helping oppressed people to feel more equal.
> Is having a gay games going to make a truly homophobic man less homophobic? Probably not, it might make someone who is indifferent even more indifferent or perhaps raise awareness but it is not going to affect either extreme.
No it will probably not convert homophobes, it may even entrench their position. It may make gay people more comfortable taking part in competitive sport though.
> Or, to put it in your language will it stop people outside my 'bubble' being abused and discriminated against? Probably not, but don't be so churlish as to throw inappropriate insults at someone who is not racist, sexist or homophobic. I wouldn't let such actions go unchallenged in my company and so I do not 'set the context for prejudice to flourish'. In fact, it could be argued that positive discrimination sets that very context as it helps create an 'us' and 'them' situation which is certainly going to preclude the 'solution' you want.
There is an us and them situation already. Look at the percentage of openly gay sports people, women government ministers, working class journos, women FTSE CEOs. The question is not whether positive discrimination will divide people into camps (they are already) its whether or not it will make society more equal. To pretend people are already treated equally, denies the need for change, and in turn supports the implicitly racist, sexist and homophobic status quo in many areas of society.