What do you do when the two most politically correct and protected groups in the West come to blows? This has to be one of the great dilemmas for the secular left. When their two most fav pet causes come into conflict, the need to take sides can be a painful process.
I refer to the most PC causes of our day: homosexualism and Islamism. Both are icons of the secular left. It is hard to know who gets the most preferential treatment in the secularised West: Muslims or homosexuals. And because both especially despise Christianity, the two have more in common than one might suspect. The left is intent on destroying the West, which is why it champions the radical homosexual agenda, and winks at the atrocities of radical Islam.
I have written before about the left’s strange dalliance with Islam. Here are two such articles:
https://billmuehlenberg.com/2011/10/18/islam-and-the-left/
https://billmuehlenberg.com/2013/02/27/clear-thinking-on-islam-and-the-left/
But as I have often said, when Islam consolidates its powers in the West, the first to go will be these clueless lefties, along with their homosexual agenda. And given Islam’s official contempt of homosexuality (the actual occurrence and practice of homosexuality in the Islamic world is another matter), it was only a matter of time before these two protected political species would come into open conflict in the West.
And that has in fact been the case. While many are now just speaking to this particular episode, it seems the actual event in fact took place over a year ago. This is how Ezra Levant first wrote up this encounter:
So a lesbian walks into a Muslim barbershop, and asks for a “businessmen’s haircut”. It sounds like the beginning of a joke, but it really happened, and now a government agency called the Human Rights Tribunal of Ontario will hear her complaint.
Faith McGregor is the lesbian who doesn’t like the girly cuts that they do at a salon. She wants the boy’s hairdo. Omar Mahrouk is the owner of the Terminal Barber Shop in Toronto. He follows Shariah law, so he thinks women have cooties. As Mahrouk and the other barbers there say, they don’t believe in touching women other than their own wives.
But that’s what multiculturalism and unlimited immigration from illiberal countries means. A central pillar of many immigrant cultures is the second-class citizenship of women and gays. So if we now believe in multiculturalism, and that our Canadian culture of tolerance isn’t any better than the Shariah culture of sex crimes and gender apartheid, who are we to complain when Omar Mahrouk takes us up on our promise that he can continue to practise his culture — lesbian haircuts be damned?
He’s not the one who passed the Multiculturalism Act, and invited in hundreds of thousands of immigrants with medieval attitudes towards women and gays and Jews, etc. We did. Mahrouk’s view is illiberal. But in Canada we believe in property rights and freedom of association — and in this case, freedom of religion, too. But McGregor ran to the Human Rights Tribunal and demanded that Mahrouk give her a haircut.
In the past, human rights commissions have been a great ally to gay activists. Because, traditionally, gay activists have complained against Christians. And white Christians are the one ethnic identity group that human rights commissions don’t value, and that multiculturalism doesn’t include.
He looks at some other recent cases along these lines, then offers this humorous but completely accurate assessment of the situation:
McGregor is politically correct. But just not politically correct enough. It’s like poker. A white, Christian male has the lowest hand — it’s like he’s got just one high card, maybe an ace. So almost everyone trumps him. A white woman is just a bit higher — like a pair of twos. Enough to beat a white man, but not much more.
A gay man is like having two pairs in poker. A gay woman — a lesbian like McGregor — is like having three of a kind. A black lesbian is a full house — pretty tough to beat. Unless she’s also in a wheelchair, which means she’s pretty much a straight flush.
The only person who could trump that would be a royal flush. If the late Sammy Davis Jr. — who was black, Jewish and half-blind — were to convert to Islam and discover he was 1/64th Aboriginal. So which is a better hand: A lesbian who wants a haircut or a Muslim who doesn’t want to give it to her?
I’m betting on Mahrouk. And I predict that Muslim activists — not quiet barbers like Mahrouk, but professional Muslim busybodies — will start using human rights commissions more and more to push their way into places where they have no legal right, but where the human rights commissions are more than happy to engineer things for them, if they complain loud enough.
If I were a gay activist, I’d probably want to declare victory and shut down these human rights commissions right now. In five years time, it won’t be gay activists forcing themselves into Christian B&Bs. It’ll be Muslim activists vetoing the gay pride parade.
This episode is relevant in light of the recent move by Arizona Governor Jan Brewer to knock back legislation which would have defended religious freedom in that state. I discussed this here: https://billmuehlenberg.com/2014/02/27/you-will-comply-or-else/
In a recent column Howard Portnoy reflects on both cases: “The incident occurred in Canada in November 2012, but it could easily happen here and now. Let’s take a state at random — say Arizona — and graft on the same scenario. Gay rights activists usually tend to be protectors of adherents to America’s lone ‘diverse’ religion, Islam, so where do their sympathies lie?
“This question is a real head scratcher in Canada, which passed a Multiculturalism Act in 1988, paving the way for an influx of immigrants with medieval attitudes toward second-class citizens (read: women and gays). Faith McGregor belongs to both groups….
“When government attempts to decide which protected class of citizens is more aggrieved in cases like this, they run into trouble. The only ‘out’ is to look the other way, which is what liberals have been doing here for years. The question of tolerance for one protected group over another arose during the murder trial of George Zimmerman, when the prosecution’s star witness Rachel Jeantel intimated under cross-examination that Trayvon Martin was anti-gay.
“Do you recall any marches by the Lambda Society or GLAAD denouncing blacks for their Stone Age view of homosexuality? Nah. Instead, liberals buried their heads in the sand, waiting till the news cycle moved on to other headlines. Hypocrisy much?”
Yes it is all very hypocritical all right, but it is nice to see the various PC heavyweights locked in this conundrum, with the obvious faults of our multiculturalism and equal opportunity policies coming so sharply into focus here.
However the underlying issue remains – i.e. hierarchy of rights.
Regards,
Nathan Keen
The media and politicians, being naturally spineless, will always take the easy road.
As Islam grows in power, the spineless PC yes-men will simply switch to whatever story keeps them out of personal trouble. Their fear of Islam (Islamophobia) will be stronger than their cowardice before the homosexual agenda (Homophobia).
In contrast, it takes a true vertebrate like Danny Nalliah, to face the enormous personal danger, mortgage-sized court fees, and kidnapping threats on his kids at school. So when he won that battle the stupid laws like Canada’s could be shown for what they are – stupid.
Amazing what some God-inspired backbone can achieve.
The piggies are now walking on two legs, but it won’t be long before they’ll be back on four legs… “two legs baa-d” will, before too long, become “Four legs good, two legs better.”
My first thought when I read this: “I’m not surprised it happened in Canada!”.
Tim, the “easy way out” usually leads into a corner from where eventually there won’t be a way out.
Best to stand and defend the line of where good meets evil to make sure.
Many blessings
Ursula Bennett
Cool article Bill,
I think many of us have been waiting for the day when different minorities clash and the PC morons are forced to choose a side. I would have actually backed the lesbian, given that homosexuals are completely untouchable these days, and there’s a bit of islamaphobia due to terrorism, but we shall see.
Take care everybody
JAMES
Bill if it was a Christian barber refusing a boyish haircut to a lesbian (possibly siting the parts of the OT that speak against cross-dressing), would you still feel like the lesbian’s rights were being trampled?
Thanks Amanda. But you miss the point here. If you read elsewhere on this site you know I support freedom of religion and freedom of conscience, even down to the level of small business owners. The issue here with this post of course is the self-destructing nature of most Western nations, including their failed multi-culti policies which allow those who want to downplay and diminish our freedoms and democracies to have free reign. This has been the case with both Muslims and homosexuals. My next book will document in detail how the latter group is warring against faith, freedom and family. This article was mainly about how two uber-PC groups are increasingly coming into conflict, and asks just how our PC Western governments will deal with all this. And a major point I was trying to make is this: what a load of contradictions, hypocrisy, and double standards we see in all this. If a Christian “discriminates,” it is evil. If a homosexual discriminates, it is fine. If a Muslim discriminates, well, the PC left just does not know what to make of it!
This terrible story is only a precursor for the things Christians will soon have to endure at the hands of Islamists and the despicable homosexualists.
However, for me, the worst part of it is that there is a lesbian called McGregor! I demand she is DNA tested!!
A doctor once refused to see my children and though it was upsetting at the time, because I was never given a reason, I still thought he had the right to do what he did. I thought it was the sign of a mature society that we can have someone refuse to do business with us and not feel personally offended, walk off in a huff and definitely not go to court over it.
Many blessings
Ursula Bennett
Apologies Bill, slightly off topic, but is there a preface to the Revised ed of Strained Relations? If so it might be useful to publish, to show the extent of the updates in the book. Otherwise, does it already exist on line an if so where please?
Cheers,
Gerard
Thanks Gerard. Instead of a revised and expanded version of SR, I will be releasing an entirely new volume – hopefully in the near future. And both will soon be available electronically.
Yeah Nathan, too true. It never ceases to amaze me, both the hypocrisy of the PC brigade, and the blatancy of it and also the silence from the MSM. They just know that they can say or do whatever they want and no-one in the media is going to call them to account for it. Not a whisper about the duplicity of it all.
The overarching irony of all this PC activity to shut down Christians while supporting Islam is that there won’t be anyone to stand up for freedoms and defend the homosexuals once Islam gains the foothold it requires. At least some countries are seeing Islam for what it is and are starting to roll back the tide of Muslim immigrants and the creep of Shariah.
I can’t see Abbott putting $1.5m+ toward ‘Muslim cultural education’ as Gillard did, but it will be interesting to see whether he is going to stand against the tide.
It is probable that more liberal leftists are tolerant towards Islam than Islamists are towards the liberal Left. Therefore Islam would trump liberalism, especially the sexual liberalism of homosexuality. The ultimate move on the chess board is that Islam would win its caliphate over the West and sharia law would rule, thanks in no small part to the craven conformism to liberalism of many apostate Christians.
It would be more appropriate to change the spelling of Multiculturalism to accurately represent its divisive and prejudicial reality.
It should be spelt “MulticulturalRACISM”.
Interesting article. Nowadays Moslems are handing out pamphlets on Islam In Swanston St crn Collins St [last Sat 1/3/14]. Melb, Australia. Well, I’m not going to beat about the bush anymore; I told the fella that Islam is evil & to follow Jesus, the Son of God; the only True God. I think next time; I’ll discuss the horrible way Islam treats women & to stop spreading this horrible religion as it treats people badly & we don’t wont it here in Aust’a!! I did mention to the chap; it cuts peoples head, hands & feet off! That it’s a religion by men for men – only!! Thanks
And that has in fact been the case. While many are now just speaking to this particular episode, it seems the actual event in fact took place over a year ago. This is how Ezra Levant first wrote up this encounter:
This is all starting to sound like a funny children’s story where one decision has many unintended consequences and dilemmas. Pity it’s not!
The muslim vs lesbian was quietly resolved in mediation: http://news.nationalpost.com/2013/02/22/rights-complaint-against-muslim-barber-who-refused-to-give-woman-haircut-quietly-resolved/
However the underlying issue remains – i.e. hierarchy of rights.
Regards,
Nathan Keen
The media and politicians, being naturally spineless, will always take the easy road.
As Islam grows in power, the spineless PC yes-men will simply switch to whatever story keeps them out of personal trouble. Their fear of Islam (Islamophobia) will be stronger than their cowardice before the homosexual agenda (Homophobia).
In contrast, it takes a true vertebrate like Danny Nalliah, to face the enormous personal danger, mortgage-sized court fees, and kidnapping threats on his kids at school. So when he won that battle the stupid laws like Canada’s could be shown for what they are – stupid.
Amazing what some God-inspired backbone can achieve.
The piggies are now walking on two legs, but it won’t be long before they’ll be back on four legs… “two legs baa-d” will, before too long, become “Four legs good, two legs better.”
My first thought when I read this: “I’m not surprised it happened in Canada!”.
Tim, the “easy way out” usually leads into a corner from where eventually there won’t be a way out.
Best to stand and defend the line of where good meets evil to make sure.
Many blessings
Ursula Bennett
Cool article Bill,
I think many of us have been waiting for the day when different minorities clash and the PC morons are forced to choose a side. I would have actually backed the lesbian, given that homosexuals are completely untouchable these days, and there’s a bit of islamaphobia due to terrorism, but we shall see.
Take care everybody
JAMES
Bill if it was a Christian barber refusing a boyish haircut to a lesbian (possibly siting the parts of the OT that speak against cross-dressing), would you still feel like the lesbian’s rights were being trampled?
Thanks Amanda. But you miss the point here. If you read elsewhere on this site you know I support freedom of religion and freedom of conscience, even down to the level of small business owners. The issue here with this post of course is the self-destructing nature of most Western nations, including their failed multi-culti policies which allow those who want to downplay and diminish our freedoms and democracies to have free reign. This has been the case with both Muslims and homosexuals. My next book will document in detail how the latter group is warring against faith, freedom and family. This article was mainly about how two uber-PC groups are increasingly coming into conflict, and asks just how our PC Western governments will deal with all this. And a major point I was trying to make is this: what a load of contradictions, hypocrisy, and double standards we see in all this. If a Christian “discriminates,” it is evil. If a homosexual discriminates, it is fine. If a Muslim discriminates, well, the PC left just does not know what to make of it!
This terrible story is only a precursor for the things Christians will soon have to endure at the hands of Islamists and the despicable homosexualists.
However, for me, the worst part of it is that there is a lesbian called McGregor! I demand she is DNA tested!!
A doctor once refused to see my children and though it was upsetting at the time, because I was never given a reason, I still thought he had the right to do what he did. I thought it was the sign of a mature society that we can have someone refuse to do business with us and not feel personally offended, walk off in a huff and definitely not go to court over it.
Many blessings
Ursula Bennett
Of course it’s “equality” for a gay hairdresser to refuse to cut a non-same-sex-‘marriage’ advocate: http://www.nydailynews.com/news/national/gay-hair-stylist-drops-new-mexico-governor-client-opposes-same-sex-marriage-article-1.1027072
Nathan Keen
Apologies Bill, slightly off topic, but is there a preface to the Revised ed of Strained Relations? If so it might be useful to publish, to show the extent of the updates in the book. Otherwise, does it already exist on line an if so where please?
Cheers,
Gerard
Thanks Gerard. Instead of a revised and expanded version of SR, I will be releasing an entirely new volume – hopefully in the near future. And both will soon be available electronically.
Yeah Nathan, too true. It never ceases to amaze me, both the hypocrisy of the PC brigade, and the blatancy of it and also the silence from the MSM. They just know that they can say or do whatever they want and no-one in the media is going to call them to account for it. Not a whisper about the duplicity of it all.
The overarching irony of all this PC activity to shut down Christians while supporting Islam is that there won’t be anyone to stand up for freedoms and defend the homosexuals once Islam gains the foothold it requires. At least some countries are seeing Islam for what it is and are starting to roll back the tide of Muslim immigrants and the creep of Shariah.
I can’t see Abbott putting $1.5m+ toward ‘Muslim cultural education’ as Gillard did, but it will be interesting to see whether he is going to stand against the tide.
It is probable that more liberal leftists are tolerant towards Islam than Islamists are towards the liberal Left. Therefore Islam would trump liberalism, especially the sexual liberalism of homosexuality. The ultimate move on the chess board is that Islam would win its caliphate over the West and sharia law would rule, thanks in no small part to the craven conformism to liberalism of many apostate Christians.
It would be more appropriate to change the spelling of Multiculturalism to accurately represent its divisive and prejudicial reality.
It should be spelt “MulticulturalRACISM”.
Interesting article. Nowadays Moslems are handing out pamphlets on Islam In Swanston St crn Collins St [last Sat 1/3/14]. Melb, Australia. Well, I’m not going to beat about the bush anymore; I told the fella that Islam is evil & to follow Jesus, the Son of God; the only True God. I think next time; I’ll discuss the horrible way Islam treats women & to stop spreading this horrible religion as it treats people badly & we don’t wont it here in Aust’a!! I did mention to the chap; it cuts peoples head, hands & feet off! That it’s a religion by men for men – only!! Thanks