Wrong, Again
Evidently there's another bed-and-breakfast brouhaha. With a lot of people lining up behind a couple living near Liverpool, England, who operate a small hotel named Bounty House. Bounty House, and their owners, Ben and Sharon Vogelenzang, are indebted to a nearby state-operated hospital, which often refers patients who are undergoing treatment to their very nice establishment, so handy to the hospital.
The hospital is no longer referring patients to Bounty House. And Ben and Sharon Vogelenzang's neat little business has more or less collapsed. They have, therefore, lost their livelihood. But not only that, they are being harassed by public authorities. After questioning, the local constabulary have charged this couple with using "threatening, abusive or insulting words", said to have been "religiously aggravated".
Poor Ben and Sharon Vogelenzang. They stepped into a landmine. And they are not contrite. Turns out one of their guests, staying with them while receiving treatment at the hospital, turned up on her third morning at their lovely and comfortable little hotel for breakfast, wearing a !gasp! hijab. This rather surprised the hosts, and it would appear they forgot how to be hosts, however extemporaneously.
No polite detachment, no deferential treatment to a woman undergoing medical treatment, requiring a tranquil retreat in between treatments. The hosts and their guests exchanged opinions. The hosts allege that their guest ventured her opinion that (unprodded?) Jesus was but a minor prophet, and in response the sensitive hosts charged that Mohammad was a warlord, and a hijab is a sign of female bondage.
The guest, somewhat upset, filed a complaint with the local police. And things went downhill from there. Understandably, the hospital was grieved to learn that their patient was dreadfully upset as a result of the hostile encounter she was part of, at the very domicile-for-hire they had recommended to her. Henceforth, no further recommendations. Result: lost business.
Now the supporters of the Vogelenzangs are vociferously incensed about 'political correctness', freedom of speech, and a nice middle-aged couple being charged with a criminal offence, and facing a whopping fine. One does have a certain compassion for them; if their business is indeed collapsed, it might be recognized as earned societal censure. Criminal charges should be forgotten.
Were and are they being unfairly harassed? Don't think so. There are more than enough genuflections to PC; this, in my opinion is not one of them. The hospital entrusted this couple with the privilege of attending to the basic material well-being of a vulnerable health-impaired patient. They responded by insulting a guest in the interests of 'speaking their mind'.
These hosts, determined to be ungracious in the face of a hijab-wearing woman, are old enough to know better, to exercise better judgement, to understand their obligation as a business catering to clients of the hospital which trustingly refers their patients to their establishment. Rudeness to the point of utter nastiness doesn't sit well with such circumstances.
End of story.
The hospital is no longer referring patients to Bounty House. And Ben and Sharon Vogelenzang's neat little business has more or less collapsed. They have, therefore, lost their livelihood. But not only that, they are being harassed by public authorities. After questioning, the local constabulary have charged this couple with using "threatening, abusive or insulting words", said to have been "religiously aggravated".
Poor Ben and Sharon Vogelenzang. They stepped into a landmine. And they are not contrite. Turns out one of their guests, staying with them while receiving treatment at the hospital, turned up on her third morning at their lovely and comfortable little hotel for breakfast, wearing a !gasp! hijab. This rather surprised the hosts, and it would appear they forgot how to be hosts, however extemporaneously.
No polite detachment, no deferential treatment to a woman undergoing medical treatment, requiring a tranquil retreat in between treatments. The hosts and their guests exchanged opinions. The hosts allege that their guest ventured her opinion that (unprodded?) Jesus was but a minor prophet, and in response the sensitive hosts charged that Mohammad was a warlord, and a hijab is a sign of female bondage.
The guest, somewhat upset, filed a complaint with the local police. And things went downhill from there. Understandably, the hospital was grieved to learn that their patient was dreadfully upset as a result of the hostile encounter she was part of, at the very domicile-for-hire they had recommended to her. Henceforth, no further recommendations. Result: lost business.
Now the supporters of the Vogelenzangs are vociferously incensed about 'political correctness', freedom of speech, and a nice middle-aged couple being charged with a criminal offence, and facing a whopping fine. One does have a certain compassion for them; if their business is indeed collapsed, it might be recognized as earned societal censure. Criminal charges should be forgotten.
Were and are they being unfairly harassed? Don't think so. There are more than enough genuflections to PC; this, in my opinion is not one of them. The hospital entrusted this couple with the privilege of attending to the basic material well-being of a vulnerable health-impaired patient. They responded by insulting a guest in the interests of 'speaking their mind'.
These hosts, determined to be ungracious in the face of a hijab-wearing woman, are old enough to know better, to exercise better judgement, to understand their obligation as a business catering to clients of the hospital which trustingly refers their patients to their establishment. Rudeness to the point of utter nastiness doesn't sit well with such circumstances.
End of story.
Labels: Health, Human Relations, religion, Whoops
posted by Pieface @ 6:00 PM
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