Common Sense and Health & Safety
It is probably not an unreasonable fiat to say that certain newspapers - the Mail, the Sun - would regard the Health & Safety Executive as ‘elf ‘n safety nazis. Two recent events give the lie to that position.Common sense is, as we know, not that common. What is obvious to one person is not to another. Let us take, as an example, a builder called Bob. Bob thinks he’s safe because he’s never had or caused a serious accident before. However, he only has a very small part of the picture and may believe a statistical anomaly to have greater weight that in should.
The same precautionary principle should apply elsewhere. I’m thinking of the unfortunate case of Gillian Gibbons. While right in this case is undoubtedly with Ms Gibbons, the principle applies; it is better to avoid the problem in the first instance. Doubtlessly, the complainant in this case is unrepresentative of most Muslims but, as we know, small groups can shout loudly and accuse people of not being faithful enough.
xD.
November 29th, 2007 at 9:48 am
What about the builder who thinks it’s fine to pass on donations to the Labour Party? But seriously, do you know anything about GG? Was she employed directly by the school? How much did she know about Islam? Are you suggesting that Sudan should have some sort of “Tebbit test” before employing foreign teachers?
November 29th, 2007 at 10:29 am
I’m afraid you’ve completely the wrong end of the stick. Ms Gibbons was in Sudan under the auspices of the British Council and I am suggesting that a more through briefing by the Council might have been in order.
November 29th, 2007 at 11:52 am
I didn’t know she was employed by the BC. Have they made a statement?
November 29th, 2007 at 12:44 pm
She wasn’t; the position was arranged, I understand, through the Council.