Recently a report by Helen Reece at the London School of Economics complained that banning sex offenders from adopting children is discriminatory. To that I say… yes, it is but society has the welfare of the child in mind.
The problem here is that people presume discrimination is always, wrong and bad, which is simply not true. Merely discriminating is not wrong, the act only becomes a problem when it is done so for improper, unjust, and/or immoral reasons.
Here is what Dictionary.com gives as the definition of discrimination:
1. an act or instance of discriminating.
2. treatment or consideration of, or making a distinction in favor of or against, a person or thing based on the group, class, or category to which that person or thing belongs rather than on individual merit: racial and religious intolerance and discrimination.
3. the power of making fine distinctions; discriminating judgment: She chose the colors with great discrimination.
4. Something which serves to differentiate.
Discrimination is simply choosing or favoring something over another. When I choose Sally for a date rather than Jenny, I’ve discriminated for Sally and against Jenny. When I choose pizza rather than gyros for lunch, I’ve discriminated. In truth, as definition number 3 shows, discrimination can be a positive character trait. Having discriminating taste in music or food makes you someone with class and distinction.
Discriminating against sex offenders isn’t necessarily wrong. In fact, it is good to discriminate against those who do evil. We regularly as a society discriminate against criminals by treating them differently than those who do not break the law. They face legal sanction for their crimes in a manner that those who did not commit them do not face.
What makes discrimination bad is when you do so for the wrong reasons. Discriminating against Belgians lets say, because you think they are lazy and thieving is wrong, because it is false and perjurious, not because it is discrimination. People who are lazy and thieving ought to be discriminated against. Belgians are just folks like anyone else, and as such treating them all in such a negative manner is unjust and immoral.
The use of discrimination as a negative in all instances shows a lack of discernment in modern culture. The problem is never the discrimination but why its being done. Be discriminating, but be just, honorable, and true. Treat people by the content of their character, not by some cruel, unfair slander, or god given distinction.
