In a letter to The Herald, a lawyer, advocate Sean Templeton, has suggested the religious oath on which witnesses swear in court should be the abolished and replaced with a secular oath which would be suitable for everyone.
From the article I read, it seems Mr Templeton's suggestion is from the point of view of equality and based on prejudice he's personally witnessed, detailing that the affirmation makes a witness stand out and could make a juror biased, and that allowing witnesses to swear on different religious texts creates more "problems of prejudice" than it solves.
It's nice when the judiciary starts to catch up but we have a way to go yet, I think. As Trial by Jury On Trial explores, it's the fact that religion creates and encourages these supremacist prejudices that's the real problem.
Also, whilst I welcome the step towards a secular format, nestled inside Mr Tempelton's suggestion is the potential for a disquieting societal consequence; doesn't this sound a lot like "Don't ask, Don't tell"?...
Should they wear white pointed hood masks, perhaps?
While I can see the message could be easily depicted to even the dimmest juror, via a picture of the three wise monkeys, would it not make for a more honest society if each judge were to start excluding jurors who show prejudice?
As a final micro-ponder...
This is one of the Too Many Questions
From the article I read, it seems Mr Templeton's suggestion is from the point of view of equality and based on prejudice he's personally witnessed, detailing that the affirmation makes a witness stand out and could make a juror biased, and that allowing witnesses to swear on different religious texts creates more "problems of prejudice" than it solves.
It's nice when the judiciary starts to catch up but we have a way to go yet, I think. As Trial by Jury On Trial explores, it's the fact that religion creates and encourages these supremacist prejudices that's the real problem.
Also, whilst I welcome the step towards a secular format, nestled inside Mr Tempelton's suggestion is the potential for a disquieting societal consequence; doesn't this sound a lot like "Don't ask, Don't tell"?...
"A single oath removes any distinction between witnesses. It introduces a level playing field that takes away the need for a person to reveal their religious beliefs before they even give evidence."And, to command "No bigotry to be shown in the court" is that not implying "The state chooses to force all bigots to conceal their bigotry"?
While I can see the message could be easily depicted to even the dimmest juror, via a picture of the three wise monkeys, would it not make for a more honest society if each judge were to start excluding jurors who show prejudice?
As a final micro-ponder...
Anybody know of any actual wisdom delivered to us by the 3 wise monkeys?
Seems to me, if you live by their metaphor you get atrocities!
Original Article: Call to scrap religious court oath
PEACE
Crispy
Crispy
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The best communications are often,
THREE WORDS OR LESS
OR ONE OR MORE FINGERS!
The best communications are often,
THREE WORDS OR LESS
OR ONE OR MORE FINGERS!
