Which sits better with your moral compass – locking up an ex-marine for his preference for rambling in the buff, or supporting a political party that has just advocated a ban on Muslim women covering their faces?
It takes a lot of pluck for a politician to outline a policy that effectively tells people how to live their lives, but that's what
the UK Independence Party has done. Many believe such a policy
is long overdue.
With a May election rumoured, UKIP, along with other parties, are starting to set out their stalls.
The libertarian in me baulks at the idea of any political organisation dictating a dress code. However, the issue of the veil or the niqab has nothing to do with sartorial preference and everything to do with fear and division.
So why all the fuss? There's a sizeable argument that says wearing such dress creates a barrier and is a form of female oppression. Others fear it is the oppressive hand of Sharia law getting its grip on the UK, while some make the valid point such an outward demonstration of religion would not be tolerated in an Islamic state if you were a Christian.
The argument I keep hearing against such a ban is it is 'not very British'. As a country we have a magnificent track record in tolerating and promoting freedom of expression; we live and let live. Or do we?
There's a man who has been given the tag 'The Naked Rambler' and it's very apt. His name is Stephen Gough and he is a former marine.
You may recall this chap hiked naked from Land's End to John O'Groats in 2003. He has spent much time in the past seven years behind bars for repeatedly appearing nude in public.
Last week Stephen was told he would spend the rest of his life in prison if he continues to go starkers in public. What a great
use of taxpayers' money.
So we now live in a land where it's okay to tell a chap who likes to feel the air around his bits how to live his life, but we quickly site freedom of expression if there's any risk of a backlash.
I think UKIP has developed a policy that will gain it a lot of support.
And for the record, I do believe there should be a ban on the veil or the niqab in public.
My view has absolutely nothing to do with religion but is based on the security of this country, especially with the recent upgrading of the risk of a terrorist attack on the UK.
In these times of global terrorism, no-one should be covering their face at an airport or on a bus, train, plane or in a public place.
As for the naked rambler, more power to his elbow, or indeed any other part of his body.
If we are going to tolerate everybody's freedom in this country, then it should be across the board, not just for those with the loudest voices who know the value and effectiveness of playing the faith card.
It's a TV turn-offAlmost the end of the month and I have already decided I do not wish to book a cruise anywhere (why on earth would you want to be stuck with people you will invariably dislike but cannot escape from for days at a time?), nor do I wish to subscribe to the forthcoming 24 issues of
Great Knitting Patterns of the World (issue two with free binder).
And I certainly have no intention of discovering a 'new me' by prancing around in my living room to a fitness DVD 'starring' some low-grade actress from who used to play some long-forgotten character in a TV soap.
Talking of which I am also fed up with Martine McCutcheon interrupting Coronation Street to tell me about yogurt.
Yes, television advertising in January is the pits.
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