Military
Clothing – Questions of Sensitivity
The Times newspaper recently reported that parts of Britain would be
off-limits for servicemen and women in military clothing because of the
risk of offending minorities.
Some believe it's political correctness gone mad, but The Times reported
that senior RAF sources have said parts of Britain will be no-go areas
for military personnel wearing military clothing off-duty in public.
Although Prime Minister Gordon Brown is trying to encourage all military
personnel to embrace wearing their military clothing out of service hours,
there is a fear wearing military clothing in some parts of the UK will
upset ethnic minority communities.
Military Clothing: Uniform 'free-for-all'
There is an
argument that picking out ethnic minorities as being a particular sensitive
issue is in itself full of prejudice: the British army represents
all British citizens, no matter what their ethnicity. But the reality
on the street shows this to be a naïve ideal. Despite the Government
calls asking for a 'uniform free-for-all' there are certain areas where
military clothing in public causes antagonism. Senior military sources
have called for more dialogue with local authorities and the police before
embracing the concept of wearing military clothing in public.
Banning Military Clothing – A 'Sensible Precaution'
Wearing military clothing used to be seen as patriotic, inspiring pride,
but the ban in Peterborough ordered by a station commander from RAF Wittering
on personnel wearing military clothing in public demonstrates the potential
upset it can cause. Although banning military clothing in public may
be seen as a step down, Group Captain Ro Atherton who advised her personnel
to wear civilian clothes in Peterborough over military clothing, was
praised as taking the 'sensible precaution'.
'No Go' Area for Military Uniform
The ban was not against wearing military clothing in all of Peterborough
but just in areas of particular sensitivity. Labour MP Quentin Davies
was quoted in The Times expressing disappointment at the ban on military
clothing. Davies is carrying out an official review of the attitude towards
military personnel and the question of wearing military clothing in public.
He said,
“
There must never be no-go areas in any part of our country for any citizen.
Least of all should there be no-go areas for those who are wearing the
Queen’s uniform.”
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