PIGS ARE VERY INCORRECT

From England's Sword

Thoughtful leftie Norm Geras asks that we bring back John Stuart Mill as he reports on the following story:

FOR more than 100 years it stood proudly as the centrepiece of England's oldest public park before being decapitated during a Second World War air raid. Now a row has broken out after plans to replace Derby's historic Florentine Boar statue were abandoned for fear of offending Muslims, whose religion considers pigs to be 'unclean'.

In one sense, this is just another classic case of political correctness in action; pathetic and nasty in equal measure, but ultimately a small thing. 'Same old, same old' is a reasonable enough response.

But the thought also occurs that in the blink of an eye we may have established a precedent that will outlive our great-grandchildren, that all of a sudden we have reduced to almost nothing the chance of any work of art involving something as harmless as a pig ever again being displayed in a public place in this country. From Christmas lights which dare highlight the significance of the moment to hot cross buns in school canteens, innocent and creative symbols of our culture and nation are disappearing while landmarks and ceremonies with history and meaning are being torn down and wound up.