Medieval Bigotry

I read somewhere recently that during the Middle Ages it was forbidden for Jews to travel by horseback in the Middle East, so they were compelled to ride around on donkeys and mules as a visible sign of their lowly, second-class status. 

And that reminded me of a scene form the movie Django Unchained, where upon their arrival at Big Daddy's slave plantation in pursuit of three murderers, Big Daddy tells Dr Schultz and his black companion, Django, that "It's against the law for niggers to ride horses in this territory".

Now discrimination and prejudice is nothing new, but rarely nowadays is this kind of bigoted and racist behaviour enshrined in the 'laws' of the land.

So, I was interested to learn the other day that in areas of Iraq and Syria which have come under the military 'control' of the Islamic State non-Muslims are allegedly given a choice of three options - they can flee their lands and homes, convert to Islam or pay a hefty tax for the privilege of staying put (for a while at least).

I don't know what the tax is I'm afraid or even how it is calculated, yet these religious men who try to invoke medieval laws are doing the self-same thing in their own way nowadays - by announcing that the modern day equivalent of Jews and 'niggers' are second-class citizens in their own country, and they are forced to pay a price just like the old ban on riding horses. 

Always assuming, of course, that they don't just murder the people concerned and steal their lands, homes and businesses - when it suits their purpose.

What amazes me is that so many people on the 'left' of politics find it difficult to name this vile behaviour for what it really is - organised prejudice, medieval bigotry, naked racism and a form of religious fascism that wraps itself in the cloak of Sharia law.