Discrimination is a tricky word. Sometimes it is describes something to blame, and at other times to praise. We generally agree that discriminating against people on the basis of gender or race or religion is wrong, for example. But we praise people for being discriminating in their judgment of wine or films, and perhaps for their subtle judgment about what kinds of discrimination are right and wrong.
We may hesitate, too, to condemn all instances of discrimination that favour one group over another. If political parties and business corporations have a record of rarely appointing women or people from minority groups to positions of responsibility, for example, we might applaud them for introducing quotas to correct the imbalance. They will be criticised, of course, for discriminating against men of proven ability. We appreciate, however, that existing processes of appointment most likely entrench discrimination against women, much of it in ways that go unrecognsed.
Similarly anti-discrimination laws that protect certain groups from abusive and hurtful speech may lead another group to complain of discrimination because their freedom of speech or of religion is infringed. Such examples suggest that it is impossible to achieve total non-discrimination, and that legislation is a blunt instrument to encourage it. It is more important to encourage people to build respectful relationships with one another. Even if we disagree with the way in which others speak and the beliefs that they hold, we shall then relate to them as our fellow beings and not as objects of our scorn or hatred. We shall not behave in a way that is hurtful or deepen the prejudice other people may have against them. The more strongly we disagree with people, the more careful we must be in ensuring that our words are not destructive and that they do not feed into other people’s hatred or contempt.
Encouraging zero discrimination ultimately is less about making human rights legally binding, though that will often be important. It is more about expanding all people’s respect for one another and particularly for those who differ from them or from the majority in their race, religion, political convictions or gender. Respect expresses itself in determination to speak well of everyone, speak politely to them, differ from others without dismissing them. It also leads to curiosity and conversation about difference and not to withdrawal, to the humility that acknowledges and apologises for ignorant and offensive behaviour, and to graciousness in forgiving others.
When such attitudes are made part of our culture we can negotiate the different conflicting claims to non-discrimination.