It says here “Gay rights campaigner Peter Tatchell has said there should be “blank cheque”…” [for countries violating human rights].
This is an interesting use of English. I think the usual wording is “there should be no blank cheque…” , in other words, bad behaviour should not be ignored, or rewarded. Here I think the wording has a different nuance: that countries violating human rights should be sent a cheque for a zero amount.
I don’t mind either way, it’s a new way with an old term. The intended meaning was that Malawi should not have “carte blanche” to treat gay people inhumanely. I agree with that!
Peter Tatchell is absolutely right that foreign aid should be withheld from states who practice homophobic repression, though his metaphore “blank cheque” is incorrect – a blank cheque is a signed and dated cheque with the monetary value left blank so the recipient can insert any sum they see fit – definitely not what Peter was proposing!
Actually it’s Pink News that got this one slightly wrong – the original article in yesterday’s Scotsman quotes Peter as saying there should be no blank cheque for countries that violate human rights!
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Tatchel is right. There should be no aid for homophobic regimes. Aid should be pegged to human rights improvements.
It says here “Gay rights campaigner Peter Tatchell has said there should be “blank cheque”…” [for countries violating human rights].
This is an interesting use of English. I think the usual wording is “there should be no blank cheque…” , in other words, bad behaviour should not be ignored, or rewarded. Here I think the wording has a different nuance: that countries violating human rights should be sent a cheque for a zero amount.
I don’t mind either way, it’s a new way with an old term. The intended meaning was that Malawi should not have “carte blanche” to treat gay people inhumanely. I agree with that!
Peter Tatchell is absolutely right that foreign aid should be withheld from states who practice homophobic repression, though his metaphore “blank cheque” is incorrect – a blank cheque is a signed and dated cheque with the monetary value left blank so the recipient can insert any sum they see fit – definitely not what Peter was proposing!
this is part of the heritage of vitorian law 377
now religions are spearheading the hate
we should not help these homophobic countries
Actually it’s Pink News that got this one slightly wrong – the original article in yesterday’s Scotsman quotes Peter as saying there should be no blank cheque for countries that violate human rights!