Mecca and a motorcar

Press, 29 March 1980, Page 14

Mecca and a motorcar

By WHIM WHAM

You can specifically advertise for a Moslem slaughterman but not a Christian service station attendant . . . Halal killing, in the case of Moslems was a religious ritual performed only by believers in the faith ... no such religious significance was attached to putting petrol into the tanks of motorcars.—Human Rights Commission finding. Sir, in Decisions affecting Religion One is naturally careful. Not being a deeply religious Person myself, Or particularly prayerful. I feel nevertheless that these Things call for Delicacy, for Tact — For instance, the precise religious Significance Of this or that Act Is a tricky Question, I mean 1 wouldn’t care To exclude, say, one s Bank, . Or Pub, or Rock Concert, and as for putting Retrol into a Tank, . . I know People for Whom this is a truly significant -Religiousßitual , ' ■ • In the Worship of the Car, and no Less so Because common and habitual — And who are We to deny the Significance . Of Car to Creed. . . ; Or Creed to Car? And has the Commission considered Where This can lead? 1 , All gods demand Offerings, the Car not least .. Think of the Price! A Libation of Oil today — tomorrow, perhaps Blood Sacrifice. These are merely a few passing Thoughts, :bir, Of theprofane Variety — . If the priestlike Task at the Petrol Pump isn.t Your Conception of Piety, , / . . . , Still, it keens you on the Road all Machines must travel From Maker to Wrecker. And isn’t there some oilv Connection, after all, [ Between Meat and Mecca?.