"Virtue signallers": a phrase used to reduce the moral validity of those who call for social justice, compassion in politics, responsible care of our planet, and most recently, those who are outraged at the 322 MPs who voted against a motion to provide free meals for children during the October holidays.
Oh yes, virtue signalling is a thing. But so is genuine compassion, care for others, commitment to the common good, moral values that question the priorities of Government policy, and good citizenship that holds politicians to account for the decisions they make and the consequences for others.
To dismiss all moral protest and reasoned disagreement as "virtue signalling" is political cynicism at best, and a sign of being morally tone deaf at worst.
Oh, and is it not the case that to call out "virtue signalling" is to virtue signal? It is also to avoid the moral argument and opt for ad hominem attacks on those we want to silence.
The Sermon on the Mount is one of the most powerful ethical documents in human history. I guess it could be called out as virtue signalling by those who want to give its teachings a body swerve.
The photo is of a small print sent to me by a friend - David Hockney "The Sermon on the Mount II".
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