In 1953, 20th Century Fox produced a film musical in Technicolor starring Marilyn Monroe called Gentleman Prefer Blondes.

There were no protests on the streets from disaffected brunettes, nor from women who felt left out that their preferences didn’t even seem to be a consideration.

More than 60 years on and political correctness has gone so far that in a world of too many choices our preferences are becoming increasingly restricted.

We focus so much on tolerance and making allowances for everyone, that our ability to discriminate has been curtailed, with dangerous risks.

Years ago, if a person was described as “discriminating” this meant that they were informed and usually made good choices. Discrimination is now a dirty word.

It’s far too easy to call people racists, sexists, ageists, homophobes; and if Christians, Jews or Muslims only want their children to marry someone of the same religion does this mean they are bad in some way?

I don’t think so, but that is the direction we are headed.

It is argued that if people are forced to behave politically correctly, then over time it changes the culture and people become more tolerant and accepting.

To some extent there is truth in this, but it also creates resentment, which quietly simmers and always risks bubbling over.

I’m not suggesting we allow a free-for-all of name calling, but there is an important difference between choosing who you want to live with and persecuting people because of their beliefs or skin colour.

This line has become blurred.

That is why we see anti-immigration chatter rising to the surface and why extremism is rife, not just in terms of racist parties gathering support across Europe, but also with Islamic fundamentalism gathering pace.

People should be able to say what they want and be free to believe what they want, providing it does not infringe upon the freedoms of others.

For example, Islamic beliefs can be welcomed in Britain, but when extremists want to convert large swathes of the world to a caliphate under Sharia law this is a step too far and must be curtailed.

If the brunettes want to become blondes, it should be their choice.

They should not be forced to dye for this cause.