I have detested racism all of my life, but to be absolutely clear I mean all racism not just against one race, colour, creed or religion. It has no place in our world and it would certainly be an achievement for mankind if we can all work together to eradicate it once and for all. It can be achieved and the easy way to start is for everybody to accept that we are all the same when it comes down to it; if you cut one of us in half, we all bleed, we are all the same colour inside and we will all feel pain.
I have observed the spread of protest and increasing violence across the globe since the completely unjust and illegal murder of George Floyd in Mineapolis; a murder carried out by corrupt police officers that shame their profession and dishonour their oath to Protect & Serve. They are criminals who will be dealt with by the courts whilst the world watches. However, the panic being seen in the UK over the removal of ageing and inappropriate statues is not helping anybody and some might say, is merely inflaming the situation unnecessarily. Whether we like it or not, nobody can change history, but the counterbalance is that everybody can change the future, so let’s do this together under control and in a lawful manner. I believe that doing it that way is far more powerful than just being seen to try and placate those demonstrating. It would also be an entirely democratic and joined up process that would maintain progress. This isn’t a flash in the pan demonstration, it must keep going until all of the wrongs are addressed.
Language is one of the key areas to address; it has caused enormous pain over the years and still does. All races are guilty of this and we can’t push it to one side, otherwise it will always ignite and incite hatred. Let’s work together to stop it wherever it raises its head; it’s unacceptable and everybody knows that is the case. I am not a dedicated follower of Robert Burns, but as I have written before, he said “a mans a man for a’ that” and I translate that to mean “we are all the same, irrespective of our many different colours, beliefs or ways of life”. The sooner we embrace that and get fully behind each other the better it will be for all of us.
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