Damaging Divisions

Hello Everyone, I hope you're all well and wherever you are in the world, you are safe from harm. That does seem a big ask these days when there are still wars raging, riots and raw aggression being shown when, as always, there are infinitely better ways of resolving conflicts.

Here in the UK, we have been facing a tumultuous and tragic time, as some of you may know, there was a brutal attack on a children's dance class that left three little girls murdered, several of their friends severely wounded as well as their teachers and a business owner who showed great courage while trying to save lives. Allegedly prompted by this awful incident, rather than allowing the town to hold a peaceful vigil, certain factions of society chose to riot in the streets. Sadly, the violence has spread, rampaging groups of people have wreaked havoc within a number of towns and cities, causing untold destruction to community buildings and targeting those that are seen as 'different.' Perhaps even worse, many of those who are the most vocal, are 'proudly' displaying their racist colours for all to see while they pelt the police with rocks, set fire to rubbish bins and gleefully cause mayhem. Thankfully, these criminals are not representative of the general UK population, who are predominantly welcoming to everyone, something that has been proven over centuries. It has always been a melting pot of ethnicities, different religions existing side-by-side, enjoying each other's culture with respect and genuine interest. You only have to visit any supermarket, and you'll find food from all over the world, walk down any street, there will be every kind of cuisine readily available from local restaurants but more importantly, go to any event and you'll see every kind of person, regardless of race, sexual identity etc. This is what makes our country such a unique place and that's what makes this recent spate of senseless violence even more painful.

But sadly, this kind of desperation to highlight perceived differences is not only visible here in the UK, the Olympics in Paris has also brought out the worst in some people. The Algerian boxer, Imane Khelif, was targeted by far too many, who wrongly assumed she was a man when competing in the women's tournament. With little or no research, voices screeched from the rooftops as to how 'unfair' it was that she was in the boxing ring with a 'proper' woman- the bout was even compared to domestic violence which, frankly, was an abhorrent suggestion. Khelif was subjected to horrifying online bullying, her family was tracked down and her father, was harassed by rabid media to 'prove' his daughter's gender. For some, it was not enough that the IOC governing body had allowed the boxer to fight in the competition. Those people saw someone who, in their eyes, was not like them and so this apparent 'difference' needed to be highlighted, baseless outrage needed to be expressed in a self-righteous tone that bordered on nauseating. 

To be honest, the fact we are in 2024 and there are still sections of society who cannot cope with the fact we are not all supposed to look and be the same is beyond disheartening. It cannot be so hard to understand that the success of our communities is embracing diversity, to push back against prejudice and to speak out when we see anyone targeted for being 'different.'

But there is no question, certain political factions openly encourage people to be fearful, they sow the seeds in minds and then sit back and watch the chaos. Their message is simple, anyone who is not like us, needs to be removed and it really doesn't matter how that's done. It is the same message used by the Nazis back in the early 1930's which, as we all know, a few years later resulted in the Holocaust, undeniably the absolute worst destruction of human life in modern times. Yet in the recent riots here, there has been more than one man who has proudly shown his swastika tattoo, thinking it makes him more 'British'- which is both profoundly insulting and absurd. The Allies in World War 2, fought and died to preserve freedom from the tyranny of Nazi Germany, within the British army, there were regiments from all over the world- all together against a common enemy. Obviously, a variety of faiths and ethnicities were represented, Sikhs, Christians, Buddhists and Muslims to name only four - nobody was seen as 'different' or 'less' instead everyone was united. So, what a huge insult to those brave men and women that some ignorant person wears the symbol of a regime that they fought so hard to defeat. If ever there was proof of the need to learn from history, it's right there on those bare-chested, profoundly stupid men, who have no concept or understanding of the sacrifices that were made for the freedoms they now enjoy. Freedoms that would have not been so forthcoming had the Nazi war machine managed to overrun the world.

One last point, there is no strength in division, it is only when we unite that a safer and more productive society can be maintained. I honestly believe, the vast majority of people simply want to live their lives in peace and that gives me hope for the future. The world is a wonderful place, but it will only remain that way, if we care for each other, if we try and understand, if we are eager to learn but more importantly than all of those, if we respect another person's right to live in their own way.

Anyway, that's more than enough from me, as I said earlier, please stay as safe as possible and, as always...

Take care out there xxx