Well I'm writing this post as I feel like I need to scream at all the injustices and how better than to scream in a blog post. So don't say I didn't warn you!
I want to scream at people who think that the vulnerable and dependent are scapegoats and the media who vilify them- we are meant to be a compassionate society and when we pit one social group against another and increase the social divide we damage ourselves with unjustified ignorance and hate and anger. These people NEED our empathy and compassion not to be spat at or made to feel like scroungers or not belonging because of the tiny minority who do abuse the welfare system. Yes I understand about taking responsibility and working when you can- I'm disabled- I struggle to walk and when I do I walk with a stick or get pushed by my husband in a wheelchair and I work even though it often is to the detriment of my health and a reliance on painkillers to get through the day but I am LUCKY to be in the position where I am not the main breadwinner and I have a generally supportive employer. I have a huge amount of empathy for those whose health, finances (whether on benefits or not) and responsibilities or employer don't give them the same luxury as me.
I want to scream at the loss of employment rights and the threat of even more loss of rights planned by our tory government- how can people have good morale when until they've been employed for at least 2 years your employer can get rid of you for no reason. There needs to be a balance and common sense with rights and currently it is to the detriment of the individual 'little guy' and the benefit of the 'big guys'.
I want to scream at the huge disconnect we have with our food and the lack of compassion this brings- for people to admire cows in fields and whilst gorging a big Mac laugh at vegetarians/vegans for being empathic. These animals whether you are vegetarian or not should be treated with respect for the short time they are alive- they provide the food you eat and have to go through things that no human would tolerate- their calves repeatedly taken from them and their milk used for the benefit of humans, their friends taken from (studies have shown cows have friends) them and slaughtered. Being taken to slaughterhouses/abattoirs where they smell the blood and fear of other animals and they can take repeated attempts to be slaughtered- read the latest reports on abbatoirs to see the figures. These animals feel pain and fear and I think it's cruel and wrong to laugh in the face of it or at vegetarians/vegans for recognising it.
I want to scream at the developing racism and stereotyping of different cultures just because a few people make their words louder because they have guns and bombs- this doesn't make their view the majority opinion or define their religion- are Christians going to blank out the crusades or let themselves be defined by minority extremist churches- of course not so why should we do this to Muslim people or assume that because many Islamic women practice modesty that they must their have something to hide? We do not choose where we are born and often many are forced from their 'home' lands because they have no choice- but we CAN choose to be accepting, compassionate and welcoming to those in need and embrace the knowledge we can get from each other and our differences.
Please people wake up- we are losing our compassion and becoming a society where everyone is in it for themselves and treats our neighbours and strangers with suspicion rather than curiosity and good will.
So next time you see someone struggling, or someone who is different to, approach them with good will and a friendly smile as its this openness and curiosity which makes us human and connects us to each other.
