Welcome to the new year

So, twenty eleven is here - why is it that people get younger every New Year? I'm not sure what it says about our civilisation that we say goodbye the old year by getting hammered and hello to the new by feeling sick and hungover?

Maybe though it is an appropriate way of blocking out all that should have been in the previous year. I'd like to think we're all just a bit better than that though.

No 2010 may not have brought us all our dreams, it may not have brought in the changes demanded of a civilised world. People still seem to judge each other, lack forgiveness and the fight for equality, respect and dignity continues. But perhaps we took one step forward. Even a small one?

Perhaps this current Government, built on suspicion and selfishness will help remind people that actually society does exist and no it ain't BIG! It's the small people that count. The people that no one listens to. The homeless people you walk past on the street. The gay people too afraid to kiss or hold hands in public. The asylum seeker just looking for a safe home. The eastern european just wanting to work for a decent wage. The people in prison paying for their crimes but hoping against hope someone will offer them a job when they've served their time.

Who am I then to judge how people bring in the new year? Democracy, free speech, they are tricky concepts. I don't claim to get it right. But perhaps this year when the society we all thought we knew starts to crumble, when it starts to become about what makes us different rather than trying to understand, accept and respect those differencea - perhaps this year, more than any other I can try a bit harder and hopefully someone will listen......

Condemned

Well we're 3 months in to our coalition Government and how is it going for you? If you're a white, middle class, straight male then probably pretty well.

Sadly those who don't fall in to this category can slowly watch as their steps towards acceptance, protection under the law and respect fall away. Look at the proposed legal changes against gypsies and travellers.

What worries me most is that people will start feeling safe to challenge the equalities agenda. Things that we once counted on as important steps to show the world we must accept and embrace difference will disappear. Extreme views will start creeping back in to everyday conversation.

I despair as to how we can make everyone understand what equality means - that it is NOT about treating us all the same, we're all different and one size doesn't fit all. Do we need training in organisations, more events that all staff can be involved in or more messages in the media that embrace everyone? Culture change is hard but even harder if it isn't supported by the Government of the day or the local government in your area.

So I challenge all of you - white middle class straight men included to stand up for not only yourself but those around you. To challenge the status quo and to join together to ensure that the steps we've taken so far don't hit a brick wall.