Stop the differences

The subject I am about to approach is one that requires careful handling and could easily be misinterpreted. So let me say from the start it scares me but I think it needs to be said?

The media has a, well intentioned, predilection for promoting the differences between people and they especially write about black and ethnic groups or individuals who have broken through and made a name for themselves in their chosen field.

Only this morning I read an article on the BBC website that told the story of black players throughout professional football in the UK.. They used the acronym BAME, Black and Ethnic Minority, why?

So what you ask is my objection to such promotion and lauding of those players who were the first to play for England or broke transfer records etc? Nothing about them as people or players, I salute their success. I do not claim to understand what they had to overcome to succeed in their chosen profession or what it is like to not to be, other than, white in a society dominated by others. I am a 66 year old white middle class man, who has no personnal concept of prejudice, I know I hate it!

It is a tragedy, what so many have had to suffer and experience in order to achieve any form of equality, whatever their ethnicity, religion or gender, all forms of bias of that nature is abhorrent. Of course it still goes on and in some cases is getting worse. Prejudice is power and there is nowhere in the world where, however little, the power of prejudice is not practised. You cannot hide the many displaced people or minorities that are discriminated against, simply because they are different, whatever the reason might be.

So to my point and there is one.

The more the differences are promoted the longer they will be perpetuated and remain. It is fantastic to elevate success to encourage others and actively reinforce those successes, no matter who achieves them but it should be done without any mention of skin colour, ethnicity or gender. We all know it does not matter and yet we cannot seem to stop and it is from both sides, those prejudiced against, quite rightly, wish to stand up for themselves and use the differences to highlight the need for their rights and equality. They have more than a point. I could be accused of throwing gasoline on the fire simply for writing this piece and maybe I have?

Put simply and I am being simple and naïve I just want everyone to just be people and for the media to reflect that.