Take a moment to picture your perfect world, to dream………….Compare that image to what you perceive right now. I suspect it feels different from your perfect world. We wanted to take some time to reflect on what is happening right now, and talk about how what we all can do to make a difference.
This week marks National Volunteers’ Week in the UK, which would usually be a great cause for celebration here at TeamKinetic, as it is a celebration of what can be achieved when people come together. However, this year, this has been overshadowed by the news from America. Yet again, we see the ugly spectre of racism raise its vile head, in the terrible murder of George Floyd by the Minneapolis police. Graphically captured on video and shared a billion times across social media. This shocking scene has put into motion a series of events that look set to rock the world.
Our challenge is how do we plot a course through these terrible events and come out of the darkness to stand together united and stronger, how do we make our dream of a more fair and equitable society for all people, no matter their colour, race, sexual orientation, come true?
Be the change you want to see in the world!
What does it take to build a healthy community? A community operates on some basic fundamental ideals. You need to share beliefs by which you will all choose to live. To do this there needs to be a level of trust between the members. Individuals respect the rights and beliefs of others even if they are different from their own. Individuals have a responsibility to their community to do what is necessary to ensure the beliefs of that community are upheld.
Communities, like families, support and help one another. They don’t always agree on everything, they sometimes have significant disagreements about how to do things, but with effective leadership, trust and respect they can achieve things which seem quite impossible.
Tribalism, partisan politics, popularism, and a rampant misinformation engine are forces that divide society. So now, more than ever we need to make the impossible, possible. To take this dreadful incident and use it as a driver for positive change. No matter your ethnicity, religious or political beliefs, we’re all members of one community, the human race, and if we are to all live together we must all be willing to accept and respect one another.
Each and every one of us has the ability to make a difference, to be a better member of our community. We must take personal responsibility for our actions, its not enough to do nothing, to stay silent. Community is not passive, you need to proactively work for your beliefs and to make your world the place you want to live. It will not be easy, there will be failure and argument, but if you believe in the dream we started this blog with we must all accept our responsibilities.
Be vocal, be organised, but remember. You can’t solve violence with violence
Real change takes time, it requires many millions of people to generate inertia, to vote for politicians that offer hope not hate, that offer a progressive choice not the status quo. This message is not just a hashtag or a social post. Real change, the kind that lasts for generations must be built on a bedrock of a change in peoples beliefs and values. We must all be more vocal when we see discrimination in any form, we must call it out for what it is, as saying nothing is as good as supporting it. We must look at how we support those who have dedicated their lives to fight discrimination.
Educate – Understanding Racism in America
People are angry. We are seeing violence, born of frustration and fear, but violence can not be the only option, it can’t be the default response, as it will only lead to more fear and more violence. Instead, we need organisation, action and a new community built on the shared beliefs of equality.
Spirit of Volunteering
2020 has been full of lessons about what people are truly capable of, both the good and the bad. We began lockdown by working together and looking after one another, with a pandemic still hanging over all of our heads, we must continue to look after each other through taking responsibility for our own actions. Volunteering has helped massively during this health crisis and is an amazing example of what people are willing to do. I hope we can take similar lessons from the COVID-19 response and use that same energy to make the world a little better for all minority people. Volunteering, getting involved, doing your bit, being an engaged and proactive member within your community, charity, education, sport or health group. It doesn’t matter what it is as long as we continue to unite and work together our dream may one day come true.
The Human Race
TeamKinetic want to live by the same values we have discussed here. We want to support the type of organisations that are trying to make the world a more equitable place to live. That is why we are offering the use of our service for FREE for any community group for 6 months that can demonstrate how their work will help address these inequalities. If you would like to take advantage of this offer please contact the team here
