Today is blog action day, which brings together bloggers from different countries, interests and languages to blog about one important global topic on the same day. This year’s theme is inequality.
One aspect of inequality is discrimination – allowing people different opportunities or different rights for reasons that are not or should not be relevant. It’s not that long ago, for example, that women working in the Foreign Office had to resign if they married. And even when I joined the Foreign Office, anyone who was openly gay would not be allowed to work for the organisation. Thankfully, those things have changed and along with other Government departments the FCO has made great strides in ensuring that what makes a difference in career progression is ability and performance, not factors such as ethnic origin, social class, sex, religion, sexual orientation, disability or others that are ultimately irrelevant.
Thinking about this I was reminded of a poem by AE Housman. It was written about the trial of the Anglo-Irish poet and playwright Oscar Wilde, but it applies as well to many other instances of discrimination:
“Oh who is that young sinner with the handcuffs on his wrists? And what has he been after, that they groan and shake their fists? And wherefore is he wearing such a conscience-stricken air? Oh they’re taking him to prison for the colour of his hair.
‘Tis a shame to human nature, such a head of hair as his; In the good old time ’twas hanging for the colour that it is; Though hanging isn’t bad enough and flaying would be fair For the nameless and abominable colour of his hair.
Oh a deal of pains he’s taken and a pretty price he’s paid To hide his poll or dye it of a mentionable shade; But they’ve pulled the beggar’s hat off for the world to see and stare, And they’re haling him to justice for the colour of his hair.
Now ’tis oakum for his fingers and the treadmill for his feet, And the quarry-gang on Portland in the cold and in the heat, And between his spells of labour in the time he has to spare He can curse the God that made him for the colour of his hair.”