Once upon a time in a place not too far away there were brown and white faces of varying tones, straight and gay guys and girls all together, either revering a raft of religious beliefs, or not believing at all. They worked, played, fell in love, and formed friendships that would be forever celebrated. They had a common purpose and knew that humanity was the golden thread binding them together.
This opening paragraph is not some fairytale, or aspirational vision; it was the Slough and District Police Area that I had the honour to serve and be a part of not so many years ago.
Suella Braverman, the Home Secretary of the UK, claims the affinity we experienced within our police area is an ‘existential challenge’ to the security of the West.
Braverman and her ilk represent a real and present danger to our often fragile society, and their toxicity breeds a false and dangerous narrative. They are damaged; corrupted by a malevolence of mind that strips away any notion of being human.
You can look away or deny it will ever affect you; maybe this will provide temporary respite. But this won’t last. History has a habit of repeating itself if left unchecked, as the poignant words of German pastor Martin Niemöller testify:
First they came for the socialists, and I did not speak out ─ because I was not a socialist.
Then they came for the trade unionists, and I did not speak out ─ because I was not a trade unionist.
Then they came for the Jews, and I did not speak out ─ because I was not a Jew.
Then they came for me ─ and there was no one left to speak for me.
You have the individual superpower to ignore the bigotry of Braverman and commit to banishing her, and the political party that gives her refuge, to the annals of history when you are given the opportunity to vote in the next general election.
Slough is not unique. It’s representative of Britain where British values of tolerance, decency, and kindness erupt in a fluorescence of fairness.
© Ian Kirke 2023 & title photograph – M4 Slough
@ianjkirke