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Jill Parkinson throws her fortnightly pack of punches
Born and bred
Firstly, I would like to thank all those readers who took the trouble
to write in, supporting my efforts. To my detractors, I will endeavour
to do better. One reader was a tad unhappy regarding my observation of
the Queen Mother's vanity. He wrote "that to be proud to be English
these days is to be thought racist".
I understand his viewpoint and he is certainly not alone. There is a
huge ground-swell of resentment among many people in this country.
The perception is that matters have shifted so far in favour of certain
groups, that the rest of society is being ignored.
Two recent reports bear this out: one by the Independent Television Commission,
another by The Arts Council of England & Theatrical Management Association,
who "demanded" (not requested) that as there were not enough
ethnic minorities in commercial television and the theatre, "positive
action" must be taken to remedy the situation. (Positive action -
isn't that discrimination by another name?)
The arts report went on to state that "only one in twenty-five employees
were black or Asian".
Excuse me! Anyone know the number of disabled people employed in television,
or the theatre? No. I didn't think so...
The arts report's lofty aims were: "to change mindset to reflect
the diverse society of England".
Diversity - the new buzz word, where equality just means some people
are more equal than others. Where is the fairness and balance here?
Inclusiveness
A bouquet to Asda for their latest initiative of trawling bingo halls and
tea dances to recruit "Goldies". They are targeting the over-fifties
as they have realised mature people make a better quality of staff: punctual,
hard working and polite.
Asda's policy on disabled staff is also very refreshing. Whatever the
degree of disability, the employee is encouraged to try a variety of situations
and NOT just stacking shelves or shoved out in the warehouse. Staff with
disabilities are included as "Meeters 'n Greeters" in front
of house, dealing directly with the public. That is the way to alter people's
mindset - media moguls take note!
Dr No
A recent article that had me spitting chips concerned a young woman (a wheelchair
user) who had been accepted at Oxford on a Medical Pathology course.
The GMC (General Medical Council) decided that she could not take up
her place at Oxford as she was already using the wheelchair. Hold on...
rewind... What are the GMC saying here?
Had the young woman started the course able bodied but needed to use
a wheelchair later, the facilities would have been adapted.
The GMC "offered" the student a place at another seat of learning
- so that's alright then!
Good to see the medical profession so enlightened and the Hypocratic
(or should that be Hypocritic) oath still firmly in place.
Courage
I am sorry that Mrs Pretty did not get her wish to end her life but I could
not see the decision going any other way. In this case, the dilemma was
not about the rights and wrongs of euthanasia. It was whether to allow Mrs
Pretty's husband to assist in her suicide and then for him not to be prosecuted.
That is an entirely different matter altogether. Had the judgement gone
in her favour it could have opened a very nasty can of worms. I admire
Mrs. Pretty's willingness to take up the cudgels and fight though; she
is to be commended for her spirited battle.
And finally
Good to see the BBC's wonderfully cringe-making, The Office has won yet
another clutch of well-deserved awards. It is, I believe, all due to the
fact this series has a disabled producer. (Also, perhaps, the talented Ricky
Gervais might have something to do with it's success!)
30 April
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