Equality and diversity IS NOT equality and diversity.

People are sometimes just so strange and hypocritical.

I guess it is difficult to not label, stereotype or judge people. Some people actually label, stereotype and judge people who are OVERLY TRYING not to do exactly that. They think that they are saying the right things when saying things like:-

"It doesn't matter what colour you are."

"Everybody looks the same to me. I am colourblind."

"White people tend to have more fun. They are chilled."

They don't even realise it. They are hypocrites and don't even know it. These are three things that have been said to me this week.

Have you ever filled or read an application form of some sort where at the end there is always a bit to fill in that asks you what age you are, what sex, what ethnicity etc. It always says that you don't have to fill it in and that it is optional but something like it helps them monitor something? I don't know. But anyway the point is, if you don't have to fill it in, why do they ask? It shouldn't matter what age, sex, ethnicity you are as long as you are right for the job! Surely? Some forms will actually say that they "encourage equality and diversity" and will then hire a mix of females/males/black/white etc etc etc.

But that isn't right surely? The best person for the job should always be the person who gets it.

Take young children. Small toddlers. They would play with whoever was put in front of them. Any child. In other words, they aren't racist. It's only as they get older that they learn about racism, sexism etc. But they only learn because society is that fucked up. They make it an issue. "Oh don't play with him as he is"such a such" and "don't play with her as she is from" wherever.

I am currently doing a teacher training course and for one whole lesson (we have four hour lessons) we had to "discuss the importance of addressing ethnicity, equality and diversity".

What the hell?

The fact that we had to waste so much time doing this was annoying but what was worse was that people didn't seem to realise that talking about equality and diversity is COMPLETELY the opposite of what we should be doing if race ethnicity creed etc didn't and shouldn't matter! If it didn't and shouldn't matter as they were saying, then we wouldn't be having the discussion.

Trying to be moral and talking about it not mattering is the only reason why it is made to matter!

In that particular lesson, we had to discuss in small groups about this subject before we would talk about it as a whole class and I didn't say anything for ages until the tutor asked my opinion as I hadn't spoken. I then told her I thought that it was unbelievable that we were even having this lesson and that equality and diversity shouldn't be a thing. It should all be about each person. Each person and assessing what it is to make them able to be the best student and bringing out their potential. Talking about it is the one thing we shouldn't be doing as it is so hypocritical. A couple of people then agreed with me and understood what I was saying. Just a couple. But it is better than nobody at all. And today we got told that there might be some moderators coming in soon who will pick a couple of people at "random" to be asked how the course is going. Apparently, these moderators pick people with "unusual names" or in other words names which won't be English.

Again, how messed up is this?

Of course I like expressing my opinion and would like to be asked how it is going, but just because my name is different doesn't mean my opinion should be more valued than anybody else! (I can't believe that I am actually complaining about having my opinion listened to.)

I understand completely about differentiation and about individual learning needs for people and I may be coming across as hypocritical myself as now I am the one who is talking/writing about equality and diversity but I am trying to get across that every person should be treated as an individual and not categorised or labelled.

Just to clarify, the more people try to address "equality and diversity", the longer it will take to actually treat and be treated as equals.

2013

2013. The year of transition. The year of change. A lot of change.

My dad passes away. My mums' full blown crazy side comes out.

Nelson Mandela dies. Lou Reed dies. And to a lesser extent, Margret Thatcher also dies. There were a lot of deaths in fact. Too many. I feel exhausted all of a sudden for some reason? In America more people died from suicides than in car accidents.

Some sport things that happened:-

Sir Alex Ferguson retired as Manchester United manager. Sachin Tendulker retires from cricket. SO MUCH CHANGE.

Oscar Pistorius is charged for murdering his girlfriend.

Other stuff include Tesco using horse meat. It didn't stop customers from shopping there. I remember in hospital after my dad had his stroke and he said he can't wait to eat and that he would eat anything apart from horse meat.

Another load of new phones come out. More games consoles. All expensive.

I don't hear my neighbours' 27 year old daughter with her horrific whiny voice through the walls anymore as she went to New Zealand. I workes with a B-list celebrity for a while. She couldn't handle constructive criticism and was a dick.

Currently a recorded Jools Holland show is playing in the background on the countdown to "midnight". There are fireworks that I can hear from outside. There is that familiar empty feeling that passes over me when that Auld Lang Syne song comes on. My phone is going off a few times. A "Happy new year" message people send to everyone in their phonebook.

I have brandy and red wine. That is all.

A few categories I am making up moments, winners and losers of 2013. This is just my personal stuff:-

Best moment of the year - My one and only date with Jenna. Fuck knows where she is now.

Worst moment of the year - My dad passing away.

Bets sports person of the year - Andy Murray for winning Wimbledon.

Best song of the year - Afterlife by Arcade Fire.

Most grotesque person of the year - Miley Cyrus (previous winners include Katy Perry and Cheryl Cole).

Most awe-inspiring moment - When I saw The Minack Theatre.

Least awe-inspiring moment - TV.

Some quotes of the year:-

"I made a strong choice that in no way diminishes my femininity." - Angelina Jolie after her double mastectomy.

"I was never asked, did you see her in person?" - Manti T'eo after finding out his girlfriend who he had met on Twitter wasn't real.

"I'm basically the healthiest fat guy you've ever seen." - New Jersey governor Chris Christie whilst eating a doughnut on late-night TV.

"I don't want to live in a world where everything I say, everything I do, everyone I talk to, every expression of creativity of love or friendship is recorded." - Edward Snowden, on the U.S government monitoring Internet usage.

"Just when the caterpillar thought the world was over, she became a butterfly." - Michelle Knight to the Cleveland police department after they rescued her. One of three captives held prisoner for ten years in Ohio.

"We seek a future when a child can walk down the street and not worry that others see him as dangerous because of the colour of his skin." - Tracy Martin after George Zimmerman was acquitted of murdering his son, Trayvon.

"One has more expenses for the hairdryer than the other." - Fifa president Sepp Blatter on comparing Ronaldo and Messi. And also "We now have three ladies on board. Say something ladies! You are always speaking at home. Say something now!" - To three ladies who were elected to the FIFA executive committee.

I guess I have nothing more to say. 2013 was a pretty shit year. I am not into the whole new year thing at all. You can change your life for the better ANY DAY of your life if you chose to. But regardless of that I am glad 2013 is over.

See what 2014 brings.