The Root of all Evil

In a week where a Labour Front Bencher uses racist and inflammatory language, I marvel at the inconsistencies in this country between “Them” and “Us. If you are one of “Us” then you know exactly who you are. We are the ones who only have to think a racist comment to be in jeopardy of facing dismissal. Yet “Them” can issue scurrilously racist comments only to be admonished or suspended for a short period.

Bernard Manning's World Famous Club somewhere in Manchester

A number of months ago I was at a party in a pub. In the group with me at this time was a retired detective, a British Black West Indian (Cal), two serving police officers and me. Other than the retired detective, none of the others knew my occupation and still don’t. Cal was talking about the time he had been to Bernard Manning’s Club in Manchester many years ago and how he had found it to be very funny. In fact he told us one of Bernard’s jokes which was quite racist but very funny.

The incongruity of Cal telling a racist joke about a black man was not missed by yours truly which, if told by a white man, would be frowned upon but, as I said, the punch line was very funny. Cal laughed, the retired detective laughed and so did I. It was only then that I saw the two known cops, relatively young in service, who were smiling that awkward smile that comes from seemingly smelling something awful but you just don’t want to say anything.

The retired detective and I spoke later and we both remarked on the embarrassment obviously felt by the two cops at the joke. It was clear to me that they were worried about their career if they were seen to be laughing at an inappropriate joke. Either that or they did not find the joke funny. In reality, it had to be the former. The pressures of the everyday cop scared to death to say anything, use initiative or simply relax.

Contrast

In contrast, we have Diane Abbott using not one but two comments of a racist nature in two days and all she has to do is apologise and everything is alright. How comforting it is to those officers who have fallen foul of this current piece of Misconduct legislation. I’m sure they take great heart that an apology was all it took for her while they queue at the job centre for their job seeker’s allowance. How they would have loved to be banned for 8 weeks like Louis Suarez for uttering a racist comment knowing that they were being paid at the same time and able to return to secure employment.

This country needs to deal with racists. I find it interesting that Sky News run a story about Abbott, Suarez, the subsequent Anfield abuse overnight of an Oldham footballer and the two recent convicted murderers and they produce a silver haired ACPO muppet who was so interesting I can’t remember his name, to voice his opinion how they are rooting out all evil racists from the force. Clearly the media, backed by ACPO, consider the square root of all racism must somehow involve the policeman and woman patrolling the street.

It’s all so very clear now. It’s “Us” we are the problem!!!!!!!!!!