With the recent non-stop coverage of the race-related disturbances, media debates on slavery, statues and racial prejudice, some readers might be inclined not to read on.
Over a year ago I recall the collective groan around our office when it was announced we were all to attend a training course on diversity and inclusion in the workplace. We were also required to attend a shorter course about unconscious bias, similar to the one
Keir Starmer is booked on.
For a few of my colleagues I expect it was timely reminder to avoid engaging in anything remotely resembling office banter or innuendo.
But the training course got me thinking a little about what these words and values really mean and how they should be measured.
My thoughts were reignited late last year when I came across a competition, the theme of which was 'embracing differences'. Entrants were asked to come up with a quote of no more than 20 words saying what embracing inclusion and diversity means to them.
However, I anticipated that the competition judges would be conditioned to expect something restricted to inclusion and diversity interaction in our western 'liberal' culture and the shallow sound-bites and virtual-signalling that go with it.
Comment: See also: