We are all aware of race. Let’s not pretend otherwise. We are all aware of cultural differences, too. Again, let’s not pretend that we aren’t… as if we simply don’t see it, because “we’re all the same”.

In many ways, we are all the same. However, in many ways, we aren’t. 

Are all families the same? Clearly not. When my children were younger and had friends over to play, it wasn’t hard to recognise that things were done differently in their households. It shone through, in attitude, behaviour, and eating habits – and I’m sure that the same was true when my children visited others’ homes. If things are done differently from home to home within the same culture, the same is definitely going to be true where people from other countries and cultures are concerned. The human race has adopted a million versions of ‘normal’.

Going back to skin colour – the most obvious evidence of ‘difference’ – I personally am fascinated by other people’s stories and experiences. I want to ask questions, to learn more about them. Often, that is frowned upon. Why, for God’s sake?? Isn’t that what makes life interesting? I remember seeing two African ladies, dressed up in their finery, whilst on a ferry journey… and they looked stunning! Beautiful colours on handsome-looking women. I wanted to keep watching them, drinking it all in; however, that would have been frowned upon. It would have been deemed nosy… and probably misinterpreted as racist.

And here’s another story from many years ago, one I’ve never forgotten. I was working as a salesperson in a domestic appliance store, and an Asian man and woman (Indian, possibly) entered to make a purchase. Product selected, we all sat down at a table to complete the paperwork. Throughout the entire process the woman had remained silent – and so I smiled at her and asked if she was looking forward to using the new appliance – at which point the man immediately threw his arm across her front, stating “This is my wife”, in a tone that was clearly intended to shut me down. Am I not going to notice that? Given the culture I was born and raised in, was that not going to alarm me? I absolutely had my own opinion about the acceptability of that situation… but does that make me racist?

All of life is a spiritual experience. Every last drop of it. It is a multi-faceted process, and certainly not – if you pardon the pun – black and white. It’s complicated. We are complicated. We came into this physical world under a wide range of conditions and circumstances, we are all on our own journey, and all at different stages of personal evolution. 

Does that mean we have to be unquestioningly accepting of every other soul’s beliefs, agenda, and behaviour? 

Absolutely not. To quote Neal Donald Walsch, from Conversations With God, “Betrayal of yourself in order not to betray another is betrayal nonetheless. It is the highest betrayal.”

Sometimes, there is a very real need in life to protect ourselves from our fellow human beings. And to protect the space we have worked hard to carve out for ourselves. And to protect the vulnerable who depend on us. How often has the hand that has generously fed others been viciously bitten? There are times to be altruistic, compassionate, and giving. And there are times to protect our boundaries and close ranks – for obvious and intelligent reasons. 

Sadly, there has been, for some time, a sickening trend within certain quarters, of labelling fellow human souls as racist – without a hint of hesitation, or actual proof that they are. An accusation based on assumption, ignorance, or malice, is not good enough. What needs to be understood is the motivation behind any stance or set of actions… because motivation always reveals the truth. What is an individual’s motivation behind not wanting unknown, unvetted, strangers roaming freely on the streets of their town or city? Is it fear? Is it a belief that their feelings and opinions are being ridden roughshod over? Or, are they simply racist, hating everyone who has a different skin colour to theirs?

And what is the motivation behind the now common allegation of racism? Is it an educated, informed, considered opinion, based on actual, provable fact? Is it an automatic reaction against an opposing viewpoint? Is it a genuine but emotionally misguided response? Or, is it a conscious, deliberate attempt to shame and silence others? We humans are highly adept at denying our true motivation behind our own mindset and actions – even to ourselves.

The cold, hard fact is – like it or lump it – some people are not open to other races and cultures. As long as they aren’t physically harming them, or wilfully bringing disruption to their everyday lives, they are entitled to their beliefs and feelings, as are the rest of us. Some members of society might have done their absolute best to shame those who don’t share their views, causing them to fear speaking up. But they can’t silence a person’s mind and private thoughts. The capacity for private thought is God-given. I do not support those who have hatred and distrust for other creeds and cultures, without a credible reason, and simply because they are different. It’s pure ignorance and stupidity – and, let’s face it, both of those are pretty common human traits. What I’m saying is that all human souls are free to think and believe whatever they choose. Taking violent action, on the other hand, unless it is to protect life and avoid injury, is despicable. And that is something that cuts all ways – among people of all skin colours, creeds, and cultures. 

We are all warriors at heart, as well as peace-makers. And we are never, ever, going to agree with each other over everything. It’s always been that way, and always will be. But some causes are NOT for the greater good. They are merely the ideology of a select group – regardless of what makes sense in the bigger picture or what the majority (or close to the majority) want. 

And so, we currently have a zillion agendas all being forcefully – sometimes violently – pushed out into the world. We can’t all care about the same cause. There are maybe millions of causes, all demanding urgent attention… but we can’t all support the same cause. You might care about that situation and strive to take action. I might care about this situation and strive to take action. There’s an endless tide of needy human souls and more than enough causes to go around, believe me. 

So, I say this to those who would: Don’t try to silence others with the cheap-shot-accusation of racism, simply because others are doing so, or you don’t like what their stance is. It’s a spiritual attack, not just a weapon of manipulation. 

People marching, calmly and in unity, to stand for their cause, is perfectly acceptable. If they believe that their way of life and their boundaries are being attacked by outside sources, they are free to stand together and state as such. Putting skin colour, religion, and culture to one side, and seeing the actual soul but not feeling safe or aligned with that soul, should not be vilified. 

Personally speaking, I don’t give a shit what skin colour a soul is wearing – it could be blue and pink with yellow dots on, for all I care. It could come from Mars and be bright green. But surely, common sense and common decency have to prevail? You can take pure, clean water, a highly valuable commodity… and drop clumps of earth into it, because that earth is dry and in need of moisture. And then call it a compassionate act. But then the pure, clean water is sullied, and what we have now is muddy water. Not much use to anyone. So, it’s a lose-lose situation. Instead of keeping the water clean and taking a different, appropriate action to improve the dry earth, you’ve created a different problem. 

I work with people from all over the world. People of all colours and creeds. They’re respectful to me, and I am respectful to them. Of course, as with all businesses, there are the odd hiccups… but never related to nationality or religion. Just normal, human stuff! My customers come with the same worries, problems, hopes, and dreams as everyone else, regardless of location. 

However, and with absolutely no disrespect to any of those wonderful souls, I have purchased a Unite The Kingdom t-shirt. I support the movement, but not because I hate ‘foreigners’. It’s because I am deeply sad to see the United Kingdom in such a state of turmoil and disrepair. This is not the country I grew up in, and I am heartbroken to see it being dismantled and insulted. And it is being insulted, and diminished – by some of my fellow citizens. I just want the rot to stop, though I fear it’s probably far too late. All human souls exist in a universe that consists of order and chaos – and we’ve been nose-deep in the chaos for too many years now, for there to be an easy, swift solution.

However, I am aware that, when I wear the t-shirt (which is a very nice one, as it happens), I’m probably going to attract negative attention from some quarters. And I’m likely to be labelled a racist. Oh, and a Tommy Robinson recruit. Let me tell you, I am no one’s ‘recruit’. I make my own mind up, after serious consideration. I admire and respect Tommy for a lot of reasons (yes, yes, I know – Stephen Yaxley-Lennon), though I don’t automatically agree with everything he says. I don’t hang on to his every word, but I believe him to be sincere in his love of the United Kingdom – and, whilst a bit rough around the edges, and having had a bit of a ‘past’ (as, let’s face it, have many of our politicians, current included, activists, and business leaders), he certainly isn’t guilty of some of the accusations popularly levelled at him. And he’s a brave soul, like a tenacious Jack Russell, refusing to be cowed by a pack of much bigger dogs. It seems to me that Tommy Robinson is the UK version of Donald Trump, in that people tend to either love him or hate him… with even the mention of his name inducing out-and-out rage in some folk! There are a lot of people repeating allegations about Tommy purely on the basis of hearsay… and quite unashamed to do so. We really do need to start thinking for ourselves, and questioning an awful lot more than many of us bother to do. Don’t just react to that which we are told, hear, or read – be open to it, research it… and then decide on our stance.

Anyway, make no bones about it, what is taking place in the United Kingdom right now – and indeed, the world – is a spiritual challenge. I honestly don’t know where it’s going to take us all. I talk to my version of God, and I pray for us all. And I live in hope, though I know we have a massive journey ahead of us. And, sometimes, I just have to bury my head in the sand, because otherwise the despair and fear overwhelms me. There’s an enormous amount to even begin to unpick, and it’s going to take decades to undo some of the worst damage… if that’s even possible. And there are going to be winners and losers. All agendas can’t be met, and all ideologies can’t be satisfied. Obviously.

Nevertheless, wherever you are in the world, I wish you good health, happiness, and luck.

Oh, and as an after-thought, whilst typing this, I’m watching the run-up to the Miami Grand Prix – and a lovely young lady has just beautifully sung the American National Anthem. What a stirring, passionate song of patriotism! I’m British but it gives me chills of pleasure whenever I hear it. Our own National Anthem is more hymn-like but still stirs the soul. If love and pride in one’s own roots is now wrong, we’ve reached a very, very sorry stage in human history.