Inclusiveness and diversity are popular and trendy words in this day and age. Many institutions of our provincial government have made declarations against hate, with proclamations and statements of inclusivity and diversity.
What do these words mean?
We hear it all the time and the media perpetuates this feel-good rhetoric. Yet this rhetoric is worthless.
Levan Francis was subjected to years of racism at his job in BC corrections. After an eight-year battle, it was shown that co-workers frequently called him racial slurs.
The Patterson report found that WCB claims were over 50 per cent more likely to be denied, based solely if a person is from a First Nations reserve.
The recent investigation into racism in the BC health care system found that racism against First Nations patients is widespread and well known.
These are three of many examples, right here in B.C., of outright racism and prejeduce, the very opposite of these new buzz words, inclusivity and diversity.
Inclusivity and diversity isn't pink shirt days, rainbow sidewalks or Facebook comments watered down so nobody takes offence. Inclusivity and diversity is treating people right. It's doing what every four-year-old knows and not doing things that hurt people.
Our provincial government has been practicing inclusivity and diversity in theory only, while simultaneously doing things that hurt people.
Sean Kealy
Prince George
