Today is my first day back to work since all the furor began and I can't say I relish the prospect. I'm not sure at this stage if this blog has been found by my superiors or the address given to them. My tracking seems to suggest that is the case but I can't be certain. I dislike like the fact that I don't know if I will be 'walking straight into the lions mouth' or if it will be a day like any other.
To add to my misgivings I have woken feeling ill and muddle headed and despite having made the decision to go this route, I know that confrontation is not my forte. I will normally do anything for a quiet life but on this occasion I couldn't.
I suppose this is the bit where I have to really have the courage of my convictions and stand up for something I truly believe. My boss knows me quite well, knows my 'Achilles heel' and doubtless will make use of it.
Hey ho,into the breach and all that......
Saturday, 10 July 2004
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Unfortunately because of my job - I am unclear about my position in relation to 'going public' with my details on here, so I'll stay anon for now.
However, I do feel strongly about prejudice and discrimination and so here goes:
I have known Gemmak for about fifteen years and I just want to let her know that I'm proud to call her a friend - you are not without fear, but you're not without courage or a sense of responsibility either.
We are all morally obliged to stand up and be counted at times - this would appear to be your moment...
It brings to mind the following piece of 'poetry' and I hope it gives you heart:
According to the Simon Wiesenthal Center, "Martin Niemoller was a Protestant pastor and head of the anti-Nazi Confessing Church. Arrested for 'malicious attacks against the state', he spent seven years in the Dachau and Sachsenhausen Released in 1945 by the Allies."
He penned the moving and oft quoted poem,
In Germany, they first came for the communists, and I didn't speak up because I wasn't a communist. Then they came for the Jews, and I didn't speak up because I wasn't a Jew. Then they came for the trade unionists, and I didn't speak up because I wasn't a trade unionist. Then they came for the Catholics and I didn't speak up because I wasn't a Catholic. Then they came for me -- and by that time there was nobody left to speak up.
-Martin Niemoller
Over the years many groups, feeling persecuted, have edited the words of the poem to apply to themselves and their causes.
Gemmak - this is why you are doing what you are doing - and you have my utmost respect!
I don't know what to say and that is a very rare occurence for me as you know!
I am deeply touched that you should even think of me in this manner, and greatly moved. I have rarely, if ever, been the subject of such comments and I doubt I will be again. I will always remember your words when the'going gets tough'.
I have never read Martin Neimoller's poem until now, it is inspirational.
What can I say.........Thank you and I hope you know what your words mean to me.
Course I do - you old tart! Don't start getting carried away with this 'touched' nonsense - I will still take the proverbial out of you at every opportunity... x
(But I do mean it and you know where I am if you need me)
I would be disappointed at anything other......and less of the old,tart I can live with, old I can't! :o)
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