Ughhhhhh.

Okay, so can I just say, I hate racism. And sexism. And whatever the word is for the same thing but with disabled people.

I hate that we, as a species, are still all of these things (racist, sexist etc.) without even realising sometimes!!!

For example, the other night, we were watching Strictly Come Dancing (a British dance show I absolutely loveeeeeeee), and the opening dance was performed by people of whom, half of them were disabled.

I didn't think anything of it whatsoever. Normal, right? Whatever disability, they're still professional dancers, and the fact they might be any different to anyone else completely slipped my mind.

Parents though (don't get me wrong, they are never racist, sexist etc. on purpose). My dad says something about maybe they're trying to make a statement, by having so many disabled people on.

Like, excuse me???

TV people, if you were just trying to make a statement, STOP IT. GET DANCERS ON BECAUSE THEY'RE GOOD DANCERS, NOT BECAUSE THEY'RE DISABLED.

Dad, just don't. They're no different to anyone else, they shouldn't have to be 'making a statement' every time they're seen on TV!!!

Same goes for black people. If there are a few black people in an episode/series of something, it has to be them 'making a statement' or something.

JUST NO.

You hire/invite the people you want because of how good they are at what you want them to do/ their personality etc. Not because of what they look like or what they've been through.

And in the news 'number of black people attending ____ University increasing...'.

And? Who cares?!? You accept the applications of the people with the right brain/work ethic/effort level etc. You shouldn't care about skin colour.

Yes, it's good that that number is increasing. IF THE BLACK PEOPLE ARE RIGHT TO GO THERE.

Of course, accept black people. But not just BECAUSE they're black.

A lot of places try to get an even balance in skin colours and use that to affect who they hire/accept. But why?? Why should skin colour matter?

In fact, they're no different to white people so why bother counting how many there are in each uni/company/business etc.

There's no point.

It's racist in itself to give a percentage of white people to black people, sexist to give a percentage of females to males. At the end of the day, WE'RE ALL HUMAN.

I don't care about what percentage of your students are black or female or white or male or disabled or athletes. I want to know you are a good university and are able to teach me what I need to know.

I want to know you're running a good enough business for me to invest in/become part of/help advertise etc.

Stop counting people.

Stop 'making statements'.

We're all human.

You can't walk into a company building, see that all the staff are female, and immediately call it sexist. Maybe the women who applied were just better applicants than the men. Maybe no men bothered applying!

Women don't need to be part of everything: they need to be given the chance.

Stop fighting to have women everywhere, in every job, in every production of everything. Maybe they don't want that job you're telling them they should be part of!

Black people don't need to be part of everything: they need to be given the chance.

Stop arguing that every series should include black people. Maybe they don't want to be part of those shows!

Men don't need to be part of everything: they need to be given the chance.

Stop telling people men should be involved in everything. Some things, they'd just rather not do! And stop telling them they do too much as well.

White people don't need to be part of everything: they need to be given the chance.

Stop saying white people should be doing certain things and everything. Somethings, it just so happens, only black people apply for!

Disabled people don't need to be part of everything: they need to be given the chance.

Stop saying everything needs to have more disabled people. Some places aren't suitable for those in wheelchairs and there are similar issues with other disabilities. No, these aren't limiting. But no, these also shouldn't mean these people should be put on display to say 'we are nice people. We have disabled people'. It's just wrong on every level. If a disabled person happens to work somewhere you go to, they happen to work there and you shouldn't look at them any differently to every other member of staff there.

WE'RE ALL HUMAN.

Stop counting.
Stop 'making statements'.
Stop forgetting we're all human.

Thank you for listening.
~EmmatheRedPanda