Have you once thought that you are different with others? Yes, I have.
Once I took part in an LGBT event, the sharing master shared his study experiences in the UK. For the first two years, with his poor English, he had fewer friends. Apart from going to school, he just stayed at home. After two years, he gradually started social life, but he still dare not tell others that he was Gay. Paradoxically, in his heart, he thought it was ok that he was gay, but he also hated that he dare not tell others his orientation. Several years passed until he changed company. Before he joined this company, he said to himself, when someone asked, "Are you Gay", he won’t hesitate and reply “YES”.
One day the company had supper together, sitting around a table. When they were talking happily, one of his colleagues jokingly asked him,” Hi Henry, are you Gay, right?” He froze. Yes, he promised that he would tell the truth, but he never thought it would be announced in such a situation. At that moment, he hesitated. He grabbed his glass and emptied it at a draught, and said “Yes, I am”. He expected to be greeted with shock, contempt and even discrimination, but actually it didn't happen, only applause. ” Woo, we guess right, you are”, they answered him naturally with apprehensive eyes and smiles. It seemed that he had just announced a very normal thing.
After Henry finished his story, the host asked a hitting heart question.” Maybe it’s hard to ask you feel how he felt at that moment. But please assume, if you were asked to tell your deepest secret in front of lots of people, would you do?” It was all quiet in this room. Before my mind could give me an answer, my body honestly shook its head. He continued,” Have you ever suffered from workplace discrimination? Have you ever heard that females were rejected by interviewers due to being unmarried? Have you ever heard of being excluded due to coming from the countryside? Have you ever heard that some HR only hired males? Maybe you think that LGBT people are a small group in the workplace, but if you can't even protect them, who will speak up for you when we as individuals suffer from discrimination?” His words have been ringing in my ears to this day.
Once, I recalled several colleagues talking about another colleague. They said, “don’t annoy her. She has depression. If you annoy her, she will get crazy”. When I heard these, I felt uncomfortable, but I didn’t help her explain some. Until I participated in other club’s toastmaster meeting, at the guest sharing session, the host invited one guest “share her feelings today”. She took a deep breath, trying to hold up a smile, her voice was trembling, nervously said,” I feel blue most of my time, so I come here to find how to be happy. I struggle with my depression every day. But today, I am so glad to be happy here. Thank you all.” After her words, everyone gave a big applause to her. Each time, when I recall this, I felt regret. Why shouldn’t I help that colleague explain even only one sentence like “she is just sick, but she doesn’t get mad. Stop discriminating against her”? But silence, sometimes, is also accomplice. At last, she left our company and I had no chance to help her explain any more.
When you suffer from discrimination at workplace, how can you say we are different? In fact, we are the same. Please embrace the group you don’t understand until now. Please embrace the standpoints you don’t acknowledge until now. Because, we are the same.
Comments:
25th Aug, 2020 tomorrow is speech contest, club level.
Revise comments:
Title,hook,5S model,positive example and change
