The killing fields of equality

Some of you may be aware that our governments, north and south, have decided that 'veterans' from the armed forces should be treated as special cases in any number of ways.  In other words, it has been decided that instead of creating an equal society where people who often encounter discrimination are given equality of opportunity, government has decided to scrap that approach when it comes to 'veterans'.  Instead, we will be expected, if we ever find ourselves in a queue for public services, to stand aside when a 'veteran' puts in an appearance and allow him or her to jump to the head of the queue.  Those who have been active on the killing fields of Libya, Iraq and Afghanistan will be given accelerated and priority access to increasingly scarce public sector services.

I find this thinking offensive and repugnant on any number of levels.  It represents the creation of a hierarchy of equality.  In my world, a hierarchy of equality is a contradiction.  In my working life, it is something I oppose and will continue to oppose, no matter how much I may be bullied into complying with current corporate thinking in the public sector.

Just over two years ago a fireman was killed when he and his crew were dealing with a pub fire in Dalry Road in Edinburgh.  A huge sacrifice to ensure the safety of people living in the vicinity [I lived nearby and was aware of the impact of his death on the community].  Does this require that we put firemen to the head of queues for public services?

Next year will mark exactly 100 years since the Titanic sank.  Most people will recall some of the many stories told about that disaster.  Many will also recall that the values of the time found crew and passengers ensuring that women and children were given first chance to get away from the sinking ship and be saved.  Our governments would have us believe that values have changed to the extent that women and children should now be dumped out of the lifeboats of public sector services to allow 'veterans' first chance at being saved, especially at a time when the state of services in the public sector resemble the Titanic after she hit that iceberg.

A lot of this blog was prompted by a chance encounter with a picture posted on Twitter.  The picture was of a poster found on a suburban commuter train in England.  It is clearly a contemporary revisit of a poster issued during what is often referred to as the 'Great War' of 1914-18.  I found it got under my skin.  I hope it gets under your skin and that you will decide for yourself who if anyone should get priority access to what is left of our public services.