Hope, anger and courage
Roger Kline
Consultant on workforce culture. Nominated 2021, 2022 and 2024 as one of the top UK HR influences by HR Magazine
"Hope has two beautiful daughters; their names are Anger and Courage. Anger at the way things are, and Courage to see that they do not remain as they are". Saint Augustine
As 2025 begins there is plenty to make good people angry.
Our life chances remain largely defined by whether or not we were born into a family living below the official poverty line
The hopelessness that comes from being without a safe, warm roof over one’s head because we live in a wealthy society that consigns millions to a hand to mouth existence
The pain that comes from having to wait months, if not years, for healthcare because the previous Government took a scorched earth policy towards the NHS
The disgraceful way we treat those citizens who need adult social care – and in almost all cases have contributed towards it all their life only to find it is stretched to breaking point
The discrimination that blights the lives of so many people in every aspect of their lives
The wrecking of the support all our citizens with disabilities should expect as of right
The pensioners who have to choose between freezing or starving this winter
The ways in which women are harassed, denied careers, and killed by men in our midst
The racism that blights the lives of so many of our citizens in every aspect of their being
The greed of corporations who don’t care about the risk global warming creates for our very existence
I could go on
But
There are also many, many, good people who in their own ways try to stand up to this awfulness and those who enable and defend it.
Who do help their neighbour.
Who do act as good Samaritans.
Who do not stand idly by when they witness injustice
Who do act as allies at work and in communities
Who do not look the other way
Who do reject the nasty, vicious, divisive hatred that has become the norm in large parts of our political life and media
Who do walk in the shoes (without realising it) of American songwriter and working class activist Joe Hill who said: "I have nothing to say for myself, only that I have always tried to make this earth a little bit better"
BUT
As well as our individual efforts we need to find a way to get organised. Collectively.
To create a movement that can turn shared values into sustained improvement.
That values what we have in common rather than that which divides us, built on respect even where there is difference
To do that we require Wisdom and Compassion.
But above all we also require both the Anger and the Courage that St Augustine had in mind.
Enough is enough.
Roger Kline is Research Fellow at Middlesex University Business School
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CEO at Here: Care Unbound Ltd
1 个月At a time when looking at the future has never felt more challenging, I think wisdom, compassion, hope, anger and courage might need to be sticky taped to my computer screen. There are examples out there. Thanks Roger Kline, I'd not heard this quote before.
Associate Director for Safeguarding North Middlesex University Hospital
1 个月Thanks for sharing
Chair Birmingham & Solihull Mental Health NHS Foundation Trust
1 个月Excellent point Roger. To inspire lasting progress, its true we must harmonise righteous anger with bold courage.
Chair University Hospitals Birmingham
1 个月Inspiring piece Roger which goes to the heart of social inequalities and inequity
Test Consultant at Fujitsu
1 个月???? and shame ???? #Feelings #Emotions #Body The only way to travel the self awareness journey is through learning from feelings and shame #HopeSpringsEternal ?? #LoveOverFear