Lives Matter

Excuse me if I don’t limit the “Lives Matter” slogan to just black people.  It should also apply to Indigenous peoples in Canada as well as other marginalized peoples.  2020 could be remembered as the Lives Matter year.  In most of Canada outside a few big cities, racism applies to Indigenous peoples more than to black people.  Of course there is racism in Canada.

 

I cannot understand racism in any form.  Probably because I was not brought up that way.  My father and mother had respect for everyone.  So, it is hard for me to see any reason why anyone would resent, fear or hate anyone of another colour or ethnic group.  It constantly baffles me that we can extol black and indigenous athletes and movie stars and yet be prejudice against common people of similar races.  You can condemn an individual for what they did or are doing, but you cannot condemn an individual for what they are.

Many years ago, I was a young naval officer on exchange with the US Navy.  It was the early 1970s, not long after the civil rights movement.  We were stationed in Newport, Rhode Island in supposedly liberal New England.  A few months after I got there, our command was told that the following summer we were being moved to Charleston, South Carolina, the heart of the old south.  We had a black Petty Officer on the staff who was originally from Brooklyn, New York.  I asked him one day what he thought of the move south.  His answer was quite insightful I thought.  He said, “At least down there I know what to expect.”  He was pointing out that in the so-called liberal north, the racism was more subtle but still present, whereas in the south the prejudice was overt and expected.  In Canada, we are much more like liberal New England where most of the prejudice is more subtle and unknown where and when it will take place.

People talk of systemic racism – that the racism is built into the “system”, whatever the system may be.  But that is a cop-out.  It takes away the individual responsibility that is really at the heart of racism.  It is individuals who make the decision to hate, abuse and even kill minority people.  You will not find any written directive in any reputable company, government or organization in Canada that advocates racism.  It is individuals who carry out or support any form of it.  It is individuals who must take responsibility for any “systemic” racism: the HR manager who will no accept any resume from a black or indigenous person; the senior manager who refuses to promote a Muslim; or the foreman who gives all the bad jobs to Jews hoping that they will fail.  It is individuals who make decisions, guide policy and set rules, not some impersonal “system”.  No law or government edict will ever stamp out racism. 

This is the point that so many opinion writers will stop as if to say, “There, that is the problem.  Now someone else must fix it.”  But I’m going to venture on and try to offer some remedies. 

The answer lies in a change of attitude by all people.  Prejudice is often ingrained in childhood by parents, grandparents or by childhood friends who themselves have been indoctrinated.  This usually happens when children have not had access to black, indigenous or marginalized children.  Indoctrination overcomes experience.  So, to begin overcoming the problem we must start with the children.  But to do that, we must start with adults who will teach the children.  So is this a circular problem that cannot be solved.  Not necessarily.  We must find people who are not racist, and there are many such people, and use them to teach others.  We must expose children to children of different races so they can learn that they are people just like them.  We cannot entrust such attitude changes to government. It will take time and commitment by each of us.  It must start with individuals and in the home.  We must make racism an attitude that will not be tolerated. 

Take advantage of it

You either want to or are forced to work at home and you’re uncomfortable with the idea.  I spent part of my professional life working at home at a time when it wasn’t a well known habit.  Along the way, I learned a few things that made it comfortable and productive.  Let me pass some of them along.

A comfortable work environment is the first thing you need to consider.  Even if you don’t expect working at home to be a long term thing, a comfortable desk and chair will also make personal use of your computer more enjoyable.  Recently, chiropractors are telling us about “work-at-home” syndrome resulting from poor working conditions.  The first thing to consider is a computer desk. It does not have to be big or expensive, but it should be large and stable enough to support the things you need to work.  I prefer a desk with a keyboard shelf since that keeps your arms lower and reduces the stress on your shoulders.  Make it wide enough that you can also use your mouse (a more accurate tool than your touch pad) on it.  The second thing is a comfortable chair.  It should be supportive, with the ability to be adjusted up and down and for back firmness.  A chair that swivels also helps.  I finally, after several attempts, chose a chair with no arms so that the arms did not interfere with my elbows.  I have two older chairs that are in very good condition if anybody wants them.  The other important thing is proper lighting, not too bright or to low.  It should not shine on the computer screen but be able to properly see the keyboard and anything else you might be working with. A monitor can make things bigger and clearer and can better display those video games that you or your kids play when you’re not working.

Distractions can make working at home stressful.  If you can work in a room with a door that you can close all the better.  If you have children, try to have someone else look after them as you work.  Other distractions can include too many personal phone calls, loud music and outside noises like construction or noisy neighbours.  Try to do whatever you can to tone those down. Set aside a specific time when you deal with personal e-mails but try to read and respond to work related ones reasonably quickly, as you would at company offices. To minimize distractions and be able to concentrate better, my son, a successful author with three children, gets up at 5 am and gets 2 to 2 ½ hours of work done before everyone else gets up.  Which brings me to another point.  Set a work schedule that you will work to each day.  This brings some discipline to your day and ensures that you will be productive.  You don’t necessarily have to get up at 5 am but a regular wake up time and mealtimes will get you to your desk at a decent hour.

Try to limit any breaks you take to a specific time.  If you take a coffee break, limit it to ten minutes.  Allow not more than one hour for a meal break.  After all you will not be going out to eat.  Try to put in about six hours of productive work a day. 

 

Don’t forget security of your computer and network.  This is something that your employer should direct or help you with.  A company virtual private network or a means of coding e-mail exchanges should be in place.  If at all possible, work through your company’s servers.  Ideally you should have and use the same computer that you had in your company offices.  This will ensure that you have compatible programs to work with.  If you are using your own personal computer to work on make sure that it has a good and up-to-date anti-spam and anti-virus program running.  Don’t relax on security.  You could jeopardize yourself or your company if you do.

Jammies and slipper time?  Well the slippers may be okay.  At least you don’t have to wear high heels.  Get up, get cleaned up and dress reasonably.  Dresses and shirts and ties may not be necessary but dressing well can make you feel better and more business like.  Many jobs will probably require video conferences and you want to look good to give people the appearance of you being on top of things. 

 

And finally, enjoy the experience.  Enjoy not having to commute.  Get a new appreciation of your home.  Enjoy the fact that you can probably set your own schedule.  Enjoy some of your favourite (quiet) music while you work.  Enjoy being away from the office loudmouth or bully.  Enjoy not being under constant scrutiny.  Just remember to be serious and productive.  The more you can demonstrate those two things the more likely the experience will continue.