Jeremy Corbyn, Culture and Equality

This is what my ancestors looked like.

My Grandma told me of her childhood in the Fens.  She said that other kids would laugh at the kids like them who wore clogs and went to chapel.  But she wouldn't kow-tow to anyone.

My mother-in-law told me of her childhood in Manchester.  Her mother said "no daughter of mine will wear clogs and a shawl - she will wear shoes and a coat".

Her pride in her family as working people who are as good as anyone else is good.  But the wish to look like the ruling elite to prove it is not so good.

The man in the picture above should have employment rights, opportunities and the right to justice.  But why should he look like the ruling elite to have those things?

The Folk Movement is all about having your culture AND equality.

The Labour Party has returned today to Socialism.  Hooray!  Now they can fight for the rights of all the people. 

But the same rights belong to all human beings, and human beings should not have to give up their separate identities to have common rights.  Labour should not try to look like the ruling elite to try to get into power.  Like Jeremy Corbyn they should just keep explaining to the electorate what they believe in and why.  He has proved that is something people want to hear.

Minorities Orchestra and What Equality Looks Like

On the news yesterday I saw that the Chineke! orchestra performs tomorrow to some large public audience.  The news item told me how wonderful it was for equality.

Really? 

How wonderful for equality that other cultures are "allowed" to be equal if they act the same as the ruling elite?

Real equality would look like the arts and culture of the minorities being understood and valued.
Real equality would look like the ruling elite acknowledging that other cultures have traditions, skills and arts of their own.
Real equality would look a lot more diverse than one minority culture - Western Classical Music.

Why should this minority interest be foisted on others?
Why should it be assumed that someone who is not interested in Western Classical Music has no class?
Why should it be assumed that training in the classical arts of another culture cannot reach the very highest standard of achievement?

Julian Lloyd-Webber said of minorities not being in orchestras "people need role models".  Why do they need the very narrow role model of a Western Classical Musician?  Why does this role model have any value above a role model from another culture?