Dear Editor,
May I please make some observations about David Baker’s article in August’s en?
Firstly, he’s surely correct to state that we all have innate prejudices about everyday aspects of society. Furthermore, in my opinion, Christians can be just as abusive as non-Christians, and, I would suggest, that our capacity to handle these admissions about ourselves would be a humbling experience, wherever our prejudices may lie.
Secondly though, may I suggest that ending his article with a couple of little stories is just a bit too condescending? These tales can get distorted with transmission.
I have been a steward over the last few years for two distinctly different employers. Both have always expected me to wear a uniform, an identification badge and (sometimes) a ‘hi-vis’ jacket and quite rightly so. In the event of an emergency, a steward is required to attend to the needs of the public, possibly to help evacuate the premises, and must be identifiable as one who can assist as required.
The tale about the rejected steward may therefore, actually be a tale about poor communication prior to the event – the potential steward wasn’t informed about a mandatory dress code – or a case of laziness in presentation by the steward that was reasonably rejected by the supervisors.
The smelly gentleman? Not all fellowships are welcoming of strangers anyway and we should ensure that no stranger is left isolated for any reason.
Yours faithfully,
