We protested and were criticised!
I'm going to get on my soapbox this evening!
Today Mia and I went to join a protest about our local council closing childrens' services. We live in a large town within an area of Kent called Medway, and we are very lucky to have 19 Sure Start Children's Centres across the borough.
We had all our anti-natal and breast-
feeding classes at the centres, and I've taken Mia to sessions since she was 8 weeks old. All services are provided free of charge, i.e. paid for by our council tax and national insurance contributions. There are times when we would have been completely lost without the support of our local Childrens' Centre, and I will be forever grateful for the support they've provided for us.
You can read the full story here, and watch my Facebook Live here. A big thank you to Save the Childrens' Centres for organising the event so quickly. If you'd like to show your support there's a picnic protest at Rochester Castle on Sunday 14th May, 10 am and you can sign this petition.
While we were protesting the BBC arrived and myself and my friend Abbie were asked to take part in a Facebook Live, which we duly did, and did an interview for BBC Radio Kent, explaining why the Children's Centres are such a vital service and giving our opinion of the decision and potential impact of the closures. This, of course, was published immediately.
Later in the day I was looking at the FB live and reading through the comments. A man, who shall remain nameless, put on a comment about 'while non-jobs' were protesting we were giving the council members reason to close services. While I am outraged by the decision made by the council, this is my soap-box issue.
Although I am on maternity leave, I have a full-time job as an Occupational Therapist. I also run my own business. I am a Mummy to a 6-month old baby. I AM NOT A 'NON-JOB'. Even if I didn't have a full-time job and my own business, I AM NOT A 'NON-JOB'. What does that even mean!?
How dare someone form an opinion of myself and other people based in the fact that I/we are able to attend a protest on a TUESDAY! Does this mean that all shift-workers, home-based business builders, stay-at-home parents, and anyone else that might have free time during the week are 'non-jobs'!? That they are less entitled to protest than someone who is not a 'non-job'!? What the hell is a 'non-job' anyway!?
I refrained from replying to the narrow-minded comment but it's annoyed me all day. It's people like that who allow our services to be closed without critical comment or protest, who instil prejudice and intolerance into our society, and who fill the world with hatred.
I won't give that man the satisfaction of openly replying to his comment so he can see how much he's annoyed me.