Happy Easter.

Last week at work we were all asked to, “Write down what Easter means to you.” A co-worker who is also an artist, would then draw it onto the huge blackboard wall we have at work. It was the Artist herself who had written to us all in the book, we all have to read so we all get the same information. No one else had bothered to put anything, but I’d written, “I’d like a cross.” The Artist saw me a few days later and said, “I will put the cross there, that is a great idea, I will make it about seven inches high.” I did think after, that I should have said to include the stone that was rolled away, but the cross was good enough for me.

I was pleased that amongst the Easter bunnies, the Easter daffodils, the Easter eggs there would also be a cross too because I remember six years ago I was in charge of the special Notice Board at work and I was told by Management, “To include anything that was important for example sport events like Wimbledon, Christmas, St George’s Day,” So for Easter I’d included a tiny cross,  baby chick, eggs, basket, bonnets, daffodils and bunnies!

When the deputy, saw it he told me to, “Take down the cross.” He wasn’t rude, but I had no choice. So, I went to bother our Manager and I said to her, “Why have I got to take it down?” She said, “Andrew thinks it will offend some at work, I said to her, “This is England, how can a cross in Easter offend anyone, everything else is up there.”

She sat on the fence and said, “You are both right,” I wasn’t able to persuade her, and she said about Easter, “It is what it is,” I took that to mean, if its on the board or not, it is still Easter. I think that was suppose to make me feel better, but it didn’t. I used to really like this deputy, but although he was still nice, I lost all respect for him after that day, for his views was all over the work place.

From then, the special notice board wasn’t special anymore. It was a defeatist board, I was a puppet, all creativity gone!

I was happy that soon the little cross would be on the huge blackboard with everything else to do with Easter.

I had a few days off and came back today the Artist called me over to show me her amazing handywork, I scanned my eyes over the huge wall to see if I could see the cross along with the bunnies, eggs, daffodils, the baskets, the bonnets, I couldn’t see it she said, “Gary saw it, (he is the deputy now that Andrew has gone) he saw it and said, “Take down the cross, we have to think of diversity here.”

I was disgusted, I thought what England and Christians don’t realise is that traditions we hold dear, is fast disappearing and in some places have already gone. I said, to the Artist, “What about me, I count too,” I don’t mind diversity but don’t leave me out. I also have religious views not just, the other person who I have to bend over backwards for. Or Gary who also puts all over the building his clear views. I count too. I was livid inside.

Tomorrow I will go on Amazon and find a t-shirt with the biggest cross on and wear that to work, wash and wear it until Easter. While I still can…… What won’t be allowed in England six years from now.