Jason Beardall, president of England Logistics, shared his heartfelt thoughts concerning the unrest of the nation with the EL team. His words, shared below, offer a powerful reminder of the importance of empathy and tolerance.
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You often hear from me, especially when impassioned about a topic that I feel morally connected to and/or great love for. With that said, I’ve given constant thought as to how I might reach out to this incredible group of people that I think so highly of, about the current condition of our nation, especially given the seeming necessity to walk delicately and politically. I’m choosing to simply speak from my heart.
Like you, I am heartsick with the recent events impacting our nation. Racism, injustice, violence and hate have no place in our communities and cannot be tolerated. It is tragic that, in the year 2020, matters so core to human decency are still an immense struggle for our nation. While racism is at the heart of the current divide, the reality is that any form of prejudice is simply below all of us as human beings. As a society, we can and must do better.
At England Logistics we continue to aspire to build better lives for all of us. And prejudice of any kind is not tolerated in our workplace. We are committed to overall betterment and have always believed that it starts first within our own walls. The walls that we each spend time in daily, including our place of work, just as much as our homes. Together, we have worked diligently to ensure we have a workplace culture that celebrates and appreciates diversity of all types. We believe in inclusion and understanding. As a result of the efforts of this team, we continue to evolve and become better each day.
We are as committed as ever to the continuous education of all team members, engagement in critical conversations that inspire progress, participation in business forums that promote diversity in the workplace, and the ongoing review of our workplace policies. We are dedicated to the continuance of all of the good work done so far and the evolution of what is to come. Only by cultivating an environment where all people can safely voice their unique perspectives, concerns and opinions can we truly understand and appreciate one another.
As individuals, each one of us has a responsibility to ensure an equal and just society for every member of humanity. There is no room for hate. This is a time for deep self-reflection and an evaluation of our daily interactions. Now is the time for hard questions. We need to ask ourselves whether we are part of the problem or part of the solution. Are we promoting and embracing divisiveness or seeking to understand the viewpoint of others? Are we being solutionists or antagonists? Are we doing our best to be kind to others that are hurting, even though we may be hurting too, or are we letting hostility and fear control our actions and emotions?
Our planet is a beautiful collection of people of all races, backgrounds, ethnicities, sexual orientations, religious affiliations and abilities. It’s time we all took a look internally to discover how we can evolve in this moment to become better human beings. As a result, our world will become a better place for all of us.
-Jason Beardall, President, England Logistics