Overland Magazine abhors bigotry and prejudice, but acknowledges their prevalence in some quarters. Even though the nature of travel demonstrates the truth of human kindness and helps to undermine the hatred, just occasionally the damage that can be done is writ large.
Jacqui Furneaux is a global rider and regular Overland contributor, but on a return flight from Rome recently, she hadn’t realised just how bad the current climate of suspicion had become. Until she got home and recieved this email.
Hi Jacqui
Just want to say a massive thank you for speaking to me and taking the time to get to know me on the plane back from Rome to Bristol. I’d been discriminated a lot by police and security officers in Heathrow, Barca and Rome over the weekend and seated passengers tended to stare when I boarded a plane. Usually, for the ‘poor person’ who I had to sit next to, I’d always make an effort to speak and make them feel comfortable by showing them that I’m a normal guy with a normal life and just as afraid of evil people across the world. For the first time in a long, long time, someone made an effort to speak to me as opposed to the other way around. So, thank you, Jacqui, for making me feel human again.
Anyhow – all the very best with your new motorcycle travel book and if you ever fancy visiting the family restaurant www.rajbaribristol.co.uk please let me know.
Thanks
Ratib