In a world where there is a tendency to reach for the knife before the kind word, a campaign like this stands out like a sore and beautiful skeleton thumb.
Valentine’s Day saw the release of this 'Love Has No Labels' video full of dancing, hugging and kissing skeletons. They looked like a really lovely bunch (despite the fact that they surely would give you a right jab with their elbows if they sat beside you on the bus).
The crowd in front of the screen looked bemused until some real-life humans popped out from behind it. And then in the gentlest way, its simple, powerful message was delivered - before all else, we're all human and all the same on the inside.
This 'Love Has No Labels' campaign is an unprecedented collaboration between major brands, (including Coca-Cola, PepsiCo, P&G, Unilever and more), the Ad Council and leading non-profit organisations.
The premise addresses our internal bias and promotes the acceptance of love, in whatever form it appears. And it makes me wonder if the world would be a better place if children were in charge.
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If you're having a bad day, this will make you feel instantly glad to be part of the human race. Why can't diversity and inclusion be two sides of the same coin? It reminds me of a quote attributed to Banksy, he of the spray paint and the grumpy rats:
The human race is the most stupid and unfair kind of race. A lot of the runners don't even get decent sneakers or clean drinking water.
Some runners are born with a massive head start, every possible help along the way and still the referees seem to be on their side.
It's not surprising a lot of people have given up competing altogether and gone to sit in the grandstand, eat junk and shout abuse.
What the human race needs is a lot more streakers.
And if you'll excuse me, now I'm off to reread Malcolm Gladwell's 'Blink', tell a few skeleton jokes and maybe have an aul streak up O'Connell Street.
