What do you think of this view of racism in Britain?

Question

Oldham, Burnley and Bradford are in a state of flux and a little too complicated for the simplifying minds of most journalists, politicians and traditional "community leaders", all of whom are as responsible as the evil racist extremists for the chaos we now find in these areas. I am referring both to internal and external chaos, and the ways in which both affect the brown and white inhabitants who are too readily aroused.

Many of the young Muslim men do not know who they are. Abused as "Pakis" all their lives, their parents and others have driven them to embrace a Pakistani identity that is a negation of their Britishness. Many in the older generation tell me that the youngsters are "too British, too much full of rights ... Bloody fools ... In Pakistan the police would kill them on sight."

If you talk to white locals, the same confusions about identity and self-esteem emerge. They hate it that their Brontë-land has become a Balti-land, even though most of them have never even watched a televised version of Jane Eyre and could not survive a week without a curry.

Any (reasonable & within TOS) comments?

In case you are wondering where this comes from here is the website

http://www.islamfortoday.com/bradford.htm

Answer 1

I agree. When people move to other lands and try to impose their identity on the local people, animosity and confusion abound.

I can appreciate it from both sides, the immigrants are trying to keep their little bit of culture and the indigenous people are resenting that, saying that they should come here and do as we do.

In a nutshell, if people wish to keep their culture, they should stay where they feel comfortable and not inflict confusion on their children. How sad must it be that these children do not really know their identities. They are "British" as they were born here, but they are "Asian" (or whatever) by culture, they are shunned by indigenous for their culture, and berated by their elders for their britishness. Is there any wonder why there is racial tension?

Answer 2

I live in Bradford,I have lived in the areas where there was a large pakistani community and I now live in a primarily white area.The people from around here have no problem with Asian people being here in bradford or even england, there are a small minority that this does not apply to of course.There are also( I have seen with my own eyes)younge Asian men who are making a mokery of there own people.they call themselves Asian,not whatever they are, they use it to insult each other, they are taking what there parents tried to acheive for them and taking the racism that probably was much more when there parents came to england and there using it as a leaver to there bad behaviour.I am not racist at all,I just think that all of these people white and brown should be greatful for being in a country where you are treated as worthy citizans,Or would be if they took up the citizan thing. I love being in a country where you can get on a bus and sit next to a person from the other side of the world,black white brown,man or woman, and a not be chastised for doing so.I dont think i could live in a place with only one culture,where i cannt phone for a balti or kabab, I love the fact i can drive down the road and visit a shop thats open after the english people have finnished there work for the day, i cann't express the good that has came to this town through the imigrant populations, be they Jew, european,western Asian or eastern Asian.We all have a responcibility to get on with one and other,we couldnt manage without each other at the end of the day could we?

Answer 3

It's interesting to know that the 'white locals' are also confused about their identity and not realise the contradictions in some of the things they have adopted over the years, like, as you say, curries! Surely this must mean that in the UK there are all sorts of prejudices/racisms circulating.

I am somewhat surprised when I 'hear' members of the black (West Indian) community talk about gypsies/east Europeans/refugees/asylum seekers etc should 'go back' to their country. It's almost as if they have taken over the role of your little old racist ladies, who used to say exactly the same thing many years ago.

I am also amazed that each summer the Evening Standard will come out with articles about the number of 'people' who have left London (this summer it was 150.000)for the countryside. But we know it is mainly the English who are leaving and we know some of the reasons why they want to go. But your question has highlighted an important point: who has the right to call themselves British, or call themselves English?; what is British culture? Do we need to redefine what Britishness is?

Thanks for raising this.

Answer 4

in case you've been going to get an fairly honest answer to this i imagine you should both ought to look up the reliable statistics and crime costs or ask someone who's both gay and in an ethnic minority. the reason i say this is because except you're experiencing those prejudices straight away you'll by no skill comprehend the finished volume of it. in my opinion there is more advantageous than adequate racism and homophobia interior the united kingdom for both to be defined as too a lot.

Answer 5

i think the governments have a huge part to play in keeping Britain racist and the other culprit, i believe, are the press, the tabloids!
wherever there is poverty there is tension, this doesn't necessarily have to be racial tension, but it pays for the governments to keep the masses apart. Burnley riots were not sparked off by racial tension it was a drug war. it was just a coincidence that the two gangs involved were of different ethnic backgrounds. the BNP jumped onto the vunrability of the people who live in the most deprived areas of the town to cause friction.
And of course the red tops had a field day, just another excuse to bully our black & ethnic citizens!!!
it makes me so sad and laugh at the same time. i am white, blonde and blue eyes Hitler would of considered me to be of 'pure' breed. However, my Grandma was a Romania Gypsy and my Granfather was Scotish so i am heinz 57. No-one in born in Britian is 'pure' breed we're all mixed-how bloody wonderful!!!!

Answer 6

It is a mixed up world but surelly if these people who come to this country for a better life or whatever reason should the generation which they produce hace have the right to live a westernised lifestyle? of coarse after all we are not in Pakistan and as much as people are entitled to their roots and beliefs surelly if they meant that much they would have stayed in the country of origin. This is not aracist view it just shows the messes up mentality of brits and non brits alike.

Answer 7

Mangia, you utter tosser. Did you just read the word 'racism' and think 'oh, he must be saying something saying bad' or is your pea-brain just too inadequate to comprehend the question?

Report me, sweetheart. Under 'insulting other participants'. Give you something to do. Prat.

Answer 8

it is only natural that these problems emerge in a so called 'multi cultural society'

i am an asian who moved to britain few years ago, and there are places racism is in my face - people making fun of the indian accent etc... but at the end of the day we all have to get on with it and fight where needed, ignore where needed

live and let live....

Answer 9

I was with you as far as Oldham, then you lost me!

Answer 10

yes i agree with you were more mixed up than merrangue