Is the media to blame for rising racial tensions in the UK?

Question

or is it the actions of the select few that decide to kill innocent civilians?
When i grew up, racism was never an issue at school, black kids were black and white kids where white, we all got along just fine and didn't think that colour or race was an issue. Now when i get on a plane, i get nervous if i see some asians on aswell. I feel stupid, because i know that 99.9% of asians are good, peacfull people, but the thaught is still there.
P.S. this is not a discussion for anti-muslims to shout off their piece, just a discussion for sane folks with sensable answears.

Answer 1

Being a Muslim and Asian I would firstly disagree with you that racism was never an issue. Before 9/11 I was seen as a Paki (ironically the word means pure) after it I was seen as a Muslim Terrorist. This is the only difference.

I think you are completely justified to feel nervous. The media I think does add more fuel to fire. Often the way they portray Muslims has an affect on Muslims i.e. extremists use it to prove their point of how the West is against Islam.

Answer 2

i think u must have been lucky to grow up in a society where race / colour didn't seem to be an issue. i lived in a nice town, and the school wasn't known for having major problems with bullying (this was in the early 90's by the way), but i do remember that any Asian / black kids that went there seen as being different, and more likely to be bullied.... it's a sad fact, but a lot of kids learn their behaviour from their parents, not just the media. things have become worse since 9/11 though. there has been so much negative media about the Muslim community that it was bound to have an affect on the general public's view of them. i agree, 99% of Asians are law abiding, peaceful citizens who don't deserve to be persecuted by today's paranoia in the media. i think the thing that scares people the most is that the few Asian extremists who pose a threat to this country look just like any other member of the Asian community. i live in the north of the UK, and i was really shocked when i learnt that some of the 7/7/05 London underground bombers came from Leeds. when u have people like that living in the community near where u live (whatever their race or colour), u can't help but feel a little paranoid...... i think the government needs to encourage the different ethnic communities to intermix . i think if the asian community was understood more, (for example, if kids were taught bits about their relegion at school) then there would be less problems. people fear the unknown.

Answer 3

The media isn't directly to blame for rising tensions, however they do not help matters by constantly reporting theories as fact and by insisiting on sensationalising every tiny little event that has a small chance of being connected to terrorists.
I think that the reason why racisim was never an issue when we grew up is because as children you have a naturally open mind, we were not bound by the prejudices of adults, and basically just 'got on' with those around us.
Anyone can be a terrorist, it doesn't matter what colour their skin is. Yes, I can feel nervous around some groups of people too, you can't help that after all that's happened and the way they have been portrayed by the media, but I try to not let it determine how I then treat people.
Most people, of all races, are peaceful. But you will always get the extremists who believe that theirs is the only way. We all have a right to believe in whatever we want to believe in, it's a shame that some people can't or won't accept this.

Answer 4

Now when i get on a plane, i get nervous if i see some asians on aswell. I feel stupid, because i know that 99.9% of asians are good, peacfull people

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you answered your own question - indeed, there is no basis for hating anybody if you remember this simple fact most people are family-minded and it's only a select few who create racial tensions, irrespective of race. There is always a scum among Whites too, would you support then an Asian who hates the White race for it.

Get on with a normal life and ignore your own prejudices - they are a waste of time and energy.

Answer 5

No the media isn't to blame, there have always been issues with race in the U.K. For example Scots and the English, Irish and the English and Welsh and the English. Race issues aren't just between blacks and whites. The only good thing about these immigrants coming to the U.K is that the people of Britain are uniting, that's all races,its our island with our religions if you want to build a church in the middle east, watch it burn to the ground. But you can build a mosque and recruit kids kids to kill the innocent people of Britain. Civil war is coming so get ready.

Answer 6

I think you are right. It's unfortunate that some people (many people on this site alone) seem to believe everything that they read in the papers.

I'm appalled to hear how many people say they would support the BNP and their Faschist ideas as a result of the racial tension.

I don't think you need to worry about getting on planes with Asian people though, this is just the kind of attitude that's making things how they are.
When the IRA was bombing the f*ck out of England in the 70's, were you afraid of Irish people?

Answer 7

you loved my question huh... well, sorry to disappoint you in your analysis. the answer is that liberals incite racial tensions because they represent the business elite who pays for them and for who they owe thier careers to. These elite know that basic fact that you either own the ************ or you work for it. This said, a liberal candidate or party represents this mentality. Thus, they know that they are acting againt the overwhelming majority of people's class interest (meaning they support the serfs not the lords to make an analogy) so to stifle the discussion of the exploitation of Capitalism, the anti-democratic notions in the system itself, they divide the People by using "character" issues - gay, abortion, sanctity of marriage, racism etc. those are divisive and safe issues. In reality Clinton and Gingrich are two slobs who left thier wives to bone thier cutey secretary. Gingrich served his wife divorce papers on her deathbed from cancer! Ronald Reagan was aked what would happen if his daughter got pregnant if a criminal raped her - hsi response was "well ,that would be her choice" so you see it is all a sham, a political sham and guess what? you fall for it repeatedly and continue to elect a people and parties that work against your class interest - liberal or conservative.

Answer 8

Yeah lets blame the media, you sound like a politician. The rise in racial tension is a direct result in having an open door policy on immigration

Answer 9

The media has a lot to answer for, so have those that carry out the few headline attacks.

We don't really know the extent of it, but the media makes it out as if nearly everyones involved.

Answer 10

Asians? Asians? What is the UK media saying about Asians? Please educate your American cousins.

Do you mean Arabs?

To be honest I haven't flown post 9/11 so I don't know how I would react to a group of Arab men getting on the plane with me. But I know that all things work for good for those who love Him, and when it's my time to go, it's my time.