Is Britain a racist country?

Racism is everywhere.

Around 2008, when there were primaries to elect Barack Obama as the Democrat contender for the US presidency, something interesting was noted: in places with ethnic minorities within a specific minor percentage point, the opposition to Barak Obama was much greater.

The same thing has been seen this year in the local elections - where ethnic minorities were 5% or less, UKIP had greater support. Where there was a larger precentage of ethnic minorities, such as London, UKIP had less support.

A bigger question though is Islamophobia - it seems the vitriol against Islam and villification of Muslims is increasing massively.

"For too long, we have been a passively tolerant society, saying to our citizens 'as long as you obey the law, we will leave you alone'" - David Cameron, UK Prime Minister. 13 May 2015.

Do you think it's a blanket statement to say that Britain as a whole is racist or is it fair to say "the majority of Britons" are?

 

Its always people.

I wouldnt say majority. But a significant minority especially when they have political power can do all the damage.
 

"For too long, we have been a passively tolerant society, saying to our citizens 'as long as you obey the law, we will leave you alone'" - David Cameron, UK Prime Minister. 13 May 2015.

There are always small pockets of racist people. Hmmm... I'm sure it's a global issue and not one that only involves Britain.

 

I think prejudice lurks beneath the surface a great deal. At least in Britain you can address that, and generally you don't walk alone when it comes to expecting equal treatment. It is global, just all the more disappointing to find it here. I wouldn't live in Russia. Or much of Europe. Or most Muslim countries.

  • It can never be satisfied, the mind, never. -- Wallace Stevens

Former BBC Radio Bristol presenter, Sam Mason, launched a racist tirade last month about the sex abuse scandal in Rotherham on her Facebook page. In one of her posts, she wrote “Dirty dirty filthy p*ki Rotherham bastards.”

The post further stated “Some p*ki woman is blaming the government for not looking after the p*ki community! Wtf is that all about? Jesus Christ.

“Now, anyone I offended by booking my daughter a taxi can you please f#ck off.” (sic)

Her last remark, about booking her daughter a taxi relates to her sacking from the BBC in 2008 after she was recorded asking a cab company to send a ‘non-Asian’ taxi driver to pick up her daughter.

The recording was leaked to The Sun. Mason was said to have told the taxi operator, “A guy with a turban is going to freak her out. She’s not used to Asians.”

Among her series of Facebook posts, Mason also posted a link to a video entitled “The Horrific Muslim of Britain – Luton 2012” alongside the comment “If in any doubt, watch this. Rotherham is just the tip of the ice berg. How many of these are in Syria fighting for IS? Don’t let the b*****ds back. F**k PC.”

Defending her posts, she stated “F**k their human rights, they’re not human.”

Moreover, another post stated: “Being British isn’t about what colour or religion you are. It’s how you treat your neighbour. How you respect one another, how you integrate, respect and embrace each other’s cultures.

“It’s NOT about hard line radical retarded extremists who try to infiltrate our schools and prey on our children. It’s not about sending your wife out looking like Darth fekin Vader and trying to change our country into the s**t forsaken desert you came from. So please do us all a favour, come here and be BRITISH and if that's too much for you, please do f**k off.” (sic)

In another article, the Bristol Post observes Mason’s attempt to defend her comments by stating that she was referring to “radical Jihads and the home-grown idiots who go out to fight for IS” and not “the Muslim community we love and embrace.”

Mason stated, “May I make one thing clear – I love the Muslim community and have many Muslim friends, who have called me today with their wise words and support.

“It’s not about colour or religion. It’s about right and wrong. I don’t feel I have to apologise to the Muslim community, as my ‘rant’ was about the radicals and most certainly not about the Muslim community we love and embrace.”

IA

Around 2008, when there were primaries to elect Barack Obama as the Democrat contender for the US presidency, something interesting was noted: in places with ethnic minorities within a specific minor percentage point, the opposition to Barak Obama was much greater.

Nawaz

Hummus wrote:
Do you think it's a blanket statement to say that Britain as a whole is racist or is it fair to say "the majority of Britons" are?

No way is Britain open minded. I say this as a non-native who has been discriminated against even in an official context and knows plenty of stories of others who I personally know and who suffered even worse. Britain is, after all, a deeply segregated country along racial lines. Why else would there be such an institution as the "National Black Police Association"? So why do we get all upset when non-police officers advocate racial segregation and thus discrimination? I think you'll find the national black police association emerged after, and due to, the rampant racism of the police force. Otherwise they wouldn't have needed to form. Clearly.

 
The quiet racism thrives in all-white all English enclaves, especially rural areas. I live in one such place and in the local village pub after hours when their guards are down the racist abuse starts on the very safe ground of Muslim hating then extends eastern Europeans, and more recently the Scots. But this will only be said when the door is locked and the curtains drawn, when they feel safe to voice their racism. And sadly its not just the the ignorant, but also as I have witnessed a lawyer and a solicitor, a pair of parish councillors, a prison warden, and a retired policeman. This is not something that can be eradicated by educated, these people are educated, they are also laced with hatred. If British people are against people coming from other countries to live and work here then they should be prohibited from living and working in foreign countries themselves. Seems fair, doesn't it? Britain has one of the lowest amounts of immigration of most Western Europe...
 
No one has any problem when: Jews keep beards and wear their traditional caps Christian priests and nuns wear their religious outfits Buddhist monks wear orange robes Sikhs keep beards and wear turbans Indian aunties wear Sarees (cross streets and hang out in Wal-Mart) Yeah but if any Muslim male keeps beard or if any Muslim girl wears hijab then everyone has problem. It's Freedom when you go naked but it's extremism when you wear hijab - just plain hypocrisy! Looking at the case of France, a major secular nation, I believe it is also not allowing women freedom by not letting her to wear her choice of clothing as it supposedly "clashes with French secular values".
 
Stop treating foreigners like garbage and they will stop ruining your precious country. Why did you let them in in the first place if you didn't want them here? They left everything in their countries because of your promises. Are you so anxious to please that you can't say "no"? I would love to see you go to a foreign land where you don't have any friends, you don't even know anyone and you don't speak the language, and start from scratch. I would just LOVE to watch you do that. Let them integrate and stop segregating them. What I want is people being nice to each other. I don't care about race.
 
Speaking English does not promote integration into British, American and Australian societies, and broaden opportunities. English speaking Muslim youths are angry, frustrated and extremist, thanks to state schools with monolingual non-Muslim teachers and English language. English language is not only a lingua franca but also lingua frankensteinia. Human right are also covers linguistic right. Cultural and linguistic genocide are very common. British schooling is murdering community languages like Arabic, Urdu and others. English is today the world killer language. Linguistic genocide is a crime against humanity and British schooling is guilty of committing this crime. Language is not just a language. It defines one's culture, identity and consciousness. It defines how we think, communicate and express ourselves. The fact is the most South Asian Muslims have come to know Islam by way of Urdu, the children's alienation from the language that connects them the heritage of their parents and grandparents is disturbing. As a matter of fact, one has to get to know his mother tongue well if one is to master any other language.
 
The demand for Muslim schools comes from parents who want their children a safe environment with an Islamic ethos. Parents see Muslim schools where children can develop their Islamic Identity where they won't feel stigmatised for being Muslims and they can feel confident about their faith. Muslim schools are working to try to create a bridge between communities. There is a belief among ethnic minority parents that the British schooling does not adequately address their cultural needs. Failing to meet this need could result in feeling resentment among a group who already feel excluded. Setting up Muslim school is a defensive response. State schools with monolingual teachers are not capable to teach English to bilingual Muslim children. Bilingual teachers are needed to teach English to such children along with their mother tongue. According to a number of studies, a child will not learn a second language if his first language is ignored.
IA

 
 
 

nawaz wrote:
Around 2008, when there were primaries to elect Barack Obama as the Democrat contender for the US presidency, something interesting was noted: in places with ethnic minorities within a specific minor percentage point, the opposition to Barak Obama was much greater.

yup, I remember that.

Its all about fear, when people feel threatened and can be manipulated through fear - mainly because they know something exists but havent really had enough contact to know that the fear is mostly manipulation.

When ethnic minorities reached around 20%, the society opened up a lot more and was less susceptible to the fear and scaremongering.

"For too long, we have been a passively tolerant society, saying to our citizens 'as long as you obey the law, we will leave you alone'" - David Cameron, UK Prime Minister. 13 May 2015.

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