David Blunkett the UK’s home secretary has urged ethnic minorities
to somehow develop a sense of belonging in Britain and to come to
terms with and accept some of the “norms of British society”.
This comes shortly after some of the worst race riots in the north
of England, which saw the evil face of racial hatred spill out onto
the streets of Bradford, Burnley and Oldham.
Young Asians and far right nationalists came head to head to thrash
out there differences while the police tried their best to control
a very dangerous situation.
David Blunkett's remarks sparked anger and caution in many immigrant
communities and even government.
Liberal Democrat leader Charles Kennedy said there was a danger the
home secretary's remarks could be misinterpreted given the delicate
situation of race relations in the country.
The home secretary’s statement was directed at the UK’s entire immigrant
population. But some immigrant community leaders have dismissed his
comments as a red herring and the home secretary should concentrate
on the racism issue instead.
When asked to explain what he meant by “norms of British society”
the home secretary stated that “We will not tolerate what we would
not accept ourselves under the guise of accepting a different cultural
difference” he also suggested that all immigrants that wish to live
in the UK should make an effort to speak English and he argued that
practices such as enforced marriages for Asian girls were unacceptable.
"We have norms of acceptability and those who come into our home -
for that is what it is - should accept those norms just as we would
have to do if we went elsewhere."
When in Rome do as the Romans do, very fair statement but immigrant
community leaders argue that the youths involved in the rioting did
all speak English, in fact they were second and third generation Asian
Britons who have been set aside and forgotten about and left to rot
in ghettos where unemployment and poverty is rife.
This brings us to the true causes of this racial and religious divide.
The reports into the race riots clearly blame the policy of voluntary
self-segregation by the white and Asian communities in Northern England
and it also highlights the fact that racial prejudice is deep seated
in certain areas of the country and would have to be faced.
There needs to be a re-evaluation on how housing is allocated and
social integration needs to be encouraged among all races and communities.
This is all nice and easy to say now but putting it into practice
is a much more difficult mission.
Will we all be able to forget our differences and live together as
one or will this racial and religious divide become wider and less
tolerant, making for a horrible future?
The answer is in every single one of us and only we can make things
work for the better so love thy neighbour and your neighbour will
love you too. |
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