Katy Posted 21 February 2006 Posted 21 February 2006 Same here, matey. I don't look at people as being different. I grew up in the late 70's/early 80's in an ethnically diverse area of the city. When we were small, we didn't see each other as different, we didn't notice any differences, apart from religious festivals etc. My first real experience of racism was when as an 8 yr old, I was surrounded by a gang of asian lads from the 'big school', who were probably about 13-15 yrs old. This carried on for about a month, every night after school, until one of my friend's dad saw it all (an asian), and had a very strong word. If I'd been an asian girl being picked on by white boys, then no doubt the authorities would have been involved, but I was told by a teacher that this wasn't a racist issue. That's one reason why I didn't tell my own parents. The teacher certainly didn't!! Imagine trying to explain how racism works one way but not another to an 8 yr old! Having said that, I don't think two wrongs make a right. I have a lot of sympathy for anyone who has being discriminated against, whatever the reason, but I can appreciate that most people are not racist, or bigoted, and that it is a minority who hold such extreme views. I think some of the measures that are being taken are taking the piss out of most of us, and what for? Not to offend or anger a minority? Most people in this country want to get on with their own lives in peace, and not have anyone interfering with it! Segregation is not the way forwards. How do you get people to see things from another point of view if they cannot appreciate where it is coming from? Tolerance assumes some degree of integration. As far as I'm concerned, believe what you want, but don't tell me what to believe, and don't belittle me for holding those beliefs. Essay over.... Good post Lease. There is a problem, like you said, that if you are white (im actually light pink btw) and get racially abused by an Asian, brown, black etc person, people aren't going to report it as in societies eyes its not classed as 'racist' when it quite clearly is, it's the injustice of it all. When my sister was younger our next door neighbours daughter said they had to swallow a 'tic tac' everytime they saw a brown person, my sister told my mum and dad, they were horrified and explained to her that this was wrong. Where do people get their attitudes from?
The Don Posted 21 February 2006 Posted 21 February 2006 Yes, people do get ignored at bars and my 'bar presence' isn't great but in this instance it was very obvious, the bar wasn't busy and quote she was ignoring me as people were walking to the bar and getting served before me Maybe I should have been alittle clearer, I was in her face and would try to get her attention by saying 'excuse me', she would not respnd or even look at me, people would walk from the seating area to the bar, she would just turn away and serve the approaching customer. It wasn't just me that noticed it, it was noticed by the whole bar, it was impossible to ignore me, people who i have never seen before came to my defence when the manager arrived and were disgusted, that's how obvious it was!! Don, you shouldn't presume anything and not every minority is the same, we are all individuals, it's people like you that stereotype and class groups together that lead to uneasy relations. I don't see myself as a minority that gets victimised at all, and I don't expect racism, majority of this country have no problem or issue with other races, it's the minority of people whether white or coloured that have an issue. My point was that in the past racism was alot more upfront and in your face, now it is much more hidden and that is because of this racism law!! The Singh - I apologise, I wasn't there so I wasn't aware of all facts, and that sort of attitude is disgraceful, my only gripe, is that a lot of people whether they are black, brown, gay, female, all try to use aspects about them to there advantage when there is no discrimination. This obviously makes it more difficult for the people who are discriminated against. Whether you think I'm dertimental to race relations is a mute point, I am safe in my own knowledge of my own thought. And at the end of the day we're all blue anyway
Dr The Singh Posted 21 February 2006 Posted 21 February 2006 The Singh - I apologise, I wasn't there so I wasn't aware of all facts, and that sort of attitude is disgraceful, my only gripe, is that a lot of people whether they are black, brown, gay, female, all try to use aspects about them to there advantage when there is no discrimination. This obviously makes it more difficult for the people who are discriminated against. Whether you think I'm dertimental to race relations is a mute point, I am safe in my own knowledge of my own thought. And at the end of the day we're all blue anyway It's ok mate, there are those that do think the world is against them and there are those that use whatever laws and tactics to there own advantage, brown, black white or homo!!! I think from the recent posts we all feel let down by our multi cultural brothers and sister in one way or another but i'm glad we can come and talk about it openly no matter how disapointed feel with our so called ethnic group!! Yep, i'm blue through and through!!!
The People's Hero Posted 21 February 2006 Posted 21 February 2006 A brief resume is that this Government are a bunch of lying bastards using terrorism in the same way as Extremist Muslims, for their own purpose. Sadly the Police are also up to the same tricks for their own purposes as well. Of course if the big one goes up it will all be somebody else's fault. <_< Seriously though, want to buy some t'ism insurance?
Lemon Harpic Posted 21 February 2006 Posted 21 February 2006 My point was that in the past racism was alot more upfront and in your face, now it is much more hidden and that is because of this racism law!! Which one? Under The Race Relations Act 1976 being privately prejudiced towards a particular racial group does not constitute breaking the law. The act was only designed to prevent racial discrimination in the fields of employment, education, training, housing and the provision of goods, facilities and services. It can't prevent people coming up to you and being openly racist - that's not a crime. The Racial and Religious Hatred Bill, which will become law soon, has been changed and will not now make abusive or insulting words that are not actually threatening illegal. Anyone is free to call me a white honky cracker or whatever without committing a criminal offence. My point is that something has pushed racism underground in these past few decades, but it isn't the law that did it.
Dr The Singh Posted 21 February 2006 Posted 21 February 2006 Which one? Under The Race Relations Act 1976 being privately prejudiced towards a particular racial group does not constitute breaking the law. The act was only designed to prevent racial discrimination in the fields of employment, education, training, housing and the provision of goods, facilities and services. It can't prevent people coming up to you and being openly racist - that's not a crime. The Racial and Religious Hatred Bill, which will become law soon, has been changed and will not now make abusive or insulting words that are not actually threatening illegal. Anyone is free to call me a white honky cracker or whatever without committing a criminal offence. My point is that something has pushed racism underground in these past few decades, but it isn't the law that did it. Maybe I am wrong but wasn't there a law or something past after the Stephen Lawrence enquiry, where all reported racial incidence to the police must be investigated??? In my experience since Stephen Lawrence thingy it's all gone underground and on many occasions I have seen ethnic minorities use the law\thingy to there advantage!! Maybe that's a cause??
Steven Posted 21 February 2006 Posted 21 February 2006 Yep, i'm blue through and through!!! That is the important thing.
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