Some thoughts on racism in britain today
During the winter of 1964-65 whilst taking an enforced sojourn from sea-life, I obtained work as a labourer at the Standard Bottle Co., Bounds Green, Nth.London. The work involved shovelling sand from railway trucks into smaller skips which were then hauled up to the factory by a small electric locomotive. The work force was separated into four or five teams of two, each man working with the same co-worker every day. The company paid the men for each skip delivered to the factory, a policy which engendered a very good work ethic. My workmate, Edgar Hall, was a Jamaican and one of the nicest people it has ever been my pleasure to meet. He told me something of his life in Jamaica before coming to England where he was now happily settled with his wife and family. Erudite in a down-to-earth sort of way his conversation and warm, friendly manner made him a joy to work with - and work we most certainly did. Apart from the normal five day week, we also worked overtime until noon on Saturday and then all day on Sunday. After work on the Saturday, Edgar and I would join the others in the local pub for a few pints before heading home. Edgar, like the rest of us, was prepared to work hard for what he earned. Reliance upon Government welfare he would have found demeaning. Like most merchant seamen of that time I felt no general animosity towards a man simply because he looked different and that's how it was with Edgar, the colour of his skin mattered not, he was simply my mate. I tell you this only to illustrate my belief that each person should be judged by their attitude to others and the way they conduct themselves rather than their nationality or ethnic appearance. From my association with Edgar I learned that regardless of any cultural differences, if left to their own devices men and/or women are quite capable of forming a genuine friendship, which I feel is just as it should be. As an Englishman I grew up in the mistaken belief that my birthright alone assured that I was somehow better than other people in the world. Thankfully I learned the foolishness of that belief and although unashamed of my 'Englishness', I came to realise that nationalism and racism are so often to be found in the same bed.
In Britain, as in other countries, emerging doctrines resulted in seeing some 'forward-thinking' social scientists, trendy academics, church leaders, politicians and other well-intentioned people embrace the concept of 'multiculturalism' which, during the latter part of the 20th century, has been thrust upon the world, or more significantly, the western world. Whilst noble in concept, increasingly there is a belief that at the present time it's just not working.
Since the end of WWII successive British governments have been totally deficient in the application of a sensible and workable immigration policy. This has resulted in vast numbers of immigrants being crammed into a comparatively small island that has long passed the accepted level for a sustainable population. In hindsight (which we know is a wonderful thing) it is clearly apparent that when admitting such large numbers of people into Britain they were ill-prepared for the problems that would arise and for the great burden it would place upon the social structure of the country. In their folly they could do little to prevent the establishment of large ghettos in Birmingham, Bradford, London and so many other British cities and towns. It seems that in seeking to alleviate problems on the one hand by offering housing and other generous benefits to the migrant community, recent governments have been less than generous or considerate of the needs of the elderly and other deserving members of the British public, the vast majority of whom were born and bred in the U.K. For many, the old adage that ' Charity begins at home' was never more relevant.
In Britain, nowadays, is it so surprising that many folk are beginning to harbour less than kindly feelings towards certain ethnic members of the community. On the other hand, can we really blame the migrant for accepting the hand-outs offered by the Government. In their shoes most of us would probably do the same. I'm sure that most migrants come to Britain fully aware of the generous welfare support on offer and are fully intent on getting the best they can for their families and themselves, which I'm afraid is a perfectly normal human desire. Aware of what is happening in their country, many less-fortunate, indigenous Brits, are understandably angry and that too is a perfectly normal human reaction. They have witnessed the gradual erosion of their own culture and traditions ( no doubt, partly due to membership of the EU) whilst at the same time being urged to embrace the tenets of multiculturalism. Added to that they have to contend with man's greatest modern-day folly, political correctness. In light of the current situation in the U.K. is it any wonder that whilst feeling neglected and/or victimised and frustrated there exists a tendency for some to direct their anger at those of different ethnicity, when, in truth, the root cause of the whole problem is ongoing political incompetence.
........................Roger