Moving back British Muslim
Jan 25th 2013, 5:05 am
#31
Forum Regular
Thread Starter
Joined: Jan 2013
Posts: 32
Re: Moving back British Muslim
Thanks happyglow! You all have really reassured me! We have been living in the middle east (Saudi, i know!) and africa (Kenya, lovely) for four years to work and live for a bit - I am shocked at the racism here in Muslim countries towards other Muslims. It's very in your face here - they become friendly only when they hear my accent when I speak English or see my passport at immigration... This would never happen in the UK.So yes bigots are all over the world- race, religion and nationality donot matter!
Jan 25th 2013, 5:21 am
#32
Forum Regular
Thread Starter
Joined: Jan 2013
Posts: 32
Re: Moving back British Muslim
I'm white, but my sister had a bi-racial child with a muslim guy (who is a dick, but just cause he's a dick not because he's a muslim) and I, my family or anyone in his school bats an eyelid at his skin colour.
I went to school in Richmond called Christ's School and it was mostly black, Asian, Indian, Pakistani and you'd get bullied but never for race. This was in 1996 and any mention of being bullied over race would be abhorrent to almost any kid I knew.
My mother and nan are from Belize in central America and my grandad's were from Ireland. Again no issue ever that I knew of.
I'd honestly say that the UK is the most tolerant place I've ever known and I was shocked and still am at how racist America is. But not just white on black, but black on black racism, black on white, Mexican on white, black, Asian etc... seems like every race hates the other, but in a very underhanded way.
I went to school in Richmond called Christ's School and it was mostly black, Asian, Indian, Pakistani and you'd get bullied but never for race. This was in 1996 and any mention of being bullied over race would be abhorrent to almost any kid I knew.
My mother and nan are from Belize in central America and my grandad's were from Ireland. Again no issue ever that I knew of.
I'd honestly say that the UK is the most tolerant place I've ever known and I was shocked and still am at how racist America is. But not just white on black, but black on black racism, black on white, Mexican on white, black, Asian etc... seems like every race hates the other, but in a very underhanded way.
Jan 25th 2013, 5:47 am
#34
She'll be right
Joined: Sep 2012
Location: Near the beach, NZ
Posts: 1,498
Jan 25th 2013, 5:50 am
#35
Forum Regular
Thread Starter
Joined: Jan 2013
Posts: 32
Re: Moving back British Muslim
Jan 25th 2013, 8:04 am
#36
Finally Home!
Joined: Mar 2010
Location: Used to be New York, now North Yorkshire
Posts: 3,610
Re: Moving back British Muslim
I'm in Yorkshire and my impression is that, while some people might mutter generally about immigrants, when they interact with an actual individual, they're invariably kind and friendly and respectful just as they would be with a white person.
To some extent I think it's because some people have a view of muslims and other immigrants that comes straight out of the Daily Mail. But when they meet an actual person, that goes out of the window. If asked about the dichotomy, they'd probably say "Oh he/she is lovely ... it's those lazy/violent/scrounging/[choose disparaging adjective] immigrants I don't like."
It's the same way that everyone seems to moan about benefits scroungers but no one disowns their friend or relative when he/she signs on after losing a job.
I'm sure you'll be very welcome.
To some extent I think it's because some people have a view of muslims and other immigrants that comes straight out of the Daily Mail. But when they meet an actual person, that goes out of the window. If asked about the dichotomy, they'd probably say "Oh he/she is lovely ... it's those lazy/violent/scrounging/[choose disparaging adjective] immigrants I don't like."
It's the same way that everyone seems to moan about benefits scroungers but no one disowns their friend or relative when he/she signs on after losing a job.
I'm sure you'll be very welcome.
Jan 25th 2013, 11:22 am
#37
BE Forum Addict
Joined: Aug 2004
Posts: 4,754
Re: Moving back British Muslim
I'm being off topic and pedantic, but I would liken signing on for unemployment benefit as "benefit scrounging", it's something that all tax payers have funded and is a bridge to further employment for the vast majority of people.
Jan 25th 2013, 3:04 pm
#38
Concierge
Joined: May 2006
Location: ex ex-pat, in Taunton
Posts: 27,217
Re: Moving back British Muslim
while looking for another job, and in those cases can't in any circumstances be called scrounging. Yes there are some people who are dole scroungers, but you can't tar all with the same brush which your post is doing.
Jan 25th 2013, 3:17 pm
#39
Firetrak
Joined: Mar 2004
Posts: 577
Re: Moving back British Muslim
Look at the 4th picture with prince charles, that how i'd like to think of the UK and on the whole I think thats how it truly is.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/in-pictures-21194276
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/in-pictures-21194276
Jan 25th 2013, 3:23 pm
#40
Lost in BE Cyberspace
Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 41,518
Re: Moving back British Muslim
I think I get what sallysimmons is saying - people will make sweeping hurtful comments about a topic, eg everyone receiving dole is a scrounger - until it happens to someone close to them. Likewise they may say there are 'too many immigrants' but don't count the lovely Pakistani lady they know socially.
Jan 25th 2013, 3:35 pm
#41
BE Forum Addict
Joined: Nov 2007
Location: Beautiful Dorset, UK
Posts: 2,195
Re: Moving back British Muslim
signing on for unemployment is, for most people a stop gap to get some income
while looking for another job, and in those cases can't in any circumstances be called scrounging. Yes there are some people who are dole scroungers, but you can't tar all with the same brush which your post is doing.
while looking for another job, and in those cases can't in any circumstances be called scrounging. Yes there are some people who are dole scroungers, but you can't tar all with the same brush which your post is doing.
It makes a bit more sense to me that way...
Jan 25th 2013, 4:14 pm
#42
Firetrak
Joined: Mar 2004
Posts: 577
Re: Moving back British Muslim
Personally immigration made the UK the awesome country it is today, and I for one am really proud of it.
But lets all be honest, unchecked immigration from people who have no direct right, i.e. economic migrants, they should only be allowed in once all familial migrants have been settled.
I think the crux of the issue is a lot of UK people feel sidelined in these economic times when immigrants from other countries come and potentially take jobs from locals or put an added strain on public finances so projects for locals get scrapped as the money has to allocated for EU migrants from poor countries.
Its not racism that most people espouse, its fear of the country changing and leaving them behind.
Jan 26th 2013, 2:38 am
#44
BE Enthusiast
Joined: Dec 2012
Posts: 433
Re: Moving back British Muslim
This thread has been niggling away in a little corner of my brain today; I think it's because you identified yourself by your religion, Drifting. I suggest that your biggest danger of a bad reaction is if you go around pushing that religion in people's faces, as happens all too often. ie be yourself, not a label :-)
Jan 26th 2013, 2:42 am
#45
Lost in BE Cyberspace
Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 41,518
Re: Moving back British Muslim
This thread has been niggling away in a little corner of my brain today; I think it's because you identified yourself by your religion, Drifting. I suggest that your biggest danger of a bad reaction is if you go around pushing that religion in people's faces, as happens all too often. ie be yourself, not a label :-)
I have never had Islam 'pushed in my face', although I have with Christianity many times.