Is anyone else getting quite tired of being called a racist?

[Peppatina]

I know it can't just be me.

It doesn't matter what carefully thought out reasons a brexiter has for wanting to leave (I've seen some very articulate and reasoned ones on mn itself) we are still all getting lumped into a stereotypical group of closet racist idiots.

And Lord forbid any of those reasons might just involve any concern over levels of eu migration!

I've been told that I'm essentially imagining the three week waiting list for my GP or that this is nothing to do with eu migration. If I say I know it is because of the names being called out I become the equivalent of Enoch Powell.

The same goes for a certain local estate very much being a no go area, especially for young girls. After braving this street once with my children and being spat on and shouted at by a group of very hostile Romanian men/boys I've been told I imagined it.

When I had my son a few week ago my I was the only English speaking person in my ward. A polish man was shouting and being very aggressive to staff as they were struggling to find an interpreter.

I absolutely know that not every migrant is aggressive and that they should build more schools and go surgeries but I believe I'm right to be concerned about a high number of migrants who are not intergrating with their local community and the unsustainable strain on services.

I'm sick of being told that my experiences don't matter. That to even mention that this is what life is like in our town means I am a racist or little englander.

[JoyOdell]

YANBU, but this is not be forum where you will be agreed with. You'll be getting a lot of

[Peppatina]

I expect so JoyOdell but I don't see why it has to be so.

[EnthusiasmDisturbed]

Well it doesn't happen so much on nice leafy parts of Islington

Not so much racist but that my concern is only immigration or that I am not intelligent enough to understand the economics which is very complex I don't pretend to understand it completely

I have felt for a long time the left especially have made the mistake of ignoring people's concerns and worse dismissing their experiences regarding immigration which has lead to the rise in support for UKIP

I was very much in the remain camp but the more I researched and questioned why we are in the EU the more disillusioned I have become with remaining in so I am voting out

[lavenderdoilly]

I'm sure you're not but racism keeps leaking into Brexit campaigning. I assume all Brexit supporters are reasonable people who've reached a different view to me. Then I keep seeing mindless shite like "we won two world wars, who says we can't do it".

[glenthebattleostrich]

I agree op. You talk about things you have experienced and you are labelled a liar, racist or fantasist. It was the same a couple of years ago when people were discussing the issues in Rotherham and surrounding areas. It was the same when

[Newes]

Do you have any reasons that don't involve anecdotes about people with foreign names/accents where you live?

I think that might help the knee jerk reaction that you're voting Leave for racist reasons.

[LaurieFairyCake]

The problem with taking anecdotes and turning them into data makes it look like you can't extrapolate numbers

The actual numbers don't support your anecdotes

Where I used to live there was one very large Irish family. There were about 60 -80 members of this family and their mates. They used to go to one pub.

If I extrapolated that 'the Irish' were a bunch of rowdy drunkards from that one experience I'd be rightly torn a new one.

As it means fuck all.

[stilllovingmysleep]

"When I had my son a few week ago my I was the only English speaking person in my ward. A polish man was shouting and being very aggressive to staff as they were struggling to find an interpreter."

That is quite racist. As are your other anecdotal comments. No wonder people say you're racist with the comments you make.

[YourPerception]

There is very much a social media witch hunt mentality going on in society at present.

I am fed up of factual free speed being closed down. Usually by people in a mob. They often have out of context information or half truths.

Last week on Jeremy Vine I heard an interview with Claire Fox. It was so refreshing to hear somebody think like as I do. I am part way through her book and it's broadened my thinking. Her theory is they gain power over others by identifying as or being a victim.

Not a great model for a healthy society.

[Peppatina]

Yes Newes I want all politicians that have a say in my life to be somehow accountable for it. After some research I do not believe the EU is the kind of democracy I want to be a part of.

Also my family has some fishing ties on the coast and they feel very strongly that leaving is in their best interests.

Immigration is only a part of my thought process but I won't lie and say it isn't an important one. The above were examples that have been ridiculed when discussing the referendum.

A boss actually asked me if I felt I had been negatively affected by immigration. When I mentioned one of the above anecdotes I got told 'rubbish' and I should base my vote on facts not experiences.

As if my daily existence is not fact enough to influence my vote.

[WidowWadman]

If you don't want to be called racist or xenophobic, maybe you shouldn't say racist or xenophobic things. Just an idea. HTH

[Mooingcow]

It's the knee jerk reaction of the neo liberal when faced with someone who remains stubbornly unimpresseed by their shrieking assertions of huge heart, sharp grasp of obscure treasury issues and a deep-rooted dislike of white British people, especially aristocrats (jealous and intimidated) and working class (last bastion of people it's ok to sneer at).

In my experience, of those haranguing me to rethink my 'leave' vote, very few speak a second language and hardly any have lived in another country. Yet they sneer 'little Englander' with no trace of irony at all.

I find them stupid and dull and unoriginal.

[DoinItFine]

I am totally opposed to Brexit, but I agree with you on the matter of accusing people with legitimate concerns about immigration policy of racism.

It means sensible conversation about the subject is impossible.

[mountaintoclimb]

Peppatina I agree with you and I believe there are an awful lot in silent agreement.

[Peppatina]

But can you please explain to me why it is racist to talk about what things are like where I live?

I'm genuinely baffled why saying 'there was a polish man yelling at a nurse' is racist? It's relevant to the anecdote, he was yelling because there was no translator available.

[Zhabr]

How come it is racist? It is just a fact of life. I was not born in the UK, but I find it completely not racist.

[Peppatina]

I could understand if I was saying 'All Romanian men soit

[BertrandRussell]

Tired of being called a racist, you say? I can help you with that.................

[claig]

Claire Fox is one of the few common sense people left invited onto the media. She is right about lots of issues but not all, and the amazing thing is she was a Marxist or still is one, I am not sure.

[kitchenunit]

I've never been called a racist.

Mostly because I've never said anything racist.

[EnthusiasmDisturbed]

So someone's e experience of being the only English speaking person on her ward and pointing out that a Polish man shouted to a nurse is racist

Oh please are we all to go round pretending we don't notice if someone is from a different part of the world

It's an observation from an experience from the op along with others that supports her feelings that integration and mass immigration is not working in her area

[Peppatina]

Oops

• I could understand it if I was saying something like 'All Romanian men spit on women' etc. but I'm not.
  
  I'm saying that happened to me and that a single group did it.
  
  And that because of my experiences I believe there are some immigrants who are not integrating with British society and that I think this is a problem in my area.

[DoinItFine]

If I extrapolated that 'the Irish' were a bunch of rowdy drunkards from that one experience I'd be rightly torn a new one.

IME the Irish are a bunch of rowdy drunkards, amongst many other fine things.

People are allowed to form judgements based on their own experience.

Telling them that they are wrong for believing the evidence of their own eyes is never going to work.

You can show them other evidence, introduce them to idea of the Irish pioneers, show them that rates of drunkenness are similar to those in the UK.

But be careful of telling people they are stupid and evil for thinking the things they think doesn't tend to convince.

[ThroughThickAndThin01]

I worry Peppa that this is why the right wing is on the rise in the EU. When something is subdued enough (in this case, continual accusation of racism) people rebel. Eventually people think 'fuck it, if that's what you think then sobeit' and the movement grows in defiance. I think it's a dangerous game to play and may go the full circle.

[crystalgall]

But that could have been anyone shoutin about anything
People are constantly kicking off in hospital about things. What's that got to do with Brexit??
How can that anecdote have anything to do with leaving the EU?
Do you think there will be no more foreigners shouting in hospital?