To be really fucked off with the "make bradford british" q+a session?

[northcountrygirl]

I live in a town close to Bradford, that has the same levels of segregation. My children go to nusery/school in a village next to an "asian area" with about a quarter of the children being muslim, so all 3 of my children have a lot of muslim friends. My questions were completely ignored.

I totally agree that we need to integrate the communities more. My questions were (roughly - can't remember how I phrased it):

1. I live in a town close by and totally agree with Sabbiyah's comment on the need for cohesion. My children have a lot of muslim friends (my son's friends are nearly all muslim). The problem I find is that whilst the children integrate well at school there is absolutely NO integration outside of school. Party invitations and invitations to tea after school are declined (or more often than not completely ignored). Why do you think this is? Is it because of worries over Halal food not being served? Or something more deep seated?

1. (along the same lines) In my childrens' school the children themselves integrate very well up to about year 4. From year 5 onwards you can see the divide if you pass the school at playtimes. My own son was told by (some) of the white boys that they would only play with him if he fell out with his muslim friends. I feel that as the children start socialising out of school, the parents are not allowing the two cultures to mix. How do we, as parents, enable the children to socialise outside school?

I really feel the answers to these questions are important (to me at least). Last year all my sons friends were muslim (in year 5). He was getting upset as his sister was always having friends over for tea and sleepovers and also getting invited back, whilst he was constantly on his own. In the end I reluctantly had to tell him that in was unlikely his muslim friends would ever be coming for tea and maybe he should start playing with some of the non muslim children. Which he did.

NB - not being racist by referring to children as "white" or "muslim". The school they are at is bicultural rather than multicultural.

I live in Woodford Giveitago
There are those who don't mix but you'll get that everywhere. Generally, people do.
I talk to so many different mums at the school gates and although people may have their cliques and friendships, people generally chat to everyone.

Its just rubbish when people just stick to their own and are unwelcoming of others.

" But in Bradford the racism cuts both ways, Asians are opening racist against whites and blacks. It's a dreadful example of how not to organise a community. "

" The community of Bradford "

Is there such a thing? It does not sound much like a "community" from what I have read so far.

Do you simply mean the inhabitants of Bradford?

How could one possibly "organise" such a disparate collection of individuals and to what effect?

I'm not there. Here it's all very lovely and very mixed - until secondary when it's faith and then everyone goes off into their own bubbles leaving those with no faith behind. Yikes.

exece I was heartened to read your post. I was beginning to feel like the only one who lived in an area where true integration actually happens! I think you're right about the common ground regarding morals and ideas about raising kids. I find this too, and it makes a huge difference.