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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

See all MNHQ comments on this thread

To not like this Idea of a new multicultural Britain

789 replies

monkeyfarm · 12/12/2012 10:55

I suspect this probably won't go down too well but I'm just being honest as I'm interested to see if I'm the only one who feels this way?
I hate how things are changing, how I can be in a store feel like I'm in eastern europe, why are we one of the only countries that do this? why can't we take a leaf out of the book of Australia and open our doors to people who have something to contribute and not just all and sundry?
Am I on my own in feeling this way?

OP posts:
CockyPants · 17/12/2012 20:15

Nick Griffin is a MNetter?
Whoulda thunk it.

nailak · 17/12/2012 20:17

what I dont get is this hang up on ethnicity under the guise of being concerned about British, so what if the person who represents me is from a different country of origin? I am guessing the council actually are all British with British passports, and the people of the borough arent all British with British passports so the council is more British then the population?

and of course that goes both ways, i said i disagree with this concept of ethnicity and i disagree with bengali only activities, i also said that faith bases funding for groups is widely available in newham.

btw i dont think i mentioned my race so how do you get it is in my race interest? lol,

"there are those who seek to contribute positively, but few and far between I'd imagine.

And presumably they'd have had their accomodation, training and degrees paid for by the state? Unlike many young people of my acquaintance, who would love to go to university, but they or their parents are unable to afford it."

erm no there dad worked as a taxi driver and the dr worked as a care assistant at nights while studying, and they got loans.....

you may imagine they are few and far between, i imagine most who come here actually want to make something of their lives and work tirelessly to allow that to happen.

Abitwobblynow · 17/12/2012 20:18

I don't see what the surprise is. You open the doors to millions of people who come from countries where getting power means benefiting your particular religion, caste, racial grouping. then when they get power here they behave in the same way. Amazing, how did that happen?

[I come from the third world. The willingness of British people to apologise for institutions which they now barely understand the importance of

gordyslovesheep · 17/12/2012 20:20

come from countries where getting power means benefiting your particular religion, caste, racial grouping. then when they get power here they behave in the same way. Amazing, how did that happen?

Old school tie net work has been doing it in a very British way for years - still are ...it's not a new or especially foreign issue Grin

TheBigJessie · 17/12/2012 20:26

Surely, if the constituents are 70% white brits, and the councillors are 100% brown brits, could this not be a case of the best candidates winning the elections, having overcome a significant racial disadvantage?

Abitwobblynow · 17/12/2012 20:39

oops - their willingess to allow them undermined, and their self-hatred in pretending that other cultures are 'as good as' their own, not pushing back at immigrant cultures and insisting on British values being enforced at all times, leaves me eternally Shock

Nailak, you are a South African muslim stop being disingenuous. You have told us enough times...

You aren't going to scream racism to a fellow African, are you??? Don't bother, it won't work, you and I both know the countries our people came from are lesser otherwise we wouldn't be here. I am not a guilt-ridden English person Wink

pointysettia · 17/12/2012 20:41

Presumably the council in Tower Hamlets was elected - and the Bengalis are clearly better at getting the vote out. This is what you get for political disaffection. I always vote in local elections - even if it is only to add a 'none of the above' box and then mark it, because I cannot bring myself to choose from the mind-numbing array of Tory and UKIP candidates. But I go out there and do it. No vote = no representation.

And I get sooooo tired of the assumption of some posters on here who say that it's only a small minority of immigrants and/or asylum seekers ever make a meaningful contribution and the rest are all criminals and scroungers. I blame the tabloid press for this... Yes, Daily Mail, I'm looking at you. With your FAILED ASYLUM SEEKER RAPES PENSIONER HEADLINES. But when a white British bloke rapes a pensioner, his ethnicity never makes the headlines. Funny, that.

TheBigJessie · 17/12/2012 20:51

That's either a hella lotta disaffection, a hugely split vote (did that Ralph Nader Independent Presidential candidate bloke stand? Grin ) or some of the white brits voted for the brown ones. Perhaps they voted on political lines, rather than race lines?

nailak · 17/12/2012 20:52

yes where does race come in to that? neither south african or muslim is a race and they both encompass many races! a bit lol I am certainly not bengali so i am not sure how its in my race interest! lol

nailak · 17/12/2012 20:52

and btw i am not south african, my parents are, i am british, you seem to have missed that bit which i have said even more times!

nailak · 17/12/2012 20:53

and yes i would scream racism to a fellow african, ever heard of apartheid? the african government who were racist and african?

nailak · 17/12/2012 20:55

thebigj hopefully they did

alemci · 17/12/2012 21:40

I think the failed asylum seeker makes the headline because you would think he would have the sense not to behave in that way if he was trying to lie low and it challenges the myth that everyone who arrives in GB is so fantastic and couldn't do anything wrong etc.

I think if you come to a country as a guest you should be on your best behaviour and I acknowledge that Brits abroad can be lawless as well.

nailak · 17/12/2012 21:45

when do you stop being a guest?

alemci · 17/12/2012 21:51

I think when you start working and paying taxes and putting something into the economy rather than taking out and presumably when you are given leave to stay.

pointysettia · 17/12/2012 22:19

alemci would you at east lay some of the blame at the door of the people who - probably knowingly - exploit illegal immigrants in sweatshop conditions so that they can get super cheap labour? A lot of asylum seekers who come into this country are very highly educated and qualified - yet our insane system does not allow them to work or pay taxes however capable they are or however much they want to. You hear about qualified doctors working as cleaners - how much of a waste of talent is that?

I'd like so to see a system where people who come in seeking asylum are asked about their skills and qualifications and are helped to find work - there could be a special work permit for asylum seekers, one of a temporary nature, so that whilst their applications are going through, these people could work, pay taxes and contribute. At the very least it would allow them to keep up their skills in case their application is turned down. The current system is a Kafkaesque nightmare.

alemci · 17/12/2012 22:28

yes fair point Pointy.

GrrrArghZzzzYaayforall8nights · 17/12/2012 23:26

All the councilors are British. Non Brits can't stand for election, non Brits can't vote (so trying to get their vote is a bit useless).

Abitwobbly, since you don't seem to know as you called them the same race and religion, South African and Bengali are two very different groups. Some South African actually are mostly European and are a variety of faiths. Bengalis, originating in an area in India and Bangladesh, are also a variety of faiths, particularly Hindu, Islam, Buddhism, and Christianity. Your desire to paint Muslims, and Bengalis, and a monolithic mass is not in reality - both are made up of different groups and individuals with different wants and needs. All groups are.

I am an immigrant, I come from the States. I am white passing and no one was concerned (other than the Home office) when I came here. Having leave to remain, I have spent most of my time here caring for others (my white British MIL has MS, FIL has a laundry list of conditions, my DH has multiple disabilities) and coming here just before the crash I have spent most of my time here not employed.

I often get the "you are the type of immigrant we want" and "Immigrants like you are fine" from people in real life. Seeing as my employment record can't be what they are talking about and my religion (Me and my DH converted to Judaism) has brought me to wear a noticeable cloth cap and not doing the typical British traditions, and we have far more than the average amount of kids (4), I can only guess what they mean is that they want immigrants who are the white passing, English speaking, not different enough to cause any qualms, and keep to themselves (caring means I spend most of my time in my home) because that is the me that they are talking about and approving of - when I bring up the that I am most of the things they complain about, I get the "but you are different". Guess what is?

Keeping to ourselves is often what we are attacked for, going out and engaging often means dealing with a lot of harassment and abuse. My kids have had mums pull theirs away when they see me or my DH with his full ginger beard. My kids have dealt with strangers, including Brits drunk in the middle of the day, following us around and shouting abuse (one very traumatic one was a pair shouting Jesus and Mary and a lot of swears at us with our small children there around a shopping area and no one doing anything about it). And we're white, what my British back generations black friend Nic goes through makes my blood go cold and my immigrant friends who are not white even worse.

This is a major part of the mini pockets not just because it is easier to get wanted products and services, but because we need insulate ourselves against abuse, and (repeated studies have shown this) estate agents will show someone not from the White Brit majority housing in those areas far more often even when they can afford to live elsewhere. You don't like it, challenge the systems of oppression not dump hate.

Abitwobblynow · 20/12/2012 12:57

Excellent question, Nailak. A really good thoughtful and heartfelt one -

'when do you stop being a guest?'

What do you think? What would your reply to this question be?

Abitwobblynow · 20/12/2012 12:58

[Nailak for Prime Minister! I thought that really put the finger on the issue]

nailak · 20/12/2012 14:28

lol,

sorry I wouldnt want to be prime minister! too stressful!

what do i think? well if someone was in my house and they had been there a few months they wouldnt be a guest anymore definitely!

But I guess it is about intention, if someone comes with the intention to stay a few months or a year then leave they are a visitor. If someone packs up all their stuff, and comes with the intention to live somewhere then they are not a visitor!

nailak · 20/12/2012 14:29

alemci what about white people who dont put back and just take? are they guests too then? or just those whose parents or grandparents were born abroad?

CoteDAzur · 20/12/2012 15:07

You would expect a guest to leave after a while - ex: me, when I visit the UK. Permanent residents are not guests.

I think you mean to ask something else. Like, when do immigrants start to belong.

alemci · 20/12/2012 16:35

It totally agree Nailak. My brother lives in China and has lived in Thailand. I don't know how he sees himself but he works and pays taxes.

I was commenting on that particular case. I think people who come here should try to fit in and abide by the laws. We have enough criminals already, why would we want any more.

nailak · 20/12/2012 16:45

a person who is given asylum isnt a guest as this is their home,

a failed asylum seeker isnt a guest, more like a stow away.

a failed asylum seeker who commits criminal acts apart from those he needs to do to survive (ie work on illegal market) is an idiot.

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