To think this is a bit racist?

[EMS23]

Two friends from completely separate friendship groups have recently expressed a similar opinion to me. They have each moved their DC from a school because 'she was one of only two children not called Mohammed' / 'they were all Muslims - I don't want my kid being the minority'.

After the first one, I was pretty sure it was mildly racist, felt a bit uncomfortable about it but I rarely see her so just thought, whatever, bit of a shame but no great loss.
Then one of my oldest and best friends said the exact same thing and now I don't know how to feel. I love her and have always really respected her intelligence so now what?
Am I being hyper sensitive here? I'm a white British person so i don't think I feel offended for myself IYSWIM but I abhor racism in any form and never imagined myself as being friends with people that I knew were.

Re kids in school.

We live in SE London where there is an ethnic mix but if the balance was tipping over to ethnic minorities being the majority then we'd move and change school.

Why, Glittery? What's wrong with whatever your ethnicity is being the dominant one, but not anyone else's?

Ah well, Glittery, my highly academically achieving, well behaved middle class ethnic minority child will be adding to the percentage that will be driving you from your home.

Bye!

As it happens, my DS was the only child of his ethnicity in his class at primary (I have no idea about secondary) but overall, there was no such thing as a one-group majority or minority because the diversity was so great . Everyone was 'different' so no-one was different and it was a best example of the richness of diversity benefitting everyone.

I think it is different if there is a homogenous majority and a tiny minority. Whichever group happens to be in either position .

But Lonely, how do you get that "good mix" if all the non-Muslims leave? You seem to be dooming all schools to be mono-cultural by that policy, which is the very opposite of what you claim to want.

In fact all of you who claim to want a mix - how do you think that is going to happen?

Me too, Blu. Mine isn't Muslim, but he is brown and clever. Run, all you people, run far awaaay! His good behaviour and high marks could be infectious!

I'm a freak. I'd like my child to be the majority in her own country.

My local primary is high 90s percent muslim. I looked around and we live in a multi cultural town. Well, not very multicultural, its either white british or pakistani british in the main. Then there aRe lesser numbers of other immigrants, such as polish etc. im third gen irish. I live in a mixed area of town. My cul-de-sac is almost equally balanced with white british and either Pakistani and indian origin british. But the local schools are no where near equally mixed. The Catholic school she attends is almost entirely white, except for maybe 3 children with families of indian origin, and Catholic. I find this so strange for a town which is so mixed and i guess im just adding to it (although the local school is a bog standard county primary and i chose church).

My (white) colleague soent. Few ears living in africa as a child. I forget which country. Maybe tanzania? And said she felt so lonely as the only white child as she felt different.

My child is in his own country, too, Glittery.

What's so great about being in a majority? As opposed to a happy mix?

I am pleased that none of my DS's white friends, or any friends, think like you.

Well, Glittery, both me and Blu have kids who were/are the minority in one way or another in their own classes, and they both seem to have turned out alright.

And - amaaaazingly enough, it's my kid's country, too. He was born just across the river from the Tower of London. Did you know that the first house ever built in London, roughly 2000 years ago, was built by people a bit forrin'? (Damn Romans, coming over here and improvin' our infrastructure.) Adding people who were a bit forrin' is how this whole country has been built for thousands of years. Everyone on this island - including you, Glittery, and your daughter - is either an immigrant or the descendant of immigrants.

I agree 10,000% glittery

Annie i'm not saying there is a good mix if all the non-muslims leave as there is only 2 (according to op) a good mix!!!!!! That is not a good mix to start with and i wouldn't allow my child to go to a school like that

Blu

'' Ah well, Glittery, my highly academically achieving, well behaved middle class ethnic minority child will be adding to the percentage that will be driving you from your home.

Bye!'"

What a pathetic rude comment

Glittery7 "We'd move if the majority of the children in my children's class were Muslim."

Fuck me.

How do you propose to achieve a good mix, though, Lonely? Whether or not you send your own kid there. Or would you prefer for Muslim kids only to mix with other Muslims, and Christians to only mix with other Christians, and Hindus with other Hindus, and Jewish kids only with other Jews, and so on? Because that's where your policy would take us.

I thought I was signed into Mumsnet. I seem to have accidentally infiltrated UKIP HQ.

Katherinaminola people are allowed different opinions to you, you know!

Well indeed, Katherina. It's a bit of a shocker. (I think I'd give the Farage Memorial Prize this evening to the "in her own country" comment.)

Annie well 95% muslim children and 5% non-muslim for a start is not how i propose a good mix in a British primary school and i don't know anyone who would think it is.

And Lonely, people including Katherine are allowed to disagree with those opinions. That's how democracy works.

But Lonely, with your policy, how do you propose to change that 95% Muslim and 5% non-Muslim balance if no non-Muslims are willing to go to that school? Or would you prefer to move towards religious apartheid, as you seem to be suggesting?

What do you suggest is done?

Lonely , Glittery just said she would move house to get away from my child if my child, my child, was the 16th ethnic minority child in a class of 30. She is saying she would move house to avoid my child, based in ethnicity, so please explain how my response to that is either rude or pathetic?

Though given that you agree and would do the same thing you may find it hard to answer . But please try to explain.

exactly Annie which is why i didn't comment on her opinion! I think it's untrue but I ain't gonna argue with her as i love a good debate and don't let these opinions you or her or anyone have hold a grudge against you (i dont know you so that would be silly) :)

i would not move home blu and I am sorry maybe that comment came out ruder than anticipated, just I didn't agree that she meant she would move home as she didn't mention home! I think glittery was talking about moving school :)

Lonely, substitute the word "Jew" for the word "Muslim" in Glittery's post. It makes my hair stand on end.

I'm shocked that people think these views are acceptable.