Is this offensive?

[cherryolives]

For a white person who is British but born in Kashmir to describe themselves as Kashmiri?

@Leakyradiator

No. They were born there. Usually a person would identify with the nationality of the country they were born in I would imagine. Or am I missing something here? I don’t think it’s offensive. How is it offensive?

Colonial expats tend very much NOT to identify with the country they're being colonial expats in tbf.

JL I don't think is being intentionally offensive(particularly as it's now been established she was talking about cabbages) BUT as a very very British colonial child, she's always been keen to rather dwell on only certain aspects of her family background. Remember the hoohah after her documentary some years ago?

It’s not offensive, but a bit strange maybe to call yourself a nationality just because you were born there. If you don’t really have any recollection of even living there, which surely she wouldn’t - it’s makes it sound like you’re trying on a nationality as a fashion accessory or to score “woke” points.

If a person of any descent is born in Britain they are British, why is this any different?

@BeautifulStar

It’s not offensive, but a bit strange maybe to call yourself a nationality just because you were born there. If you don’t really have any recollection of even living there, which surely she wouldn’t - it’s makes it sound like you’re trying on a nationality as a fashion accessory or to score “woke” points.

She wasnt just born there, her father was also born there , her mother also spent all her childhood in the region, and had family from both parents in the region since 18th century. SHe wasnt even claiming a nationality, she made a joke comparing herself to spinach

Ah, bruffin I thought she was just born there - didn’t watch the programme.

I don't think you know what ethnicity is, do you?

Ethnicity is a social construct and has nothing to do with your bloodline.

@BeautifulStar

Ah, bruffin I thought she was just born there - didn’t watch the programme.

Exactly most people who commented havnt seen the programme, and i think op was deliberately being misleading

And an expat is an expat as they are not born wherever they are expating

I wouldn’t find it offensive, but it’s not correct . As a pp said Joanna Lumley ( with the fake voice) was born in India but she isn’t Indian .

Well firstly it’s a stretch isn’t it, since she didn’t grow up there. It appears that she’s proud of the fact she was born there - fine, and feels a strong connection because of her family living there a long term - which is fine on one level, but complex because it was in a colonial context.

These days you wouldn’t make such a claim. So it’s a stretch and it’s out of step with current thinking... but it’s hard to see why it’s offensive. It could be offensive if she made no acknowledgement of the realities of colonial rule, but no reason to think that is the case.

So I think we can say that to be actually offended by this, you’d have to be looking to be offended.

@Blindstupid

OP why didn’t you just say from the off that this was about JL, instead of being all cloak and dagger about it?

Is it relevant?

No, it is not offensive. She was born there. If she had been born in Great Britain she would be British.

I don't find it offensive but I do find it odd. Both my children were born overseas in countries with a totally different culture to ours (British). They see themselves as British despite not living here until they went to University. I think I would be concerned if they described themselves as Emirati and probably many Emiratis would find it offensive as it is about more than just being born there.

@maddening

If a person of any descent is born in Britain they are British, why is this any different?

No they aren't.

I don't know if it's offensive (although your friend does have more of a right to decide that than most people on this thread), I definitely think it's insensitive though considering the history.

My brother was born in Germany but on a British army base, he'd never describe himself as German. I suppose that's a similar situation but even less fraught with racial implications and cultural insensitivity.

@amitoooldforthisshit

IMHO that is racist

How? Genuine question.

Dictionary definition of racism.
prejudice, discrimination, or antagonism by an individual, community, or institution against a person or people on the basis of their membership of a particular racial or ethnic group, typically one that is a minority or marginalized.

My daughter was born in England , I was born in Australia but am also a British citizen because my father was born in England, my husband is Danish, we lived in the Netherlands for over six years where my son was born, we have lived in Germany for 5 years, both my children have Danish Passports, my daughter calls herself English, my 9 year old just told me he is Dutch, Danish, Australian and a little German. What should they call themselves, technically they are Danish but my daughter did have British passport, and they can become Australian citizens, and it would not surprise me if when they are 18 they become German citizens.

@Lockandtees she had three generations of family who lived and was born in India before her. How many generations does it take before you can describe yourself as from that region?

[quote gottakeeponmovin]@Lockandtees she had three generations of family who lived and was born in India before her. How many generations does it take before you can describe yourself as from that region? [/quote]
Yes, as part of a colonial regime! I can understand that someone whose parents or grandparents were displaced by Partition and affected by the ensuing violence might find that it rankles a little to hear that someone who was born into a colonial family and left before August 1947 considers themselves Kashmiri.

It’s a bit of an overreaction to a joke about spinach but it’s also understandable in context.

Depends if you are registered as a Kashmiri citizen or have dual citizenship and have a passport from there.

14:42SimonJT

Because your answer would be something to reflect on before answering.

It stinks of white colonialism if I’m honest.

But that’s my only thought on it really. I don’t think it’s up to me to decide what people from a completely different country and ethnicity find offensive.

@itallworkedouthorribly

14:42SimonJT

Because your answer would be something to reflect on before answering.

So you’re unwilling to actually answer?