Triceratops - why do you hate it at all? That's a pretty strong emotion. I can understand if it irritated you because it slightly abstracts the dictionary definition of 'community'. Are you an English teacher, by the way?
Flossum - you don't see that there's a distinct women's culture then, or mums of whatever race or creed that congregate here on MN? That the sharing of a social and historical position can't inspire a kinship?
If a sense of nationhood can be constructed in war, a sense of community can also be constructed in mutual experience and, as can be the case with 'ethnic minorities', a shared experience of oppression.
What amazes me is that the ITV news will have a poll and 80 odd percent of those who take part will say immigration and/or asylum is high on their personal political agenda. I'd like to see a poll immediately after, using the same people, asking how many have actually met an immigrant worker or asylum seeker.
If people would only stop to think for a second they'd understand that no one leaves their lives, family, friends, job, cars, houses, to come to the UK and live ostracised in a Glasgow high rise or Newcastle slum. What would it take for you to leave your own children and partners behind? These people aren't out for a jolly, FGS.
It really bugged me during the election when Howard talked about genuine asylum seekers, specifically the 'innocent women and children'.
He said all this just a few weeks before the 10th anniversary of the Srebrenica massacre where thousands of men of fighting age (between the ages of 9 - 70 roughly) were slaughtered under the eyes of the peacekeepers. It really made me sick to my stomach.
Anna, as long as you and your family are alright? That's the attitude that allows such crimes to take place.