Britain's Got Diversity
Not so long ago there was anxiety that ethnic minority acts were being discriminated against on TV talent shows. The suggestion was that "non-white" acts suffered from an undercurrent of prejudice and racism among the voting public.
Watching the final of ITV's Britain's Got Talent this weekend, I saw a stage for everything that is tolerant and inclusive about contemporary British society and identity.
The winners proclaimed multi-racial roots in their name.
Diversity's success spoke of something we should never forget about our country. While the press and our politicians too often demonise "gangs" of young men in their baseball caps and hoodies, this group from East London and Essex danced for the nation with discipline, wit, intelligence and joy.
The hard work and humility on display were at odds with the common portrayal of youth.
When the voting public was asked to select an act to represent Britain in front of the Queen, a million people chose Diversity.
Look at some of the other finalists: the 12-year-old singing sensation Shaheen Jafargholi may have an Iranian name and father, but the lad from Swansea is being hailed as the next Tom Jones.
Comedy dancers Stavros Flatley featured a man with "Cyprus" tattooed on his chest.
But the performance of Demetrios Demetriou and his son Lagi surely emanated from a very British school of clowning, an act built upon gentle self-mockery and plain daftness.
No-one suggested they were too Greek to represent Britain.
However, if you are a professional footballer, it appears that you can be too Scottish, Welsh or Northern Irish to represent Britain.
The news this weekend that only English players will be available to play for the GB football team at the 2012 Olympics means brilliant young footballers from other parts of the UK will not get the chance to go for gold.
The decision was made by football associations worried that Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland might lose the chance to win the World Cup on their own.
Britain's Got Talent, but when it comes to playing for team GB, only English footballers are allowed on stage.
I'm 
© MMIX~RS~q~RS~~RS~z~RS~17~RS~)
Comments
Sign in or register to comment.
Why even mention this? We will achieve true equality only when people stop banging on about ethnic diversity and how wonderful/awful it all is, and just accept a person as a person, irrespective of their race, colour or religion. I think that you are making an issue out of this unnecessarily. I noticed (having 2 reasonably good eyes), that Diversity are mostly black, and I noticed that other acts happened to be Greek, Asian or whatever. It did not affect my voting, and this is how it should be.
I can't imagine many people thinking 'Well they can dance brilliantly well, but I'm not voting for them because some of them aren't white'. BGT is a talent show, and the one good thing that shines through its general awfulness and predicitability is that we are asked to judge its participants on their merits, dubious as some of them are. I have no idea whether any of the dancers are gang members - for all I know the 10-year-old girl could be the head of a major criminal cartel - but again this doesn't matter provided she can sing in tune. (And she could, bless her).
The issue with the 'UK' football team is different. Scotland , Wales and NI don't want to join a UK team, because they know very well that M. Platini et al would take this as carte blanche to introduce a UK team that doesn't recognise their nationalities, at a time when devolution is on the political agenda. Given our UK Olympic team, UEFA would be well within their rights to insist upon a UK team, expecially given the increasing number of ex-Eastern Bloc countries clamouring for recognition.
Complain about this comment
We have Justin from "The Darkness" to thank for this. When he lost out as the public's choice for Britian's entry for the Eurovision song contest he claimed the British public were racist (he dueted with a black woman who's name escapes me). And the following two years saw us pick a black man and a mixed race woman. So obviously we took his criticism on board and embarked on a sponataneous bit of collective positive discrimination.
Either that or his song lost beacuse it was even worse than "Scooch" and he discgracfuly played the race card to hide his embarrasment and there never really was a problem in the first place.
One of the two. I don't know which.
Complain about this comment
As I understand it, the reason scottish players won't be in team GB is because the scots want to continue being nationalist, with exclusive national sides in major competitions. They don't want to acknowledge that they are part of 'great britain' (whatever that means) in case that becomes the norm for future competions such as the world cup.
Scots are nationalist, proud to be nationalist and no one tells them it is wrong.
I wonder if a mixed race group called 'diversity' would have won a talent competition in Scotland?
Complain about this comment
...oh, and there is a picture of Scotlands highly diverse football team at...
http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/internationals/7783592.stm
The story is about one of their ex-managers running a 'No To Team GB' campaign.
Complain about this comment
Jon112uk - you obviously haven't checked your facts. The vast majority of people in Scotland are not Nationalist and don't want Independence. If you bothered to read the reasons, as LippyLippo has done, you would know that the reasons stated are exactly why the Scottish, Welsh and N Irish Associations (did you forget about them?) have said no too. If anything, it seems fairly typical to me of the UK Government riding rough shod over the parts of the UK that are not England. As to your comments on Diversity - my kids voted for them. Why don't you keep your bigoted views to yourself in future.
Complain about this comment
The link you provide regarding the idea that "prejudices are stopping people voting for the ethnic minoroties", seems a little redundant, given that Leona Lewis won x factor two years ago- despite her race "disadvantage".
Complain about this comment
Dear bloggers and commentators,
first of all: I am a white German who came to this country because it prides itself for it's diversity and tolerance.
I converted to Sikhism after migrating here and at first I was marveled being here and not in Germany.
In the end after being a Sikh for two years now I have to conclude that a considerable amount of the British population is racist or in the least pretty ignorant and intolerant. I am and was the target of numerous acts of racial/religious abuse, some even physical. Action and help from the local police is rather disappointing, claiming they are needing "hard" evidence before they can go into action - which in fact means I need to get my nose bloody first and probably have to take care that it happens in front of CCTV or I am able to shoot some pictures with my mobile while I am beaten up. Laughable.
In the end this happened: While being in Germany for the first time since becoming a Sikh, I traveled to my hometown of Bremerhaven, in which one of the ultra-nationalists parties has a big stake in the local council for more than 20 years now. I was nervous and prejudicial, but in the end I was treated far more better there than I am usually treated here in the UK.
A result like this only shows that there's diversity when it comes to entertainment (Oh, look at these sweet [fill in appropriate ethnic term]...!". Usually other ethnicities are useful story-keys, gangster-stereotypes or vehicles for comedy. In the end the all-day reality in Britain looks far different.
Complain about this comment
"Comedy dancers Stavros Flatley featured a man with "Cyprus" tattooed on his chest.
No-one suggested they were too Greek to represent Britain."
Too Cypriot perhaps??
Was that an amateur mistake or deliberately making a point
about the importance of maintaining your national identity?
As has been pointed out elsewhere, the decision on the Olympics is nothing to do with racism, acceptance of the multicultural nature of the country or anything like that.
Playing with a UK team would represent a real threat to our national football teams (and hence our other national sports teams), as well as the national leagues
Maybe we should just have UK leagues, teams etc but we've operated perfectly well without them so far. And I for one enjoy the local rivalry.
Complain about this comment
Skin colour has never been the real issue. People with different colour skins have lived in Britain for many years. They might have been constrained by various prejudices such as class prejudice or by limited access to resources but no more so than anybody else of a different colour and in similar circumstances.
The real problems have always revolved around cultural and ideological incompatibilities. Cultures and ideas do contradict one another and cannot be whimsically blended into some sort of utopian harmony. Some cultures and some ideologies are simply mutually incompatible ... if they do not stay apart, they must inevitably clash.
These problems are ignored, indeed not even understood, by far too many people in politics and government and we are all going to suffer for their ignorant intransigence.
Complain about this comment
It is always amusing how any discussion about general trends will be hijacked by individual stories and circumstances. Generally kids are better off with two parents - but I know a single mum who is doing a great job. On average women are paid less than men - but I know a woman who is a chief exec. The UK as a whole is becoming more tollerent of other races and cultures - but I know a guy who was abused in the street for being a muslim.
Complain about this comment
Mark
Why do you have to bring up the issue of the GB olympic football team here? As Greenphilosopher at 5 mentions, all of the home nations FAs outside of England have taken the same position. Their concern is that if a GB team is enetered into the Olympics with the support of the Northen Irish, Welsh and Scottish FAs then this may set a precedent and the home FAs may lose their separate identity within FIFA. You swhould be awarew that there are many countries within FIFA who resent each of the home FAs having separate membership as this effectively gives the UK greater voting rights within FIFA (England, remember this next time you apply to hold the World Cup; the votes of the Home FAs may be enough to swing it your way).
As for your statement that:
"The news this weekend that only English players will be available to play for the GB football team at the 2012 Olympics means brilliant young footballers from other parts of the UK will not get the chance to go for gold."
You might want to compare the number of young players from Scotland, Wales and Northen Ireland likely to get into any GB Olympic team and compare this with the number of young players who would miss out on playing representative football for their country at various levels(under 16, under 18, under 21 etc) if the home FAs lost their status.
Green philospher mentions that the majority of Scots don't want independence which is absolutely true if you look at the evidence from all of the polls. One thing that is more likely to change that than abolihsing the Scottish Parliament is abolishing the Scottish football team! That is why you will find few Scottish politicians (other than those attempting to demonstrate their own Britishness) advocating Scottish player become involved.
Complain about this comment
I thought the all black 'Flawless' were better dancers - technically if not imaginatively. Stavros and son are just hilarious in anybody's money.
LippyLippo covered everything that needed saying on this.
Complain about this comment
How sad to see British nationalistic division. I am British, my claim to that is my lineage comes from English, Irish, Northern Irish and Scottish (and a bit of Italisn thrown in for good measure!), I was born in England, spent my years from 4 to 24 in South Africa and, when I had the choice returned to Great Britain where I still live. I suspect I am not the only person here with "mixed blood", in fact I would suggest I am part of the majority.
Why can't football be like rugby - each nation has their team, and then we have the British and Irish Lions. The Lions do not diminish our pride nor dilute the importance of the individual national teams. How nice it would be, that just for special occasions such as the Olympics, we could have a football team that truly represents the British Isles.
National teams are good for a bit of internal rivalry, but surely, when it comes to the rest of the world we should show a united front.
Complain about this comment
I agree totally with nedafo on the second half of your post Mark- the football teams issue goes to the heart of the joint national identities we have here, ie British and English, British and Scottish, etc. Or should that be 'multiple national identities'- guess it should for some people, who feel a strong family link with somewhere else in the world as well.
Sure, Britain can share some aspects of popular culture, but here in GB our national identity is always about more than just Britain.
Complain about this comment
I don't think anyone should be drawing too many conclusions from this for a week or two after the competition, just in case something unsavoury crawls out of the woodwork...
http://sev.prnewswire.com/entertainment/20090529/NY2473629052009-1.html
I'm not suggesting that anything untoward happened, just that we should be careful of reading too much social significance into a bit of entertainment.
Complain about this comment
I think Leona Lewis's victory was the watershed moment for black acts and this was built upon by the success of Alexandra Burke although both were hugely more talented than their nearest competitors. But there has definitely been a marked shift since by far the most talented singers in their corresponding competitions, Javine, and Lemar missed out despite being clearly the most talented performers in their respective competitions.
That said I thought Flawless were the better act but I think Diversity does give a well needed positive role model for the much maligned hooded youth. Hopefully the local government will see this as an incentive to stop building blocks of flats on every spare patch of earth as a means of squeezing the last penny of council tax out of people and make more facilities available for youngsters to channel their talent positively.
As for a British football team, the comments have been made. Its the first step towards dissolving the respective FAs of Ireland, Scotland and Wales. Doesn't take a genius to work that out where the resistance eminates from and why.
Complain about this comment
Mark
Welcome to the Britain most people live in.
This is a place our so-called elites with their carefully constructed privileges never see or know. All we ever care about is what you bring to the party.
So forget all this twaddle about ethnicity and petty nationalisms. This is just the old tactic of divide and rule so beloved of those who want to hang onto their privileges.
We are the people of Britain and there is only the one.
Complain about this comment
Sikhmedia and #7.
Sorry about your experiences.
That said, it is my understanding you converted to the Sikh faith whilst in the UK?
If so, do you not think it fairly progressive and non-racist that you were able to do this in the UK Sikh community who presumably were a mixture of British by residence and birth.
So, the tolerance is across races as well as religion and vice versa the intolerance will also be in the same society.
Give it a few more weeks in your German town and maybe the positive and negative elements of its social groupings will emerge there too.
As for the 'Talent' winners 'Diversity': They were really dynamic and well deserved their win, but, as others have pointed out non-whites have won many competitions before this one in the UK. The fact millions voted for them does not prove things one way or the other as there undoubtedly were some knuckleheads who voted against them for prejudiced reasons. What it does do is reaffirm that an increasing majority of UK Citizens are not basing their decisions about people on the colour of their skin or their faith, but on their ability and contribution to UK society.
I am quite sure almost all non-whites/non-christians have experienced prejudice of some sort in the UK at some time in their lives: Equally, I am sure the obverse is true in this multi-cultural society and many white/christians have had unpleasant experiences.
Where the 'Diversity' result again shows the UK multi-cultural scene is progressing is that given all those unpleasant memories/experiences amongst all types there were enough with the goodwill to see Diversity are not responsible for individuals (and some groups) whose behaviour is reprehensible.
UK society is far from perfect, however, it is also far from being the tabloid doom and gloom 'guns', 'knives', 'drugs', 'pregnant teens', 'lager louts' and 'broken homes' they relish putting on their front-pages as a representation of these Island peoples.
Let's not forget the brave, dedicated, skilled soldiers, sailors, airmen, health workers, social workers, police, community workers, teachers, scientists, entertainers etc. who come from every race and creed within the UK and are a far more accurate reflection and celebration of the DIVERSE nature of the modern majority of Britons.
As Mr Easton rightly claims, "Britain has talent" and all any Briton has really to do is look around and not wait for a television programme to confirm it.
Complain about this comment
I'm wondering who decided that 'Diversity' was to do with race?
I seem to remember on the audition show they said that diversity was about having different ages, different families, different backgrounds and different jobs (plumber, engineer, students, etc.)
Maybe I just didn't take notice, but I don't remember race being an issue.
Complain about this comment
Do you BBC Journos have some sort of PC loyalty card? What do you get from it? £5 off Claret at Oddbins per article?
You guys seems to poor out rubbish like this without really having a clue about the subject. Do you honestly believe that the vast majority of people in this country, or even enough of us, really give a flying Hoon about race? Well, admittedly you PC-tards and the BNP do, but the rest of us? Go on admit it you live in the Islington bubble and have never met a 'real' person, except for the scivvies at Eton, natch.
I couldn't care less if a singer is black, white or purple as long as s/he sounds good and neither do the vast majority of people.
Please try and think things through a little more before you traduce the British people again.
Complain about this comment
Obviously "Britain's Got Talent" showcases anyone who is British (or resident here) irrespective of their origins. I think it's great.
On the subject of Football though it's minefield.
I think historical "grandfather rights" should apply.
The Olympics has always had a GB team (which is a misnomer as it includes Northern Ireland and therefore should be Team UK - why are the NI not up in arms). http://www.olympics.org.uk/contentpage.aspx?page=127
Thus in any Olympic event - which are supposed to be amateur I believe - we should field a GB/UK football team.
In FIFA the English, Scots, Welsh, Northern Irish and Republic of Irish have their own teams, and this should be left alone. what has an olympic amateur competition got to do with professional FIFA.
Then in Rugby there is an "Ireland" team, that covers 2 nations and seems to have consistently by-passed the various politicals issues of that island.
The idea of GB football team without Northern ireland is daft (Great Britain is an island, not a country), and if we have one it should obviously include the best players from all parts of the UK.
Complain about this comment
Dear ikamaskeip and dear colleagues,
to clarify a slight misunderstanding here: My experiences in Germany were far better that those I have to make here in the UK on a day-to-day basis.
Just to give a nice, if even slightly shocking example: I am working part time in a petrol station. The majority of employees (inclusive the manager) are white English women from the neighborhood. There are only me and another Sikh friend who are doing morning shifts (me) and nightshifts (him respectively). When switching shifts I am making a very interesting observation: There are regulars who are nice, friendly and chatty to the "girls" whilst being non-descript, rude or even abusive towards me and my other Sikh colleague.
So I am asking: Why is that?
In my two and a half years in England and two years as a devoted Sikh I must conclude that the Diversity many UK middle-class citizens pride their society and country with, is non-existent in practice. I hate to say this, but I wasn't class-conscious when I came here - class is being something which is widely unknown to Germans - but I can summarize that the majority of members of the worker-class are pretty ignorant, if not racist, many middle-class members are priding themselves with some kind of misunderstood Political Correctness, which IS in fact ignorance of facts and doesn't help at all, and most upper class members I experienced still believe the Empire still exists.
I was shocked that the so-called "Glass-Roof" exists in many companies and even I have enormous difficulties finding an employment in my profession and/or customers.
The group DIVERSITY shows me that there's a lot of potential in so-called "ethnic minorities", but then in the end - there's potential in everyone, but it is dormant because we are all "so full of ourselves".
When you look into the media, ethnic minorities are mostly type-casted (aren't we funny?, aren't we mean? *LOL*) or just non-existent.
In the end (I know I used this term a lot in my first posting - sorry for that), I - as a white middle-class intellectual (I am so full of myself, ain't I? ;) ), can whole-heartedly conclude after all this time: a) Diversity is a long time coming to the UK and still not there, as much as we anticipate it (thanks to idiotic media like THE SUN et al) and b) The average middle-class white intellectual shouldn't talk about Racism or Diversity - mostly they have no idea what they are talking about, because of a huge lack of self-experience.
Complain about this comment
Why is the BBC so obsessed with diversity topics, is it possible that this is an attempt to brainwash the population into thinking we are all the same, we are not. We are all British, at the same time we are Scottish, English, Irish, Welsh, West Indian, Chinese ,Pakistani, African and god only knows what else. We all in the main , live happily together in our own ways and we certainly do not need the BBC telling us how we should regard each other.We are quite capable of making these decisions for ourselves without " big brother " telling us how we're supposed to think and act . It's just possible that people voted for a mixed race group because they were the best act, not because of some noble concept of racial acceptance which seems to be what your blog suggests , mixed race or otherwise probably never even entered the equation. As far as the Scottish , Welsh and Irish football associations are concerned,they cannot risk jeopardising the national status of their international teams by amalgamating as a GB team ; the ruling bodies of international football cannot be trusted to continue the status quo if such a precedent was set.
Complain about this comment
Sikhmedia and your #7 and #22.
Well, obviously cannot argue with your personal experiences and it is very regrettable you should feel so badly treated at work and in your general life in the UK. I do hope you look for ways to have this situation addressed by the Management and if they are a part of the problem then there should be someone in Human Resources (Personnel) who will take up the issue on your behalf. Do not let it go.
Being one of those "average-white-middle class" whom you disparage can I just point out you wrote in a hostile manner that some could take as being racist!
Yes, you had no intention of that and were expressing your opinion in reply to mine and others' earlier comments - - still, it just shows a little of how touchy this whole area of human relations can be - - particularly as most comments (mine inc.) were meant to be positive toward you whilst dealing with the wider issue this Blog Article relates to.
I am afraid I cannot answer for the whole of Britain's population anymore than anyone else can do: I can suggest from my own experiences that the diversity of these Islands' multi-cultural society is a strength not a weakness and I can say that in my 3 careers I found the positive and the negative amongst all types of people from whatever cultural background.
My worst encounter and observation of racism was in my first job as a member of the armed forces in the 1970s - racism was rife and it was extremely unpleasant - back then I could not imagine why any non-white man or woman joined up as the ignorance and intolerance went through every rank (much reflecting, I think, British society at that time). By the time I quit in 1983 things were slowly improving, not least I assume, because society in general was undergoing change, but also because non-whites were getting promotions and the rank and file want good leadership more than they want anything else. Incidentally, whilst the barrack room racial abuse was extreme it was nothing compared to the internecine cruelty and vindictiveness of the all-white Northern Irish towards each other (truly medieval attitudes) and I did see some horrendous treatment of muslim females by muslim males during service in the Mid/Far East; that is not to excuse or reduce the racial element of the UK, but, it does apply to my previous Comment on all societies having good and bad.
As an Economist there were few black/asian or even europeans in the offices I frequented except in service-menial work, but again, by the time I left in 1995 the up-coming whizzes were practically all Asian and 2 of my senior manager colleagues were Afro-Caribbean. Again, it was whether they could do the job that counted most in the end.
Teaching was only ever a short-stop before planned early retirement, however, in the few years I was in South London Secondary schools the racism was always festering and from the start it was clear every culture/faith was involved: The worst incidents I saw were actually Indian v Pakistani with some classes having to be segregated, although the Head Teacher cleverly re-jigged the Timetable so it did not appear that way!
Now all that is anecdotal and does not represent the UK just my minute participation in it.
I sincerely wish you well.
Complain about this comment
It's a very tough debate. In the entertainment industry and talent shows I don't think their is any racial disadvantage and to say there is one is kind of silly. Don't forget that most of these talent shows are very bland and on the whole don't give a very good example of the real artists in the country. In which case it makes it almost irrelevant.
I find it amusing that throughout the big brother series we have had black contestants using the N word. As soon as a white persons says it they're are thrown out. Now is this equality ????
Complain about this comment
This comment was removed because the moderators found it broke the House Rules.
Being British genetically-English and Scotish grandfathers and Welsh and Irish grandmothers- but having my parents and myself all born in Canada, I find it great that Britain seems to lead the world still in fact via such acts as Diversity, where I have never once seen or heard mention of the fact that they are racially diverse. Well done! Shaheen and others fit the bill as well and all were accepted as equals; no mention of race, origin etc. and on an equal footing with Susan, Aidan, and Shaun. Yes, you should present a united front to fight the world in football, but you are still out in front in acceptance.
Complain about this comment
The footballing decision is purely to do with internal FIFA politics; it does not mean that the English football (or Scottish, Welsh, N Irish) have to be Anglo Saxon, just that if the four nations want to continue to compete separately for places in the World Cup etc then they have to be consistent in fielding separate squads in the Olympic footballing tournament. Given the Olympics should be seen as practice for the bigger tournaments that makes some kind of sense to me.
The real debate should perhaps be whether the four nations should compete separately in the World Cup (hopes of qualifying seem increasingly remote.) or combine resources to field a GB team. Would it stand a better chance of qualifying and winning?
And Ive hear that Diversity, Flawless and the Royal School of Ballet have all been signed to appear in a new British dance film; a `rivals have to unite to win a major dance competition` type of story.
Given America churns those types of films out all the time it could be another boost to the UK.
Complain about this comment
" I thought the all black 'Flawless' were better dancers - technically if not imaginatively. "
I think this comment might've been banned if they'd said white. Weird!
Complain about this comment
Yet racism is alive and well in Scotland. To be a Edinburgh Comedy Award Panellist at the Edinburgh Fringe you have to be Scottish: Entrants must be Scottish and be living or have lived in Scotland for more than 5 years. Surely this is wrong?
Complain about this comment
Does anyone really believe that Scotland, Wales or Northern Ireland are really going to win the world cup. About as much chance as Gordon Brown being re-elected next year. Oh and as to diversity, my mother was Welsh, my Father was half Scottish and half French and I live in Cheshire. Funny old world ain't it. I class myself as British, oh and I'm pink after all the hot weather.
Complain about this comment
sadly money has ruined the pure talent show that used to bring forth unusual talent.
this format is hypicritical and boring.
Complain about this comment
i have read most of the comments and while i appreciate the debate on diversity, equality etc, which incidentally has been going on and on and on for a while now,i personally disapprove of being segregated into an ethnic minority just because i was born elsewhere or am of a religion other than christian. Logically speaking i am a human and just another person and i think rather than grabbing the media bait everytime the subject comes up we should start ignoring it, stop bring it into the spotlight and learn to adjust our own personal biases and prejudices which we ALL have as humans and not make them a collective one belonging to the community or country. Also no goverment has to teach us COMMON SENSE that is the job of our parents and families and our upbringing.
Complain about this comment
how is this even news worthy to be honest i find these talentless shows as boring as soaps thus i switch off only to have weeks of pointless drivel on web sites causing me to turn off my web browser and play world of warcraft where people talk about sad talent shows, woe is me i can only put sky tv on and watch discovery channels to be safe from all the brain rotting mush out there.
Complain about this comment
neebols456 wrote that "Does anyone really believe that Scotland, Wales or Northern Ireland are really going to win the world cup"
Does anyone really believe that England will?
Complain about this comment
I too agree with others, the ridiculous comment on the British football team and the poor Scots, Welsh, Irish. Ridiculous!
As we all know the truth is of course FIFA (Mr Blatter) have been trying to get the "Home associations" to amalgamate into one. None of these associations wants this, and I'm sure the FA only agreed to a GB team to get the olympics. Rightly the other associations have said to themselves "if we go along with this plan, we will end us losing our status".
It was however the choice of each association.
Complain about this comment
The word "diversity" has nothing to do with multi-racial groups, unless you're using "diversity" as a tool to enforce Political Correctness.
Once again, Mr Easton, you have proven that the BBC is nothing more than a tool to promote the government's social idealism.
"Diversity" means "differences". Please don't keep trying to change the English language to suit the whims of your political masters.
Complain about this comment
Diversity... we sure have that. We have the rich and powerful and the poor and powerless. Still, as long as the playing field is level who cares..............
Complain about this comment
One topic diversifying into two threads.
SikhMedia - I'm very sorry for the way you feel about your experience in the UK. As a UK born citizen, English, British and European in that order, I celebrate diversity, and I feel proud in the most part, that the UK has such a diverse population of people who want to come and settle here. That is more a part of our heritage than any other element of our character. As a German, you are part of that.
I said about being English, but my lineage is Scottish, Irish and before that, Norman. I can trace it back to the Norman Conquests in the 11th Century. Diversity is being human, and there is a sea of change sweeping over us all.
Ikamaskeip @ 18 - I can take forward everything you said about our forces - you left in 1983 whereas I joined in 1982, and can agree with what you said about things starting to get better by the time you left. I was in the RAF, and joined with a British Muslim and 2nd generation British Jamaican (Black) lad. The Muslim had a geordie accent and the Jamaican had a name more suited to a Scot (it was a Mc surname) and that, it seems, was all that was needed to overcome any possible racist feelings. We all saw beyond colour and religion and gave them nicknames just like the rest of us, included them in initiation games, we all took a 'friendly' beating in the same way, and no-one ever used the race card when it was their turn. Maybe we were the exception.
The UK has undergone a huge amount of change since then. Immigration from the world over has increased so the level that our streets, towns, cities and culture are now more diverse than ever before, and it is still going strong. We have been an island of desired settlement for 7000 years or more, that is where we came from, that is who we are and that is who we will be.
I was happy to see Diversity win BGT. Had they been called Flawless, we may now be discussing the flaws in our society rather than the diverseness of it. As for football and the team GB / England argument, I feel that it is born from ignorance and is plain stubborn, and has no place in our diverse British culture of today.
Complain about this comment
Diversity - ensuring equality by comparing one person to another purely on the basis of race/sexuality/age/religion/gender.
Surely its an unpleasant neccessity at best, lets not celebrate that we need to employ such measures to keep our society's racism in check.
Complain about this comment
Non-whites discriminated against on TV??? That'll be the day. Pro-rata there are far more black and Asian presenters on TV than English.
Perhaps you are advocating even more "positive discrimination"? Pretty soon the Anglophobic BBC will be treating the indigenous population like medieval lepers.
Complain about this comment
I really don't get this 'equality' thing. We're all supposed to be tolerant and accepting of others and for the most part I am, but what I don't get is that while I can't use the 'n' word without being penalised (I'm white and English), people of ethnic origins can and do with impunity. That's not equality. Equality doesn't mean having 'black' music, awards, films and stuff, equality is about not having such divisions. Black anything only re-enforces stereotypes and prejudice imho. It's as if ethnic peoples want to stay ethnic, they are usually proud (and why not) of their roots and culture. And while most are happy to integrate into the British way of life (whatever that is these days) a lot don't. Some hang on to the their ways to the detriment of others and bring their prejudices and intolerance with them and pass it on to the next generation.
I live in a city in the east midlands which (apparently) has a higher proportion of ethnic minorities than the local native population now, they've become the ethnic majority. There are large parts of the city that don't even look English anymore, where the inhabitants don't speak English as a first language, even those born here. Most of the shops only cater for ethnic needs.
That's not integration that's colonisation and I personally don't think that's right. The inhabitants of those areas aren't proud to be British, they're proud to be ethnic, they watch foreign films, listen to foreign music and dress in foreign clothes. Nothing about those areas is British anymore. They might as well still be living in their countries of origin for all the difference it makes. They only reside here, they don't live here. And lets not forget about racism, those immigrants are some of the most racist, intolerant people I've ever come across. Indians and Pakistanis hate each other with a vengeance and the muslims hate every non muslim almost without exception. The Africans hate the Caribbean's too and vice versa, so they don't add anything positive to our culture, they only exacerbate the problem imo.
So don't tell me about integration and tolerance, I want to see it from the settlers and immigrants before I'm convinced let alone embrace it. They should lead by example if they expect it in return. Rant over :)
Complain about this comment
Here we go again.it doesn't seem to matter what the circumstances are Mark Easton and the BBC never miss an oppotunity to stir up a bit of division.You lot always find an angle to demonise the "British" public.
Of course it depends on the context in which the term "British" is used.
If the subject of the blog is" how racist those awful indigenous white people are" then "British" is used like a dirty, almost forbidden word.
however if you are talking about " how wonderfully diverse modern Britains are" then then blog is phrased as if divine intervention had taken place.
It appears that yourself and the BBC in general has an unstated policy to bring about the social collapse of this country by continually stoking the fire with concocted stories of discrimination and half truthes whilst promoting a certain agender
But of course you are a "graduate" of Common Purpose.
It is clear that you are following your training to the letter
Complain about this comment
I've got a good idea lets have diversity of opinion. Get a column by Nick Griffin. Ohh no, that's not the BBC kind of diversity because its not the political correct type.
So really diversity is all about berating the majority that don't want to see our country turned into some international transit camp.
Complain about this comment
What a load of carp.
Ethnics arent winning talent shows so there must be a racist issue
Ethnics arent employed at this work place so there must be a racist issue
There are no ethnics on this TV advert, thats racist
Ever consider that an ethnic didnt win the talent show because someone white was better, or the ethnic didnt get the job because someone white was more qualified.
I am not a racist but i get sick to the back teeth of people constantly playing the race card, we even now have people playing the race card on ethnics behalfs. Give it a rest and stop trying to be a PC do gooding trouble stirrer trying to justify your existance by jumping on the racism bandwagon.
Complain about this comment
1. Sterotypes exist for a reason
2. England is a failure - too PC for its own good and thus our German Sikh friend feels more welcome in a tough part of Germany
3. Singapore is an example of peaceful coexistence. Why? Because they have rules and enforce them. They have a police force that is not scared to act and doesn't have one hand if not both cuffed to their legs all the time so they cannot do their job for fear of being victimized.
4. Great that politics is being cleaned up albeit superficially. What we need now is a strong leader who is not scared of dealing with the issues - guns, knives, yobs, social issues etc. However, I do not hold my breath as there is currently nobody in UK politics who is in it for the betterment of the UK, they are just in it for their own betterment.
Complain about this comment
@smiggy-wiggy
Don't make blanket accusations based on your personal experience - just because some unruly kids said the "n" word to each other still doesn't make it right. Most likely they are of the younger generation, I spoke to an old lady (black) a few years ago about this very topic, it's still an extremely hurtful word.
And I fail to see why many people, simply because they haven't seen it first hand for themselves, believe racism is as good as over... more ironic when you hang out in an entirely white social circle, have white colleagues (other than the quiet ethnic lad in the corner who makes our tea) and never talk to a non-white unless there happens to be one behind the counter in the store you're buying. Quite a few in my social circle are in mixed relationships (racially and culturally), they were quite shocked with the everyday treatment of the minority partner, things that no white person would accept without complaint, things that the minority him/herself had taken for granted due to their frequency.
Complain about this comment
Diversity's success spoke of something we should never forget about our country. While the press and our politicians too often demonise "gangs" of young men in their baseball caps and hoodies, this group from East London and Essex danced for the nation with discipline, wit, intelligence and joy.
---------
I bet there are plenty of stupid 60 year old women who have complained about them beign unruly youths hanging around on street corners causing invisible crime before they went on the show.
Complain about this comment
"I wonder if a mixed race group called 'diversity' would have won a talent competition in Scotland? "
Possibly, but an all-English group would have no chance.
Complain about this comment
@Howardddddddd - I didn't say it was right, I said it happens. The fact that they get away with it IS wrong and I know it offend's, but there's not a lot I can do unfortunately, it's just another one of the many symptoms of our deteriorating society.
The young people today, especially the decendants of immigrants, have absolutely no respect for anything. They demand respect but don't want to earn it any more and this is reflected in their behaviour. It's like a cancer that's spreading and even the native youths are copying it.
I think that national service should be bought back personally. The young 'uns might learn something like discipline and respect and even a trade then. They'd learn how to make things and fix stuff and have more of a purpose in life. I'm not in favour of conflict or war but it's about so much more than that today.
We have conflict and war on our city streets now instead, it's not safe to go out at night (or even in the day) in some areas for the bored youths intent on having a "buzz". I'd like to see a safe Britain like the one I grew up in and the one my forfathers fought and died for.
It's got to be better than playstations, ipods and other weapons of mass distraction the govenment and media seem intent on forcing upon us all. More isn't better imo. The people growing up today don't want to think for themselves and they don't have to now there's so much more to numb their brains. It's playing right into the hands of the ruling elite, they want "sheeple" not people, just following the herd doing as they're told. Welcome to p*** take Britain.
This country could be so much more, and it was once, but it looks as if that's just a distant dream now, getting further and further away by the day. The UK has always had immigrants arriving and settling for hundreds of years, there's nothing new in that, but those coming here now aren't being set (or setting) a very good example in most cases and this is not helping them or us. It'll all end in tears.
In the past (after WW2) people where asked to come to Britain because we needed their skills and help to rebuild this country and start to get back to normal. Now their children and grand children are growing up in a selfish "want it now" society with no interest in contributing positivly, only taking what they can get. I'm sure that wasn't the intention at the time but that's what it's become.
All this talk of integration and tolerance is by the by if there's no common ground, it only feeds division and fuels hatred. It's time to get a grip!
Those that come more recently are, a lot of the time, only here for what they can get too, because it's easier here than at home. Jobs, schools, health care are all readily available and free (or cheap)in most cases. Instead of fighting for it in their home countries, like my ancestors did here, they up sticks and come to blighty were the streets are paved with gold and the authorities welcome them with open arms. They get housing and benefits without giving anything in return, while our old folks daren't even put the heating on when it's cold and can't afford to eat properly after they've paid into the system for decades. It's not right.
No wonder the UK's full of scroungers and crooks, there's no-one willing to rock the boat for fear of being labeled a fascist or racist. We need to bring back decency and values, to teach right from wrong, then it may be worth while. Those that complain when they're here know what they can do as well. If you don't like it here, go back home!
Complain about this comment
Lets get this straight, there is no multicultural diversity in Britain. It is merely a land into which the current Governments have for their own political ends invited a plethora of people for various reasons. The British Government is largely Scottish and has given scots a devolved Government and the right to interfere in England because England does not exist according to Gordon Brown. Ergo England is no more than a money makling fiefdom of Scotland. Why would the Scots want to be independant of that when they control it, and don't say they don't because they do. Funnily enough the English are the only country who don't have a nationalist party that I have heard of. The current Government panders to the Effnik minorities because they get votes, therfore the more you can get into certain areas the better the turnout and it really is a sign of the times when a so called democratic governm,ent using one of its quangos are determined to shut down the BNP. Now I definately do not subscribe to the BNP but I have gotten to the stage where I certainly won't vote for the establishment parties because they have had their day, which does beg the question of ( in an ideal democratic country) how do the English get their say? To the Ex German writing here, sorry for you but I know what can happen, I went through it back in the 50's
Complain about this comment
I would like to say I am a gay guy aged 41 who would like to go into politics. Its about who allowed me to come out and who I owe some gratitude to. But its to everyone that freedom who we owe a voice to.
I feel it is in me to vote for labour again in this country because I could never stand for conservative.
Craig Willmott - 41 (as yet unelected)
Complain about this comment
Cencorship
Complain about this comment
View these comments in RSS