This letter appears in today's Leicester Mercury:
Take a long, hard look in the mirror
I was dismayed to read the letter from T Green ("I no longer feel at home in my city", Mailbox, November 22), one of several recent letters and online comments from people jumping on the Clarissa Dickson Wright bandwagon.
Thankfully, I have also seen more sensible letters from Ann Collins and Eddie Sentance, among others, reflecting the true face of Leicester people and the common decency and human compassion that most of us share.
Firstly, in response to T Green, I hate to break it to you, but you appear to be suffering from a bout of xenophobia.
Take two visits with friends to an Indian restaurant and perhaps a place of worship, followed by a long, hard look in the mirror.
If symptoms persist, contact your nearest library and try reading a few good books. Before long, you will discover that humans of different ethnicity are biologically identical and that different cultures – like languages – are not something to be afraid of, but something to be embraced.
You have to make a bit of an effort in order to understand something that's a tad different to what you're used to. Good luck with your recovery!
As for poor Clarissa Dickson Wright, one of the things she said in her widely-reported remarks was that she once got lost in a part of Leicester and none of the Muslim men would talk to her.
Well, to be honest, I'm not Muslim myself but if fox-hunting enthusiast Clarissa Dickson Wright came barrelling towards me on a Leicester side street, I would probably ignore her too.
On a serious note, I did find her comments about Leicester to be both idiotic and exaggerated.
But it was one particular phrase that really caught my attention, where she casually questioned whether or not multi-culturalism works.
Now, of course, I don't have enough column inches here to run through all the reasoned arguments as to why multi-culturalism does work, has worked and will continue to work in the future. (Or for that matter to try to give Clarissa Dickson Wright and all her fans a much-needed education).
But for the sake of brevity I will simply say this: St George was an Arab, the royal family is German, our national dish is Indian and some of our most gifted Olympians are of African descent.
Questioning multi-culturalism is akin to questioning evolution – both are part and parcel of the human story.
The sooner we accept that and move on to creating for ourselves a life of purpose and fulfilment in this increasingly globalised society, the better off we'll be.
Sundip Meghani, Leicester city councillor
Quote: "Firstly, in response to T Green, I hate to break it to you, but you appear to be suffering from a bout of xenophobia."
ReplyDeleteOh how predictable, the good old tried tested and failed 'xenophobia' accusation used to stifle debate, which has been worn out by diversity extremists and goes over the heads of the intelligent and shows a sign of some-one losing the debate as they have to resort to name calling playground tactics instead of addressing the issues raised.
Quote: "Before long, you will discover that humans of different ethnicity are biologically identical and that different cultures – like languages – are not something to be afraid of, but something to be embraced."
Then all non-English ethnicities should have no huge issue in dropping their own culture in favour of embracing the culture of the country they love and have chosen to reside in I.e. 'English culture' shouldn't they? But hang on; they seem to be afraid of this when it is something that they shouldn't be afraid of as you state.
Quote: "Now, of course, I don't have enough column inches here to run through all the reasoned arguments as to why multi-culturalism does work, has worked and will continue to work in the future. (Or for that matter to try to give Clarissa Dickson Wright and all her fans a much-needed education). "
“Make the lie big, make it simple, keep saying it, and eventually they will believe it”. Adolf Hitler.
Quote: "But for the sake of brevity I will simply say this: St George was an Arab, the royal family is German, our national dish is Indian and some of our most gifted Olympians are of African descent."
You have hit the nail on the head by acknowledging how Englishness has been eroded but offer no remedy for the English to regain their Englishness, instead just mock us whilst in an hour of need in a manner akin to a stereotypical 70's football terrace boot-boy rant towards a racism victim.
Quote: "Questioning multi-culturalism is akin to questioning evolution – both are part and parcel of the human story."
If you are so sure of this natural evolution process then why take the time to write a letter to a newspaper to promote and justify this fact?
Dear Sundip, who are you to dictate to the English community how we should think and feel and who are you to dictate how we should live in our country of ethnic origin? I can only imagine your outraged response to an Englishman resident of India writing a letter in the Mumbai press telling Indians how to live and what is good for them.
But for the sake of brevity I will simply say this: St George was an Arab, the royal family is German, our national dish is Indian and some of our most gifted Olympians are of African descent.
ReplyDeleteThe above paragraph does not make us multi-cultural and i think you will find it is the speed of the influx of migrants that concerns most English people not their nationality,this countries services such as schools and jobs housing not to mention the NHS just cannot keep up ,the labour party threw the doors open without a thought for the consequences.BTW the days of shouting racist every time someone objects to mass immigration are gone,Clarissa Dickson Wright has every right to voice her opinion whether you agree or not Sundip Meghani