Maybe I labour an obvious point, but I suspect that the significance is often missed, of fellow citizens calling themselves and being called "black British", "British Asian" or "British West-Indian" and so on, but rarely, if ever, "Black English" or "Black Welsh". New Britons may have a truer sense than many of the English that being a British citizen does not imply a common culture, only a common allegiance and a humane and utilitarian sense of obligation.Sir Bernard Crick in the TLS. It was a bit heavy going for me, but an interesting article nonetheless.
Friday, July 31, 2009
Quote of the day
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4 comments:
Interesting that he done's mentions Scots.
There are very sctrong asian scots and black scots associations.
The identitiy sits comfortably in the wider variety of the British Isles.
Why some politicians should seek to eradicate identities is often behind the resetnment felt by many immigrants.
Why this insistance on britshness, it suggests that those born here or of cacasian extractian aren't comfortable with their national identities.
The idea of a 'common allegiance' is quite a problematic and possibly arcahic concept.
A humane & utilitarian obligation is common to any social democratic nation, it is not the sole preserve of britishness nor is britain the originator of such a sentiment.
"Why some politicians should seek to eradicate identities is often behind the resetnment felt by many immigrants."
"Why this insistance on britshness, it suggests that those born here or of cacasian extractian aren't comfortable with their national identities."
I'm perfectly comfortable with my national identity, I'm Irishman who's priveledged enough to belong to the bigger British family. But your 2nd comment surely contradicts the first, you're trying to eradicate my right to my own personal national identity?
Cuts both ways O'Neill
Your UK is definitely attempting to eradicate my England.
Take the British state's continued attempts to balkanise England into unwanted* regions with no historic basis.
* Not strictly true there seems a to be a particular kind of weasel that wants the English regions and they're nearly always employed by the government or the EU in some way.
Wryd, the UK is trying to erradicate my Scotland too but fortunately we saw the light here some time ago and decided to counter the argument.
I'e never heard any Scots born black person call themselves black British, it's usually Scots Asian. We obviously don't have a problem with anyone deciding their own identity in Scotland.
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