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Crick hits out at call for âBritishnessâ
| Tummy upset over 7/7? Here. Have some warm milk... |
 THE UK governmentâs former chief adviser on integrating immigrants into British society has attacked attempts to denounce multiculturalism in favour of promoting âBritishnessâ in the wake of the London bombings.
| "There's no reason for them to be British, just because they're living in Britain. They can continue to be natives and wogs and such..." |
Professor Sir Bernard Crick, who until his resignation three months ago was chair of the government Advisory Board on Naturalisation and Integration, said he was âpretty pissed offâ over comments condemning multiculturalism made by Trevor Phillips, chairman of the Commission for Racial Equality, and the former Home Secretary David Blunkett. He added that any attempt to promote Britishness in its place could make Muslims feel threatened in the current climate.
| "Far, far better for the native Brits to feel threatened by the Muslims!" |
Phillips entered a debate on integration of Britainâs ethnic and religious minorities which has been raging since the bombings by saying that multiculturalism had increased âseparatenessâ between communities and aggravated community tensions. Last year he sparked controversy by saying that the term multiculturalism was of another era and should be scrapped. He instead called for all citizens to âassert a core of Britishnessâ.
| Start by telling them what happened to Guy Fawkes. Tell 'em how much success you had with that Oliver Cromwell thing. Explain the ins and outs of the elder Liz's affair with the Duke of Essex and why he came out of it a foot shorter. Then take them to see Coventry. |
Work and pensions secretary David Blunkett, when Home Secretary, urged people from ethnic minorities to develop a âsense of belongingâ in Britain, and told them to speak English at home. However, Crick countered: âI think things can be done to impress the [Muslim] community that theyâre not threatened in their own culture, so Iâm pretty pissed off with the Blunkett and Phillips line now that multiculturalism is an outmoded concept, as Phillips said.
| Spends a lot of time being "pissed off," doesn't he? I can remember a day when public figures didn't use such language, and certainly not in Britain. Though that was in the days when it was Great Britain... |
âTo start talking now about Britishness as replacing multiculturalism must seem pretty threatening to a lot of Muslims who follow their own religion but perhaps work in English-speaking environments. In other words, if oneâs talking about integration, oneâs talking about the ability to live in two worlds. Itâs more difficult with a different religion than a visible mark of colour but itâs not impossible.â
| Actually, I'd think it'd be harder for the colored guys. Most of us in the civilized world tuck our religion, if any, away and don't push it in our dealings with other people. On the other hand, our religions, if any, don't require us to kill anyone. |
The argument over multiculturalism brought into the open by Phillips last year has resurfaced since the London bombings as commentators struggle to explain the emergence of home-grown bombers. But Crick said that placing a greater stress on citizenship and âeducating for a multicultural societyâ was already working.
| Oh, yeah. We can see that. |
However, he accused the government of underfunding the curriculum of citizenship studies for people seeking naturalisation recommended by his committee. As a result, âitâs going to appear as an imposition rather than an entitlementâ.
| "So y'see, the solution is to give us more money..." |
Posted by: Fred 2005-07-31 |
