Is 'poppodom' racist? You decide.

The Hindu Forum of Britain has urged the general public in the UK to vote Jade Goody out of the Big Brother and has launched a poll asking people whether the abuse suffered by Shilpa Shetty and the name ‘poppodom’ is racist or cultural. Meanwhile, as Channel 4 takes the coward's way out and bans the egg-throwing crowd from Jade's inevitable eviction, a commentator on The Times CBB blog says, maybe it is time now for a spot of Ghandi-giri, a Hindu concept meaning don't crucify them, but shame them with love and compassion. The Hindu Forum has been inundated by calls from members of the community about the treatment of the Bollywood star. Many callers have expressed similar experiences in their own lives and have sympathy for Shilpa. The polls could highlight how prevalent Jade Goody and her cohorts’ bullying are in today’s society, the Forum says. Secretary General Ramesh Kallidai contines: “The behaviour of some of those in the Big Brother house is unacceptable in today’s society. While it might not be overt this more subtle form of abuse is something many Indians experience every day. There is also the bigger problem ignorance of Shilpa’s culture and background as well as out and out bullying. While Jade Goody does not represent the majority of people in this country, her behaviour is something common to many people of all creeds and races. The show has highlighted just how difficult it is to prove racist or bullying behaviour.” And The Times e-poll is showing more than nine in ten people favour evicting Jade. Post-eviction, Richard on Exigency in Specie has done an interesting analysis.

According to the Forum, the poll will give an interesting insight into the impact this programme has on the Indian community in Britain. The Forum is also writing to all MPs in Parliament asking them to complain to OFCOM and to support an Early Day Motion put forward on the issue by Keith Vaz. “While we do believe that Britain is a respectful and tolerant society in general, there is some element of racism that does exist,” says Rickie Sehgal, Chair of the Forum's Membership Committee. “Indians are more likely to be employed or be a graduate than people from any other ethnic minority community in this country, but the number of Indians at the board level in the corporate world can be counted on your fingers. Similarly, there are very few Indians acting as Chairs of public bodies even though there are many qualified to do so. The outrage that most people feel at Jade Goody’s behaviour comes from personal experiences of racism that people may have gone through.”

The forum is urging everyone to text the number 84466 with the word  Jade by 8 PM tonight to "boot Jade Goody out of the Big Brother House" as well as to vote in the poll to decide if Goody's behaviour hs been racist or not.

“We feel strongly that Channel 4 cannot ignore this fact any more and does need to do something about it. It is also a pity that Britain is being judged internationally by what happens in reality TV as we believe that the outcry raised by the British public clearly proves that the normal person walking the streets of Britain does not tolerate racist behaviour of this nature,” says Ramesh Kallidai.

Comments

[Frank Schnittger]

Good. Is it over? Can we all go home now? Back to the sordid reality of our own moribund lives. Who needs reality TV? Insult a friend and you will get some drama, but who needs it? Life's too short. Now for the rugby...

[ramachan]

John Gregory finn says:

"Cleary Ms Shetty, in one way or another, proved mored skilled at 'seeking the attention' of the viewing voters than the other contestants".

No wonder persons like Jade thrive in our society.

[john gregory Flinn]

So, Ms Shetty has wone this session of Celebrity Big Brother.
Congratulations to her!
I understand she has won hundreds of thousands of Pounds, and possible British TV contracts.
Tom Jackson posed the question on an earlier post - "why Ms Shetty decided to go on the show beats me...."
Perhaps it's more than evident now.

Clearly Ms Shetty, in one way or another, proved more skilled at 'seeking the attention' of the viewing voters than the other contestants. She seemed to be the favourite with certain sections of the media and this may have given her a 'little help'.
But Channel 4 may have found a solution to the ailing interest in their show, and perhaps they will include more foreign celebrity contestants in future.

[ramachan]

I agree with Tom entirely when he says 'empathy with the aspirations of those in the country you left behind'should not threaten the way of life of the community in which one has chosen to live and the recent actions of the muslim rdicals in the UK are very much a case in point.

This post started with Ruth's poser as to whether Jade's use of poppodum to refer to Shilpa, was racist. Most have agreed it was not, except that her behaviour overall and her other utterances, with Dannielle and Jo aiding and abetting, became such a sorry spectacle, and no wonder so many viewers reacted strongly and voted her out with a few million votes - Channel 4 would have made a hell of a lot money from that, and, it is hoped,as promised, the entire proceeds would be given to a good charitable cause.

[Tom Jackson]

Thanks, Ramachan, for your reply and clarification of your earlier post. In the terms you employ, of course I understand fully the sympathies any immigrant may retain for their country of origin.

What this issue over Jade Goody illustrates, however, is that there can be fundamental and serious disagreements between the indigenous population - who, due to the length of time that has expired, can still claim to be indigenous even though they are a mixture of invading and migratory races - and recent immigrants (in particular, those people from Asian countries with Islamic backgrounds).

Recent immigrants may not accept the "sticks and stones may break my bones but names will never hurt me" philosophy of the indigenous population, a philosophy which does not necessarily recognise significant racial overtones in the "poppodom" reference - anymore than I would take offence at an Asian calling me an old, bald-headed, white bast**d as a racist remark!

What is more serious difference is when an Asian immigrant identifies with an Islamic terrorist organisation because of the difficulty where UK foreign policy is concerned, a policy which - rightly or wrongly - is intended by our elected government to reduce the threat of barbarous acts of atrocity such as the London bombings.

A major element in giving "whole-hearted allegiance" to the community in which you live is to support the safety and security measures of your fellow citizens and for them to know that you stand shoulder to shoulder with them if that security is threatened.

There is a point - and this was demonstrated by those UK citizens who either planned to destroy or actually did destroy so many Londoner's lives in July 2005 - at which the differences between sections of the community exceed what is acceptable and allowable. An example might be the problems that would have occurred if there had been two million German immigrants residing in the UK in 1939 when Hitler was planning his invasion of our shores.

So, "empathy with the aspirations of those in the country that you have left behind" is perfectly acceptable provided it does not contradict or threaten the customs or way of life of the community in which you have chosen to live.

If I went to live in India, I would identify and be sensitive to the customs of your country and I certainly would be careful not to use inappropriate, descriptive language such as "poppodom" simply because we in the UK do not consider it to be racist.

In the same way, immigrants to our country should identify and be sensitive to our customs and way-of-life, recognising that what may be racist to them, is not necessarily racist to us (although many of us may still consider "poppodom" to be inappropriate and only likely to be used by someone like Jade Goody).

[Frank Schnittger]

"I should point out that there are plenty of people who have the intellectual ability to recognise our innate tendency to stereotype and consciously make an effort to circumvent it..." J Pearce

That is always the challenge when we seek to relate to others as persons rather than a collection of stereotypes.

However you also touch on an inherently functional use for stereotyping - that of reducing the overwhelmingly complex world of social interaction (especially in an urban setting) into a set of short hand symbols.

There is a whole school of sociology called symbolic interactionism which originated in California and which analyses social interactions into the symbols which are used to convey meanings that are too complex to repeat every time you want to convey them.

Thus uniforms convey a person's role in society and the sort of relationship he will have to you. Certain clothes, phrases, words, musical preferences, body language, icons, images tell us a lot about someone without them having to spell it out to you. Much of marketing is based on associating a product or service with symbols of a lifestyle desirable to those the marketing is targeted on.

Of course we may often misread the signs or draw the wrong conclusions. Thus not all men in white coats are doctors, not all long hair people are layabouts etc. - but certain associations remain in people's minds based on their prior experience or conditioning.

Prejudice is literally what it says: judging people based on prior meanings associated with the symbols they exhibit – insofar as they are recognisable to the beholder. Thus Jade struggled to relate to Shilpa because she has little previous experience or understanding of Indians generally, and cast about for any symbol (= popadom) which she might use to relate to (in this case to denigrate) someone whose reactions she found difficult to understand or interpret.

We don’t want to have a deep personal relationship with everyone we meet, and thus symbols or stereotypes can play a very useful role in simplifying human interaction. For most of our evolution (right up to c. 10,000 years ago) humans interacted with only a few dozen other humans most of the time and probably met only a few hundred other humans in their entire lifetime.
We are not genetically well adapted to live in complex societies in close proximity to millions of others. Symbols or stereotypes are a necessary device to reduce that complexity to manageable proportions.

The fact that those symbols are often manipulated for commercial, political, or social gain is another story entirely. Humans competing against other humans is as old as time. Doing so with symbols is preferable to doing so with swords. Jade's crime is that she did so so unskilfully she was an embarrassment to her tribe.

No, she wasn’t racist. She just let her side down. The worst thing you can do to your tribe, really.

[Emanuel Appel]

a letter from America

Dear J Pearce aka "fish and chips :)"

With all due respect, definition #2 of "racism" as found on the online dictionary is just plain wrong. It's bigotry or abuse but not racism.

Our common culture has been intellectually impoverished by normal people in the UK and elsewhere letting the tastemasters impose the word as a club to silence dissent. In the 1930's and afterwards, "fascist" was similarly used to describe your political opponents. Leon Trotsky was described as a "fascist" by the Communist sympathizers.

Common sense points out, even to me outside of the UK, that it's foolish to set up a contestant as the "embodiment of India" just like letting the old Sex Pistols represent the Queen in the U.S.

[J Pearce]

To answer the question at the header of this thread, "No". Here is a definition of racism, as found in the free dictionary (online):

1. The belief that race accounts for differences in human character or ability and that a particular race is superior to others.
2. Discrimination or prejudice based on race

Therefore, calling Ms Shetty a "popadom" is not racist per se, just as Emanuel has pointed out that calling a Jew a "bagel" would not be racist.

What we are actually seeing is a case of negative stereotyping. Humans have an intellectual trait of, shall we say, "saving brain power", by associating a multitude of attributes with one concept. This is called stereotyping. It is an inherent part of human intellectual endeavour and is not, in itself, morally good or bad (I would argue that it useful, insomuch as it allows the human brain to simplify the overwhelming amount of information it has to process on a daily basis).

In JG's experience of Indians - which I would guess is probably limited to the dining experience and little else - one of the few attributes of being "Indian" that she can use as a reference is a popadom. Therefore, in vainly searching her (limited) memory for some relevant attribute of Indian culture she could possibly include as part of a verbal put-down, JG used "popadom" as part of her (again, limited) verbal repertoire.

What we should be questioning is the intent. Personally, I don't think JG - much as I loathe her crassness - was using the term in a racist way. Rather, it was used as a means of bullying, as been pointed out by numerous other commentators.

I should point out that there are plenty of people who have the intellectual ability to recognise our innate tendency to stereotype and consciously make an effort to circumvent it...

[ramachan]

Hi Tom,

I have already responded to John, but let me respond to you too. Yes, it is the UK that I was referring to. Unfortunate it is, but the tabloids do often whip up emotions which are not in the greater interests of the country.
And, though a long term immigrant in the UK, I do retain some sympathies for my country of origin, India. And, why not. Don't the Italians, the French, the Germans, the Polish, etc., settled here, have fond feelings for their country of origin? And,despite what Mr Tebbit had to say a while ago, don't the italians settled here have some sympathy for Italy when they play soccer against England?
And all the financial help that the Irish descendants in the US had made to the IRA is legion.

And, of course, talking of immigration, I reckon most of the present inhabitants in the UK are immigrants anyway - from Norway, Sweden,Saxony and Normandy in the earlier times, then from the rest of Europe, from Africa and the West Indies, and the Indian sub-continent and currently from all the new EU countries.

What is needed, I think, is whole-hearted allegiance to the new country which however should not come in the way of empathy with the aspirations of those in the country that you have left behind.

[Tom Jackson]

"Sad for our country".

Yes, ramachan; what country is it that you align yourself to and feel so sad about?

[ramachan]

For the benefit of John Gregory Finn:

It is UK that I meant, John. But, John, you say you will not feel offended if you are called 'Mr Fish & Chips'. That's weird; not even with the British sense of humour seen in some sections of our society.

And, you were really bonkers when you were comparing all this to the British Raj times in India, when 'Simon go back' or 'British go back' came out from the throes of the brutal suppression of non-violent demonstrations and brazen economic exploitation of the country. All that holds no candle to the present day shouts in the UK from certain sections for long time immigrants here to go back home. And they are in real earnest when they shout all that. The stupid bimbo Dannielle in Big Brother perhaps represents that section.

[Emanuel Appel]

a letter from America

Dear Mr. Ramachan,

This is a tempest in a teapot that has gotten out of proportion.

There's no need to rehash the whole story of India when we have some stupid TV show with normal people in it. Yes, they are going to have good and stupid people as in every society. If we had an Indian version, do you think that all would behave like saints?

You may refer to me as a bagel or pletzel ( Jewish bread treats) any time you want. Let's keep our eyes on more important things.

[john gregory Flinn]

"Sad for our country."

Which one is that ramachan?
India or UK?

[ramachan]

I join Belle above in her comment that both Jade and Danielle are foolish girls, famous for nothing and desparately seeking attention. I would also like to add Jo to the list of the foolish ones (and she thinks she was once very famous) and she looks desparate to get attention.

I think there is no need to even imagine for a second that these foolish girls have caused any damage to the race relations in this country or to the relations with India.

They are irrelevant.

India of course has social problems with its slowly dying caste system and the tendency among many to still putting the fairer ones from the western world on a pedestal : that is mostly the result of more than 200 years of British rule from which the country became free only some decades ago.

And, before that, the country was subjected to invasions and rule by Mongols and other hordes from the north of the country.

India still has huge problems. It is a land of more than 1,100 million people, who speak at least fifteen major languages (compared to a population of only around 60 million in the UK and with the benefit of a common language). India is in the process of deveoping its natural and human resources in the interests of the locals rather than in the interests of an economy far away as was the case when Britain ruled the country.

And it is a real wonder that the country has managed to retain its democratic framework (except for a very brief interregum in mid-seventies when the counry was placed under Emergency rule), for the past 60 years after the British walked out leaving the country in a perilous state after acceding to the demands of the Muslim separatists. The vast majority of newly independent states, including the neighbouring Pakistan, have gone the way of authoritarianism and dictatorship.

I have great hopes for that country. No wonder this stupid and abominable Jade Goody is now trying to reestablish herself and wanting to go to India. Tabloids like the Sun revels in drivel and sensationalism just to maintain readership. Sad for our country.

[john gregory Flinn]

Dear Belle, please note sentence not sentance!!!!

We used to say 'Go Home Yanks'.
India of the Raj used to say 'Go Home Brits'!
(But perhaps you are too young to remember those.)

The Iraqis are now saying 'Go Home Yanks, Brits and Coalition Partners' - perhaps more forthright than that.
And there are many other examples. (I've replaced the expletives)

Are they all racist?
Of course not!
Insults maybe, but in this case Ms Shetty declared her interest in representing India, so she might expect such comment.

You have fallen into your own trap, and listened too closely to all the 'bandying around' you complain of, and formed a narrow interpretation devoid of context, place and time.

[Belle]

What seems unacceptable to me is the fact Jade Goody now seems to represent the face of young Briton.

Jade Goody is not representative, she is uneducated, painfully ignorant and to put it plainly she is vulgar and crass. She has little good sense or propriety. These events have been broadcast around the world and it physically makes me feel nauseous to think that people will assume she is a typical Briton!

Racism exists in Briton there is no doubt and its fuelled by tumultuous times however I think the word is banded around too freely. Political correctness has gone crazy much to the disadvantage to those who are unable to benefit from the protection of race and equality.

Jade's anger arose from the fact she had competition from Shilpa, I really don't think it stemmed from race.

Shilpa is a stunning woman, intelligent and is amazingly graceful. The is the epitome of every woman really aspires to be. How would Jade, a girl who has dragged herself up from childhood, has no discernable skills or talent, whom can barely form a legible sentance not be jealous of Shilpa.

I had to stop myself from laughing out loud when I heard Danielle critisize Shilpa's english! Shilpa has a far better command of English as her second language than Danielle as her first.

Jealousy truly is a potent elixir.

As for Shilpa Poppadom, inappropriate as it may be, racist it is not. If I turn this around and someone gave me a surname of "Bangers and Mash" or "Fish and Chips" would I really be offended? Not really.

However, Danielle's comment about "whi doesn't she f**k off home". Racist. Without a doubt and there has to be some reproach made toward her, it crossed the line completely and there is no way that comment can be interpreted in any other light.

Jade and Danielle are both foolish girls, famous for nothing and desperately seeking attention. I just hope they have not caused irrepreable damage by their senseless words and actions.

[john gregory Flinn]

"They were jealous that shilpa is intelligent,...."

Certainly ENVY was one of the 'Seven Deadly Sins' on show in Celebrity Big Brother.
There is also GREED; and I might be persuaded that PRIDE is in the reference post!

Ms Gledhill; just SLOTH and GLUTTONY to go...!

[Emanuel Appel]

a letter from America

Dear Ruth,

Is bagel or pletzel racist? The bagel is a delicious chewy Jewish bread doughnut that is boiled before baking. The Pletzel is a flatbread with baked onions on top.

I'd be proud for any and all of you to call me bagel or pletzel since it's 10 steps above the garbage that passes as English food. Jesus H. Christ!

[Vanessa Nanthakumaran]

Jade Goody's(Baddie)comment 'poppodom' was racist. If I was called that I will feel offended. Jade knew what she was saying and her big ugly mouth says it all and more than that pointing her finger at Shilpa eVery time she shouted at her shows that. They were jealous that shilpa is intelligent, modest and beautiful and she was a threat for them winnig the show.

[john gregory Flinn]

I think Jade Goody looks pretty good on your picture, she's quite photo genic!

The 'poppodom' soubriquet is clearly culinary.
It reminds me of that photo of a cabbage over that Football manager's head in the Sun some years back and the associated comment, (or was it a cauliflower?)!

On this side of the channel the French 'take' on the British media's anguish, gyrantics and agonizing over which words and actions might be racist is fun to watch. David Pujadas, with a impish twinkle, on France 2 called it a 'scandale'.
To paraphrase the Daily Telegraph, the media's poppodom seems to have been eaten by its own political correctness!

Tom Jackson's post puts it pretty well - I think Ms Shetty said she wanted to represent India on the show.
The British, (or maybe the English) media tend to be so gullible when someone with a dark skin shouts racism, less so when its the other way around.

However this episode has opened up the debate, and using racism as a stick to stigmatise people and silence discussion may come to an end.
Like the 'coming out' of those other taboo polemics - immigration, Islam, etc, - those who benefit politically will be the extreme right. Voting in Barking and Dagenham, and polling surveys in London and nationwide support this.
Maybe the indigenous British public are starting to resent a system that seems too ready to accept a point of view which is often prejudicial to their interests.

PS: I'm just wondering about this "Nazi Symbol" posted by Emma S.
The reversed swastika is a religious symbol for Buddhists and Hindus. My wife who is Buddhist wears one.

[Emma S.]

I can't believe what I'm seeing under your article. Ypu have reproduced a youtube video threatening Jack from Big Brother, and showing a Nazi symbol??? This is totally irresponsible and defamatory.
I think you will definitely have blood on your hands if this leads to violence against either of these two.
Don't accuse somebody else of bullying, when you post this sort of inflammatory stuff!
(rg writes: You are right to complain. The video was edited and altered after I put it up. There was nothing on it threatening Jack and no Nazi symbol when I posted the link, which I have now removed. This is a previously unsuspected danger of posting YouTube vids. Makes one wonder.)

[NaranH]

I belive Jade Goody was not racist but she was Bully. She did not like Shilpa Shetty becouse she did not reflect were she was come from or it was not her way of how she should reflect from were she was come from. But at same time i also belive there is lots of Racism at British work place when it comes to promotion.

[Julie]

I have posted a response to Ruth's question on my my blog

[Emanuel Appel]

a letter from America

Dear Ruth,

If you want to worry about psychic damage , please click on link to see the psychic damage our common culture has imposed on the animal kingdom

http://video.yahoo.com/video/play?vid=51ea67e00c484b4fbb6cb081f4644cd4.637200&cache=1

[iain]

i dont think jade was being racist,just ignorant,as usual the media has blown it out of proportion

[James]

We must remember that it was Jo from S Club 7 who first started the mocking of Shilpa's accent. When Jade noticed Danielle laughing she thought it was acceptable. I don't believe any racism was intended by Jade. The papers have predictably blown the issue out of all proportion.

[Tom Jackson]

"The sensitivity of Asian members of our community is worrying".

"Any firm or multi national that supports Ch4. I'll stop buying their products.
I'll lobby to the Indian governemnt they should not be allowed in India."

I guess that just about sums it up.

[Ellen]

Ruth, please check out this blog post from a native Indian (now mostly in the U.S., a novice in a religious order, but presently back in India with his father who is ill). He has an interesting perspective.

[Very Rude]

"as Channel 4 takes the coward's way out and bans the egg-throwing crowd from Jade's inevitable eviction"

So Channel 4 are now cowards for attempting to forestall a violent attack on a woman whom they deliberately set up with their nasty little program. You are positively salivating at the thought of this woman being hurt by a shrieking mob aren't you? How medieval. How very Christian. Perhaps we should bring back the ducking stool and the scold's bridle. Jade G is clearly a witch, let's burn her. Then maybe we can start on the Jews again, chasing them into Clifford's Tower and burning them alive like we did the last time the Christians ran this country. Who is really dragging Britain back into the gutter Ruth, Jade G or those who wish her so much violence and harm? You decide. I already have, hence my permanent emigration.

[Julie]

What Tom said.

[Joginder Bhamra]

Look at the following scenarios:

Three black men see a single white English person on a street and yell: "Hey Fish and Chips, do you live in a hole or what?"

A white person sees a Lebanese person on a station and yells "You Falafal" Go back where you came from!"

A Chinese boy walking to school gets abused by a group of young Arabs who laugh at him and say: "Hey Tofu! Who knows where your hands have been? You Chinese are always thin."

A Turkish Muslim lady who is a cook in an office canteen is accosted by a customer who says "Lady, just cos you eat Halal meat doesnt mean you should undercook my chicken. Dont act like a dog."

Shilpa Shetty had to listen to all this and much more.

Racist undertones cannot be brushed away just because some people feel that it is OK to use abusive language against Indians, but not against others.

[Emanuel Appel]

a postscript from America

Dear Mr or Miss Chauhan,

Should I do the same whenever anyone in India does something to annoy me?

You can't rely on government to make people act to please you. Only their parents and culture can affect behavior.

[Narinder Chauhan]

Any firm or multi national that supports Ch4. I'll stop buying their products.
I'll lobby to the Indian governemnt they should not be allowed in India.
Chauhan

[Mo]

I think it depends on what intent the word Poppodom was used. Poppodom isn't a racist word, infact it's a nice starter. But for me all that's happened in the house, it depends on what the intent was by Jade. She will know herself whether her comments were racist. I'm more concerned with the Chav behaviour. Since she's so dominant, I think the main reason she is angry at Shilpa is because she feels Shilpa takes attention away from her.

[alistair McBay]

In what sense would Jade Goody's comments be racist when compared to some of those uttered by London's Mayor in the recent past, which were dfended on the grounds of freedom of speech?

Is Jade practising so she can run for Mayor, perhaps?

[Emanuel Appel]

a letter from America

Dear Ruth,

Big Brother is a TV show! It's no reason to put on a hairshirt. You and the larger Society are not guilty of anything except a bit of vulgar TV habits.

I don't get this bit of English TV in America but we have counterparts. Someone stated that the perp of this bit of ethnic dyspepsia was "mixed race". Is that polite "ruling class English" for 3/4 Black? So, what's the problem? It's got nothing to do with you but with them.

My experience in America is that the group that consistently gets away with the most racist behavior and language are the Blacks. Well meaning people like you let them.

Personally, I consider the Indians sweeter than you deserve. They came to you for economic reasons but the immigrant generation was unprepared for the culture shock of moving from half a world away.

[Tom Jackson]

The "number of Indians at the board level in the corporate world can be counted on your fingers".

Whoa!! Let's keep this in perspective, folks. This is Jade Goody on a television reality show. Are we really into serious, intelligent conclusions about the issue of racism in the UK today, from the pub to the boardroom, on the basis of some stupid, gross, disgusting behaviour of the likes of Jade Goody?

This is Big Brother! Shilpa Shetty is a beautiful, intelligent, cultured, successful and talented women who had demonstrated that at the age of thirty one, she has the experience and sophistication to deal with a cabal of poorly educated, boringly mindless, bitchy "ladettes" who have been very lucky to put what little talent they possess to limited success.

Why Ms Shetty decided to go on the show beats me but to suggest she is the victim of racism is laughable and to draw nationwide conclusions on the basis of the bullying and arguments that have taken place is ridiculous.

The sensitivity of Asian members of our community is worrying. It is proving impossible to introduce any comment or criticism where Asians are concerned - as demonstrated by issues regarding terrorism or the wearing of the veil. The UK is not a racist society and this has been ably demonstrated by the overwhelming support that Ms Shetty has received from all corners of our society.

We must be careful not to react to those people whose agenda is to keep the issue of racism alive in the media and elsewhere. Unless we are able to comment freely on issues without the fear of being subject to one label or another, the open society we enjoy in the UK will gradually be diminished.