Challenging values on immigration
22nd October, 2009
Maybe its a figment of our society’s imagination but I thought there was a general consensus that as humans evolve over time they would become more liberal minded… or maybe this was just me. I felt sure that the days of xenophobia, homophobia and sexism were on their way out. The next generation would be all about equality for all and respecting peoples differences, right? We’re all humans after all.
So, I was surprised when I saw the results of our new values theme. From a representative sample of 16-25 year olds in the UK 41% of 16-25s believe that immigration is not good for the country versus 34% who think it is. Not a massive statistical difference but a sign of two significant opposing views and to be honest it swung in a favour of the view I was not expecting.
These numbers were then compounded by a number of messages we got through to The Voicebot over the past couple of months, a selection of which I’ll share with you here.
Is this young people regurgitating the views their parents have impressed upon them? Or the stuff they’ve read in the tabloids? Is it an indication of a lacking education system? Or is this genuinely a fresh set of eyes surveying their country and making their own educated conclusions on what is and is not working about our society and economy?
I have to admit I was relieved to see an equal number of messages coming through to The Voicebot with a ’stop the BNP’ stance, otherwise I would have feared we’d traveled back in time. What’s interesting is the presence of these two equally strong views coming through from a young generation at a time when I really thought we would have moved on. Is it an indication that perhaps as a country we haven’t struck quite the right balance with immigration yet or simply that ignorance lives on. It’s easy to look for someone, something… some people to blame if things aren’t going so well in the economy. So during this period of recession as employment levels are low, perhaps people are lazily and somewhat shortsightedly pointing the finger at the non-British citizens living in this country. If there’s not enough to go around amongst our nationals perhaps we should defend our assets more?
Its pretty frightening watching the knock-on effects and social implications of the recession unfolding – the BNP are using it as an opportunity to drum up more followers and Nick Griffin has even made it onto BBC’s Question Time. Who would have dreamed this would have been possible?
Tags: BNP, immigration, Robot, v, values, vinspired, Voicebot, youth views
Hi Tarik
I’m interested in this post as it chimes with a discussion youth workers were having on our message boards earlier this year (here http://community.cypnow.co.uk/forums/p/1211/5427.aspx#5427 if you are interested.) One poster says he is shocked at the hostile racist attitudes espoused by some young people, and another that challenging racism must be part of youth work.
I’ve flagged up your post here on the discussion, hope you don’t mind!
Charlotte.
Not at all – thanks for sharing the blog post. I shall come over and have a look on your message boards. I couldn’t agree more that challenging racism and educating young people is vital. This is the time to stamp out ignorance.
I thought what Sayeeda Warsi said was interesting – immigration is not a race issue for many, but more about looking at resources within one country and splitting this fairly and productively. Just because someone is concerned about immigration does not necessarily mean they are racist, however we shouldn’t turn a blind eye to the signs of xenophobia.
I wish to report to you a case of the most serious crime in the world.
Against the Geneva Convention Ethnocide and United Nations Indigenous Peoples Rights to Identity and Culture.
This is a case of Ethnocide and it is happening here and now in the United Kingdom.
Labours plan of uncontrolled immigration policy has come to light and this can be proven in the statistics.
Wikipedia lists and explains exactly the Crime of Ethnocide.
Attacks On Culture and Displacement.
Put simply it is the cleansing or minoritising of an indigenous population by methods other than mass extermination.
It is a fact that by 2070 the immigrant population will be ahead of the indigenous peoples of England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland.
This is a Crime against humanity according to the Geneva Convention it is an equivalent crime to Genocide and is a form of ethnic Cleansing.
I am reporting this crime to every agency in the UK to expose this crime to the British People.
Take action Now! Reveal this Labour Plot because the hunt is on for the conspiracy that exists between labour and conservative politicians who have plotted this treason.
Regards
[Your name here]
I have emailed this matter to hundreds of important people, If they ignore it and take no action then surely they by default become an accomplice to the crime.
Organisations, QC’s, Barristers, Solicitors, Members Of Parliament, The Hague, The United Nations.
As an Englishman, along with thousands of others we have been displaced and made to feel inferior in our own land we will have a website shortly so that the whole world can see what is being done to us. THE FIGHT BACK HAS BEGUN.
Open Your Eyes And See Before it Is Too Late!
IPCC Complaint Made.
Crimes Reported to West Midlands Police and Metropolitan Police.
To be honest, I wasn’t sure whether to approve the above comment or not. Ultimately I’d rather not approve it because I don’t think it deserves the space but on the other hand I think its good for people to see the striking differences in opinion on the matters of immigration.
In my view the above is exceptionally racist and indicative of a person who is insanely ignorant. We are all children of the world, as long as we’re paying taxes can we not all share this space??
The thing that’s frightening is that Stephen’s ignorance is veiled by big words and official language. It doesn’t resort to swear words and insulting language but nevertheless is truly offensive.
Stephen Harrison’s comment made me laugh out loud. He sounds like some sort of backward freedom fighter.
“It is a fact that by 2070 the immigrant population will be ahead of the indigenous peoples of England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland.” He says.
So what? What about the numbers of “indigenous” people moving to Spain/Tunisa/Greece/Cyprus/France etc.? You don’t hear them moaning about their indigenous people, do you?
2070 is a long way away. By then, probably a quarter (if not more) of the world’s population will be mixed race of some sort. We may be living on the Moon and sexing it up with Aliens (hey, more ‘people’ for you to dislike). There’s a good chance your family line by then will have a member who is non-indigenous (shock-horror).
Chill out Stephen, and get a life. There are bigger things to worry about than what percentage of the population are “indigenous” and know the national athem.