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Arts > Cartoons > Early 21st century > Terrorism > UK > 7 July 2005 attacks

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Dave Brown

The Independent        9.8.2005

M: , Home Office Secretary Charles Clarke.
R: Home Office minister Hazel Blears.


The tone of the political debate about how Britain is to deal with the threat of terrorism from within its own borders is growing increasing hysterical.
And each measure being mooted by the Government seems more inappropriate than the last. The latest proposal from the Home Office minister Hazel Blears
is to "rebrand" Britain's ethnic minorities so as to encourage the process of integration. Ms Blears is inspired by the practice of some US citizens
of adopting a "hyphenated" identity, such as "Italian-American" or "Irish-American". She foresees benefits to community cohesion if ethnic minority Britons
were to call themselves, for example, "British-Asian" rather than "Muslim" or "Asian".

On a superficial reading her proposal may seem attractive to some. There is no reason why Britons should not simultaneously demonstrate
pride in their ethnic heritage and the British nationality. But closer inspection of the minister's words reveals their emptiness.
Americans adopt a "hyphenated identity" because they want to, not because the US Government decrees they should.
If British citizens wish to do the same, that is a matter for them, not Ms Blears or the Government.

Leading article: Offensive, but not illegal         The Independent        9.8.2005

http://comment.independent.co.uk/leading_articles/article304594.ece

 

 

 

 

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