By Elliott West
“Darkness cannot drive out darkness; only light can do that. Hate cannot drive out hate; only love can do that”
Martin Luther King Jr
Introduction
We live in a country today that is largely inclusive. A multiracial society that I am proud to live in and one that has brought a multitude of skills, and a wealth of culture, where love has blossomed and friendships forged. This is not a new concept and dates back to the days of the Roman Empire. No one can forget the importance of the Windrush generation and how much they helped enrich this country with their work ethic, cuisine, art, music and literature. That doesn’t just apply to them but to every race that has come and settled on our shores. Yet lurking in the background of society, is a small percentage of the population who love to peddle their abhorrent views on race. Defining someone on the colour of their skin and saying they have no right to live in this country. It is vile and a silent cancer that pops its head up so often. Whether through the rise of the black shirts under Oswald Mosley, The Rivers of Blood speech by Enoch Powell, the National Front in the 1970s and 80s or the current row over the despicable comments made about Diane Abbott from Frank Hester, a Conservative Party donor.
The Veil of Ignorance
I grew up in the 1970s and 1980s and believe me racism was rife in this country. It festered in beliefs, interaction and even the television we watched. The police would stop someone innocently walking down the street just because of the colour of their skin and horrendous comments, jokes and beatings were showered on so many people. Yet this is a direct result of spreading ignorant lies. I have never seen colour and why should that have anything to do with not liking someone? You judge someone on their merits and personality and colour and creed are irrelevant.
Yet this abhorrent racism that was prominent, has now slipped under the radar and become an even nastier version. Whether these small numbers of people believe in it or their heads are turned by the disillusionment of politics, political parties like UKIP and now Reform have a lot to answer for. It festers in the right wing of the Conservative party, promising to stop the boats and threatening to deport illegal migrants to Rwanda. Yet some people are blinded and believe these despicable attitudes. It risks splintering the very core of harmony in this country and is fuelled by the media.
Rishi Sunak claims he has the most diverse cabinet in modern times and on paper he does. However what party would promote policies that would be detrimental to the very people that they claim to promote? All we constantly hear is an empty sorry when someone is caught out saying something that is racist. They try to wriggle their way out of the firing line by saying that is not what they meant when blatant racism has been committed. A culture that has led to some Asian, black and Jewish MPs having to have security to carry out their political duties and a few to even quit politics altogether.
The Myth
These racist cowards try to embolden their platform by saying we are threatened by extremists, that Britain should be populated by English people and that other races threaten our existence. Beliefs that make my skin crawl and blood boil. Just do a DNA test on one of these numerous ancestry sites and you will see that your genetic makeup spans the country and the globe. No one is truly English or British but anyone who comes to live here or who is born here should never feel like an outcast or live in fear. Any form of racism is a crime and should not only be exposed but dealt with speedily.
Diversity
I am proud to go to any town or city in this country and see diversity firsthand. It shapes our multi-spectrum society and shows that being English or British means something different for everyone. Yet in moments of darkness or celebration, this nation comes together These multi-layered communities should be applauded and never derided. Our culture is rich with multiple faiths and cuisines. For that and so much else it should be celebrated. People can attack others from the shroud of social media but ultimately they are the ones in the wrong. They have no right to attack someone they don’t know and even if they did, these comments are inexcusable. Hate breeds hate and fans the flames of the racist ethos. A problem becomes a danger and ultimately a crisis. Only the goodness of humanity can limit this and show that this way of thinking is vile and odious.
