Reply to: London Evening Standard. Only one in five white Britons votes for Labour

[Sysman]

How white though? If I have an Asian great grandparent, am I white? What if they were African? What if my sister has inherited the dark gene, and I don't? It's a grey area (pun intended...)

Are you related to John Major?

[SueEllen]

Not to the same extent they don't. Hard to run a successful business, be a GP, or a contractor for that matter, and not even speak English or be unable to interact normally with anyone outside your own culture.

Depending on background their elderly relations often don't speak English and/or don't interact "normally" with men.

I'm watching my Margaret and Nick immigration program.

[lilelvis2000]

Not to the same extent they don't. Hard to run a successful business, be a GP, or a contractor for that matter, and not even speak English or be unable to interact normally with anyone outside your own culture.

But what happens when they get home? They might by alright to your face. but when they get home I bet all the "some stupid <colour of person> said this...and that" comes out.

[SueEllen]

I too wish those Jehovah's Witnesses would back off. They now hang out by the bus station with a large display of those booklets. I never stop to pick one up lest the gang jump on me.

They scare me.

Least the Christians stand on a soapbox or sing.

[lilelvis2000]

Its not colour that bothers me. Its people off other religions(well religion) who want to enforce their religion on the UK. They are quite entitled to their own belief. But not to enforce it on others.

I too wish those Jehovah's Witnesses would back off. They now hang out by the bus station with a large display of those booklets. I never stop to pick one up lest the gang jump on me.

[Zero Liability]

White, black, blue, purple, polka dotted... I still wouldn't vote for Labour. I already have a low regard for politicians, and they still rank rock bottom.

[Freaki Li Cuatre]

I think that in many world cities people's identity and hence their social circle is becoming more and more shaped by their education and profession or trade, and less by their nationality or ethnic background. I certainly feel I have more in common with and can deal more easily with the Indian engineer or the Brazilian programmer I work with than a labourer from Rotterdam or Birmingham. But that's perhaps a preserve of the highly educated; it's great to be working with these guys and building contacts around the world. Trouble is that at the same time there are many people who feel in some way threatened by this 'globalisation',but what do we do about that? Slow it down to something they find less threatening? That doesn't seem realistic to me, so perhaps people need help to adapt and the education system needs to help people to thrive in this society. It looks to me like we're getting a big dichotomy between people; well paid, highly educated professionals who like and benefit from cosmopolitan societies and want to puch ahead with them, and at the same time a big group who feel threatened and seek a way out in radical nationalism or religion.

Lordy, I've read some tripe on this site before but nothing ever could rival the sheer pomposity of the piece above.

Congratulations, that takes some doing .
.

Lib Dem voter by any chance?

[MicrosoftBob]

So you are saying middle class Indians etc don't cling to their own culture?

If they were midgets they could, it's a bit harder to squat on a toilet seat without cling ons if you're that short

[Gittins Gal]

I think that in many world cities people's identity and hence their social circle is becoming more and more shaped by their education and profession or trade, and less by their nationality or ethnic background. I certainly feel I have more in common with and can deal more easily with the Indian engineer or the Brazilian programmer I work with than a labourer from Rotterdam or Birmingham. But that's perhaps a preserve of the highly educated; it's great to be working with these guys and building contacts around the world. Trouble is that at the same time there are many people who feel in some way threatened by this 'globalisation',but what do we do about that? Slow it down to something they find less threatening? That doesn't seem realistic to me, so perhaps people need help to adapt and the education system needs to help people to thrive in this society. It looks to me like we're getting a big dichotomy between people; well paid, highly educated professionals who like and benefit from cosmopolitan societies and want to puch ahead with them, and at the same time a big group who feel threatened and seek a way out in radical nationalism or religion.

What, do they recommend a good curry house in Bangalore in case you happen to be there some time?

[xoggoth]

So you are saying middle class Indians etc. don't cling to their own culture?

Not to the same extent they don't. Hard to run a successful business, be a GP, or a contractor for that matter, and not even speak English or be unable to interact normally with anyone outside your own culture.

[SueEllen]

I agree. Many who bang on about discrimination are equally biased, they just draw the lines in a different way. They associate with others of their own economic level and education and fail to appreciate the real problems that the ordinary man has in ethnically mixed areas, living among those who cling to their own culture. In my experience it never takes long to goad an educated socialist into mentioning "working class attitudes".

So you are saying middle class Indians etc don't cling to their own culture?

[UglyBetty]

Usually it means white skin.

HTH

How white though? If I have an Asian great grandparent, am I white? What if they were African? What if my sister has inherited the dark gene, and I don't? It's a grey area (pun intended...)

[KentPhilip]

I certainly feel I have more in common with and can deal more easily with the Indian engineer or the Brazilian programmer I work with than a labourer from Rotterdam or Birmingham.

OK so you're not a racist. But perhaps you're a snob? As in not feeling comfortable surrounded by the "lower orders",from a vocational perspective.

[xoggoth]

I think that in many world cities people's identity and hence their social circle is becoming more and more shaped by their education and profession or trade, and less by their nationality or ethnic background. etc

I agree. Many who bang on about discrimination are equally biased, they just draw the lines in a different way. They associate with others of their own economic level and education and fail to appreciate the real problems that the ordinary man has in ethnically mixed areas, living among those who cling to their own culture. In my experience it never takes long to goad an educated socialist into mentioning "working class attitudes".

[BrilloPad]

Not much to worry about then?

I think I have been the only non-indian hire in 3 years. But I will enjoy it until I get the push.

Usually it means white skin.

HTH

As opposed to a coconut?