The English Defence League – minus most of its recently-resigned leadership – is coming to Bradford on Saturday.
In one sense it is really nice that lost of people from outside the city want to come and visit. They need to know, however, that the weather forecast is shockingly awful and it will be cold.
In response to a request by the local newspaper for a few words about this visit, I offered the following:
The first question we need to ask of the English Defence League is: what sort of ‘England’ do you think you are defending? Is the answer something like: racist, violent, anti-social and destructive?
Where the EDL goes, they disturb ordinary people’s lives, and leave behind a huge financial cost to the police and local authorities. Many ordinary citizens speak of feeling violated.
It is interesting that the leaders of the EDL have just announced their departure on the grounds that the organization has become too extreme and has fallen into the hands of the far right. Well, past experience would suggest that none of this should have come as a blinding revelation. But, Tommy Robinson has now distinguished between “Islamist ideology” and “Muslims”: he wants to be against the former, but not the latter.
For Bradford this is significant. Bradford is mature enough in its community and intercultural relations to be able to face hard questions and to have honest conversations about the challenges as well as the opportunities afforded by our cultural interactions (or lack of them). These challenges are clear, but are best addressed by people who live in Bradford and have a purchase on what happens here. We are big enough to avoid illusions and work towards better integration.
Bradford is rich in diversity – and more colourful than any other city in England. We need to hold firm to our common heritage as we shape what it will mean to be ‘English’ for our grandchildren. The EDL has no place here because it has nothing to bring to the conversation.
Really, this just picks up on something I wrote when Channel Four broadcast its two-part programme entitled ‘Make Bradford British’. Since when was ‘Englishness’ or ‘Britishness’ something we merely inherited rather than something we are creating? In the earlier post (referred to above) I observed:
Focus on the naff title is fair – especially as this first programme, if anything, is clear that Bradford is British. The question is: what does it mean to be British? It seems that when we try to identify identity we look to the past. But, ‘Britishness’ is not some sort of product we inherit and then try to keep in a cultural box; rather, it is evolving as time moves on. We are creating Britain as we go. In this sense, perhaps, the title of the series unwittingly opens up a more productive debate – or provides a better-shaped lens through which to look at local culture: how do we take our responsibility in shaping at every level the Britain we are becoming?
I have no idea what fantasy of ‘England’ the EDL thinks it is defending. And I am not holding my breath that they’ll be able to articulate any coherent vision for the England we might create together.
Whatever. If they make it through the wind and the rain, they’ll find a confident city, facing challenges with eyes open, and they can at least marvel at the wonderful Victorian architecture.
October 10, 2013 at 9:34 pm
I love creating Englishness! Thank you for the notion!
Bon chance! From a 1/32 French fisherman, 1/32 Hungarian “Count,”. 1/32 Irish labourer who married someone with a touch of oriental (from sarf orv the rivar) whose Kids knock spots off anyone who thinks that’s anything more than entertainment.
October 10, 2013 at 10:52 pm
Nick,
You say “I have no idea what fantasy of ‘England’ the EDL thinks it is defending” You could say the same thing to CND or the anti-war movement. This is a protest movement which will tell you what they are against if you look on their web site..They claim ” We protested against terrorist acts carried out in the name of Islam, we protested about the grooming of young girls, about sexual harassment, sexual abuse and the failure of the authorities to admit to the problems, much less do something about them.” http://www.englishdefenceleague.org/why-we-are-going-to-bradford/
If you follow their links it seems that this demonstration originates with allegations made by the Tory MP for Keithley Kris Hopkins http://www.thetelegraphandargus.co.uk/news/10192832.Thirty_arrested_in_child_sex_grooming_inquiry/ Perhaps you should take issue with his comments.
Whilst your comments are reasoned and moderate, the comments of Imran Hussain, Deputy Leader of Bradford Council as reported in the Telegraph and Argus are irresponsible http://www.thetelegraphandargus.co.uk/news/10728334.We_must_turn_our_backs_on_EDL__protest__again/
This plays into the hand of anti-racist groups who motivations and tactics also need close scrutiny.
Some people seem to wnat a fight, on both sides.
Lets not forget the EDL began in response to a demonstration, organised by Al-Muhajiroun, against the war in Afghanistan as the Royal Anglian Regiment marched through the town after a tour of duty in the Helmand province campaign
October 10, 2013 at 10:52 pm
Yes, this half Liverpuldian, half Brummie, quarter Scot, loves living in this rich-mix part of Bradford. We have about 16 nationalities in our church and the food and fun of our Culture Club is the centre of our social life – Yorkshire evening in November!
October 10, 2013 at 11:50 pm
In your second sentence – “lost” seems very appropriate.
October 11, 2013 at 10:40 am
Fortunately the Bishop of Bradford is more akin to a turkey voting for Christmas he voted for his See to go. We should realise that “Englishness” will in 20 or 30 years be no more, His contribution will be to moan about EDL instead of concentrating on subject’s: which in theory you should understand, the CoE is crumbling, attendances dropping, support evaporating, buildings being sold to support this state institution. Muslims will be a majority in 20 to 30 years in most parliamentary constituencies, they will support there religion and we will see the crumbling of Britain. Why does the Bishop not show support for the large number of people who can see the destruction of Britain before it happens, most of us don’t wish to see people sent home, But what we do want to see is everyone to follow the law of the land, not a mythical law of Sharia, We wish to see the nation as a democratic entity, not a nation for fat cat politicians, business men and religous fools who have no understanding of real life. this is why EDL exist because you do not understand the real people, but as long as you continue with your sad views, look to your future, the Destruction of Churches in Pakistan, Syria, Eygpt to name some, the murder of Christians in Iraq, Syria, Pakistan and Eygpt. Christians forced to renounce there religion and become Muslims or die Where is your voice condemning these atrocities, VERY QUIET but when EDL appear you immediately denounce them
October 11, 2013 at 12:46 pm
Andrew, it is hard to know where to start with this. What has diocesan reorganisation got to do with the EDL – apart from a silly, cheap shot about me? You clearly know nothing about the reality here and to call Sharia ‘mythical’ (presumably as opposed to ‘real’?) is bizarre. You also know nothing about what I/we do in support of persecuted Christians in the Middle East and Asia – what I have written, spoken, and so on. So, your capital letter charges have the dual honour of being both ignorant and arrogant.
Put a clear case and I will respond.
October 11, 2013 at 2:09 pm
Fundamentalist Islam scares most UK residents ,despite worries about immigration most UK residents have no contact with Muslims this makes matters worse ,The terrible atrocities seen almost every week feed this fear and the EDL is a symptom of the problem not the cause .
I think the Church could do more to help the persecuted Christian minorities abroad to gain UK asylum , there are parallels with the Nazis and the Jews , nobody wanted the Jews coming over here in the 1930s
October 11, 2013 at 2:21 pm
Ben, what do you have in mind when you say “the Church could do more…”? What do you think the Church is doing? Who exactly is ‘the Church” in your thinking? It would help to know what assumptions you are making before I respond.
October 11, 2013 at 4:44 pm
Andrew, I do not know the source of your figures. The Pew Report estimates the UK Muslim population as 2010 2,869,000 4.6%, 2030 5,567,000 8.2%. If these estimates are reasonable, it is unlikely that there will be any Muslim majority constituencies. There are already Black and Asian MPs and councilors. They are to be found in the mainline parties and elected by votes from throughout the community. I would predict that Islamist representatives in 2030 will be as rare in UK politics as BNP ones are now.
October 11, 2013 at 7:15 pm
It is notable that immigrant cultures commonly have larger families and indigenous ones. The principal motivation seems to be ensuring some surviving children to care for the mother.
Once immigrant populations get used to better survival rates – infant mortality obviously lower here than in the impoverished countries most immigrants come here from
– their family sizes tend to that of the indigenous population.
As like as not they tend to the Daily Mail view of “all these bloody foreigners” a bit before that ..
October 12, 2013 at 8:04 am
Reblogged this on hungarywolf.