It is not easy being a white, British male in 21st century Britain. I cannot, for example, shout at the Asian guy who pushes in front of me in the queue for fear of being branded a racist. I cannot knock on my West Indian neighbour’s door at 2 o’clock in the morning to tell him to turn down his reggae music for fear of being branded a racist. I cannot gesture at the Muslim woman who pulls out in front of me at a junction for fear of being branded a racist. Yet all of these people can shout at me without fear of reprisal. This, my friends, is equality in 21st century Britain.
I was branded a racist this week. And my crime? Having the cheek to say I do not think Muslim Extremists should be allowed to preach their hatred in this country. No, they are not racist for preaching that hatred; I am racist for daring to say it is wrong, even though Islam is a religion and not a race. The upshot of all this? Well, an organisation I have done voluntary work for over the last couple of years received a complaint, and they immediately said they did not want me to represent them anymore. They did not ask for my version of events, or even tell me what I had done wrong. They just said they no longer wanted me to do any more work for them. They heard the word racism and panicked. Would they have reacted like this had I been a black British male saying the same thing? I think we all know the answer to that.
The government want racial interaction and for everyone to get along. Great, that is how it should be. But have a look around you. Who is doing all the interacting? Who is having to adapt? Yes, you’ve guessed it, the white, indigenous population. And we have happily done so. Yet tell a Muslim woman to remove her Hijab and she will refuse. Where is the interaction there?
I am all for equality, but what does that actually mean? My understanding is that everybody of any race or creed should be treated equally. The same rules should apply for everyone and colour should not come into it. So if a black guy is not considered racist for saying he supports the fight against Muslim Extremists then neither should I. But we are not all treated equally and my colour has clouded people's opinions. So, perhaps the real victim of racism here is me?
But why should I have to constantly live in fear of being branded a racist anyway just because I am white? Why should I have to watch every single thing I say just in case someone, somewhere reads more into it than they should?
Don’t get me wrong, racism is a very real problem. It is all around us and we need to fight against it. But let’s keep it in perspective. 99% of people in this country are not racist. We have made giant strides over the last 40 years, so let’s not waste all that good work by looking to find racism where it does not exist. All that does is create further problems. Tackle real racism, yes, but let the rest of us get on with our lives.
So, if you push in front of me I will shout at you, whatever your colour. If your music is keeping me awake at night I will tell you to turn it down, whatever your colour. If you pull out in front of me at a junction I will gesture at you, whatever your colour. It doesn’t make me a racist, it just makes me a grumpy old man.
