Racism: an abused word.

Let's get one matter out in the open.  My Facebook site is eclectic and by that I mean I publish posts and comments from a very wide spectrum of political and religious opinion.  Some of the material on my page is not politically correct (PC): indeed many of my opinions would not be regarded as PC by the PC brigade - an intolerant bunch masquerading as liberals.   But then I have always believed in calling a spade a spade - or is that non-PC and should I write shovel?

Racism, as was to be found in South Africa and the United States of America where people were (in the USA in some aspects still are) discriminated against solely on the colour of  their skin, has no place in a modern 21st century society and is to be fought against. Nor has discrimination based on class, faith beliefs or nationality.   In this regard I may be regarded by some as a weepy liberal, but for me the starting position is 'treat others as you would wish to be treated' and that I think is not far from the position taken by the vast majority of citizens in the UK.  We have a reputation for tolerance and calm under the severest provocation. Thousands died in the Second World War in defence of tolerant civilised society. The state in our country has not gone around murdering millions of its citizens or subjected peoples as happened with the USSR and Germany.

I do worry when I read reports in the press of the police being reluctant to act because they will be accused of racism.  The law should be applied without fear or favour, but unfortunately (to put it mildly) accusations of racism are hurled around and police action is tempered. If anything is likely to make racial tension worse it is a perception  that some in our society gain preferential treatment by playing the race card. 

However, we must not suppose that racism is not a problem in this country.  The issue is how to tackle it in a way which does not increase antagonism.  In order to do this we have to analyse the issues which raise tensions.  Racial tension is the symptom of underlying problems which have nothing to do with ethnicity, nationality or religious beliefs.  Until we tackle these issues the symptoms will persist.

The issues, in random order, include housing, employment, welfare benefits, over-stretched public services, multi-culturalism (in its widest sense) and immigration. Sadly debate on these issues is stifled often by playing the race card.  Until recently, it was almost impossible to discuss immigration without the epithet 'racist' being thrown round to stop debate. 

We need to debate these issues in a rational way, but it must not be used to threaten any individuals who have UK citizenship and settled expectations of a quiet life.  Until we have that debate the forces of intolerance will continue to flourish and spread their evil.