Posted on 10/14/2006 2:05:34 AM PDT by MadIvan
Anyone expecting Jack Straw to be cowed on his first return to Blackburn since the row over veils embroiled him a week earlier would have been disappointed yesterday.
He began the day by engaging in the sort of shuttle diplomacy that was his stock in trade until he left the Foreign Office to become Leader of the Commons. Except that for New York, Baghdad and Teheran read the Asian-dominated suburbs of Brookhouse and Little Harwood.
Later, in the town hall, he held court, making clear that he took back not a single word of his remarks and going on to develop his theme that the Muslim veil was a symbol of separation in Britain's ever-dividing racial mix.
He left to applause from shoppers in the main square and only peremptory barracking from anti-war protesters.
Mr Straw insisted that he raised the issue of Muslim women covering their faces purely out of "respect for Islam and affection for the Muslim community".
He went on: "The huge interest in what I said shows there is real anxiety about the retreat into parallel communities in some areas.
"I have been very concerned about that for a long time. I am afraid the statistical evidence in areas like Blackburn shows there is a greater degree of separation between communities than there was and I don't believe that's healthy.
"You can't legislate for it. The only way you are going to change it is by open discussion. It's unhealthy, full stop. But it's particularly unhealthy for the group that happens to be a minority."
Mr Straw compared the situation in his constituency with that between local Protestants and Catholics half a century ago. "The barriers only started being broken down when members of the communities decided they wanted to find out about the people who were apparently different but turned out to be very similar.
"It's not an issue at all now but it was 50 years ago in town. It was a big issue."
Asked whether the integration of Asian communities was simply a matter of time, Mr Straw replied: "It should be, but if you see separate developments taking place which are moving things the other way then you have to say no, it's not.
"There are sufficient worrying signs for us all to be concerned and that's what comes out of this debate."
Mr Straw was attacked by some Muslims for suggesting that community relations could be helped if women did not wear full veils. They were angered that he asks women visitors to his constituency office to remove their veils so that he can see them fully "face-to-face".
Mr Straw said that wearing the full veil was bound to make "better, positive relations" between communities more difficult since it could be seen "as a visible statement of separation and difference".
Yesterday, he attributed part of the growing racial divide in the town to the collapse of the cotton industry. "The first generation, like any immigrant community, tended to be poorer, which is why they moved into the Irish area in Brookhouse. It was becoming more integrated in the Seventies, but then what happened?
"There was a collapse in the textile industry and other traditional industries in the early Eighties which hit the Asian population disproportionately hard. That had the effect of collapsing the economic base of the Asian community.
"They moved into poor terraced housing which was very cheap. It also meant the mosque became much more the focus of community life because it was all they had."
Later, Mr Straw faced a number of veiled women. Asma Patel, 20, said: "He should apologise to those he has hurt. I wear the veil whenever I am out, and I have every right to do so. It is my modesty. It is my religion."
Mrs Patel voted for Mr Straw in the past. But she warned that if he continued to "proclaim" his views he would lose both hers and many other Muslim votes.
"If he carries on there will be feuds in Blackburn. The Christians who get on well with us now will start to hate us."
Regards, Ivan
Ping!
LOL -- I was thinking the same thing as I read this.
Is Straw's district predominantly Muslim? I'm guessing it's not.
This outbreak of common sense from him is thus surprising, and he must be confident that the rest of his constituency is fed up.
Regards, Ivan
Interesting. How does that compare to Galloway's constituency?
Regards, Ivan
Has Galloway had anything to say about Straw's remarks?
Regards, Ivan
Probably the honor among thieves politicians rule.
Just as a matter of personal comfort, these Muslim women have got to be incredibily uncomfortable. On a lunch hour dash to the supermarket yesterday, there was a Muslim couple at a distant checkout counter -- she was a nearly obese woman with a long, drab heavy coat and head scarf, while he was dressed appropriately for 90-degree weather (still summer in Florida). I was uncomfortable just making the short trip out of air-conditioning in the noontime sun, and can only imagine the body heat generated by that woman's outfit, which seems to be the standard ugly get-up among those I've seen. Add a full veil to the costume and they've got to be candidates for heat stroke.
""If he carries on there will be feuds in Blackburn. The Christians who get on well with us now will start to hate us.""
START??????????
ping
I was ill yesterday and didn't see the Straw report 'til very late. I found it fascinating that some over there, including some more tolerant Muslim women themselves, were analyzing the "veil" situation as a "lack of fairness and civility" (my word choice) issue.
Pointing out that these people insist everyone do business with them and treat them properly when ALL is covered but their eyes. While at the same time they are able to look upon others and really SEE them. LOL A very perceptive point, but the more extreme Muslims don't care about anyone or anything but their religion coming out on top. That's their whole deal.
Reason and fairness mean something ONLY in a pluralistic, mutually tolerant society.
I think the writer meant "perfunctory." Picky, picky . . .Of course the writer refers to quisling ism as "antiwar." Everyone is antiwar . . . but not everyone finds it possible to accept peace with everyone else. And when that happens, quislings self righteously proclaim that only they are virtuous because they are "antiwar."
why back down...just wait a few years until the muzzies are in complete control....then he will just lose his head!!!
just more from the religion of peace & tolerence!!!
'Jack Straw doesn't choose TP without checking the polls.' Ivan, that is good to hear, gives me a teeny bit of hope. I am heartened indeed by leaders daring to speak the Truth. Better late than never.
Those get-ups have to be hot and uncomfortable. And I don't think for a minute that the WOMEN are fighting for them. The men run those marriages. For all we know, the Muslim women might secretly cheer if veils were outlawed.
Hmmmm, sounds like kerry.
Well, bloody hell, I'm astonished. I find myself admiring a Labour politician? Merciful heavens!
There has been a major shift in British public opinion regarding Muslims and their separation from mainstream British life. The idiot that barracked John Reid for 'daring to come to a Muslim area' has pushed the boundaries, I think.
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