The recent British National Party leak of names is an interesting topic of discussion which I have had in class and at home with my family.
Views on this incident do vary although I have found it particularly interesting to discuss with my Black and Asian friends. The BNP I believe is the biggest threat to ethnic groups in Britain at the moment.
They have been tactical enough to be given the title of a political party yet their views are enough to scare myself, a white Welsh girl.
I really feel for my friends who have to listen to what the BNP have to say, especially during our visit a few weeks ago to the London Assembly.
No time for the BNP
Boris Johnson certainly won me over when I saw his reaction to BNP's Richard Barnbrook.
Boris subtly but obviously enough for us in the gallery to see, started flicking his pen and turning his head completely away from him.
A sign that he does not value the view of anyone ignorant enough to be a BNP leader.
In regards to the leak, I was secretly pleased that this took place.
I could think of nothing worse than if I were to send my children to a school where their teacher was a member of the BNP.
Yes it is a political party and each individual should have the right to privacy in regards to who they vote for. But for me, the BNP should not have the right to be a political party.
If these people were living in 1960's United States, they would be wearing the robes of the Ku Klux Klan. The British National Party is only a more sophisticated title than the KKK.
Free speech to what extent
From reading my past blogs, you will probably come to realise that human rights and civil liberties are what I believe each individual equally deserves.
When you become a member of the Green Party, you fight for social and environmental justice.
When you join the Labour Party, you fight for the rights of all social classes.
But when you join the British National Party, you fight for the right of white British people and against the rights of ethnic minorities.
There is a difference between being pro-British and being racist.
As my grandad wisely says, the Saxons only immigrated here in the 6th Century. Who are they to judge those who are now coming here for refuge.
Showing posts with label Welsh girl in london. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Welsh girl in london. Show all posts
Monday, 1 December 2008
Tuesday, 30 September 2008
9/11 video
Moving on to a completely different topic, we were given an exercise in class this morning. A video was shown of the 9/11 terrorist attack on the twin towers. We were told to type what we were thinking whilst watching.
It hit me that it was seven years ago from now that I was sitting in my history class when the news hit the UK. Knowing what we know now, watching the footage over is a strange feeling.
A plane hits the building and heavy smoke fills the air. The tower begins to collapse and people look down from windows wondering what they can do. Streets are filled with people screaming and running for their lives as the smoke gets closer and closer.
It is clear that nobody knows what is happening or what will happen next.
It hit me that it was seven years ago from now that I was sitting in my history class when the news hit the UK. Knowing what we know now, watching the footage over is a strange feeling.
A plane hits the building and heavy smoke fills the air. The tower begins to collapse and people look down from windows wondering what they can do. Streets are filled with people screaming and running for their lives as the smoke gets closer and closer.
It is clear that nobody knows what is happening or what will happen next.
My first blog
Not only is this my first blog, this is my first week living in the 'big city' of London. For a just-turned twenty one year old from the South Wales valleys, it can be a hugely daunting experience.
Moving to a city where I have yet to meet another person from my side of the world has been both new and exciting but I have great sympathy for those who have traveled from afar and have no opportunity to use their home language.
Although Welsh is certainly a minority language, there is no doubt that over the last few years there has been a rapid growth in it's use.
With the opening of the Welsh assembly, people have come to accept that it is actually used widely within communities across the country and that bilingual signs should exist in public places.
I am always reminded of my grandparents' experience when they were children, when people became almost embarrassed to use their own language.
A recent BBC Trust report revealed that Wales, behind Scotland and Northern Ireland, is extremely under-represented in the news.
I would love to think that I could contribute to giving Wales a fair place within the British media, starting with giving light to the sudden growth of a language that has almost been forgotten for the last few decades.
London (above)
Home (below)
Moving to a city where I have yet to meet another person from my side of the world has been both new and exciting but I have great sympathy for those who have traveled from afar and have no opportunity to use their home language.
Although Welsh is certainly a minority language, there is no doubt that over the last few years there has been a rapid growth in it's use.
With the opening of the Welsh assembly, people have come to accept that it is actually used widely within communities across the country and that bilingual signs should exist in public places.
I am always reminded of my grandparents' experience when they were children, when people became almost embarrassed to use their own language.
A recent BBC Trust report revealed that Wales, behind Scotland and Northern Ireland, is extremely under-represented in the news.
I would love to think that I could contribute to giving Wales a fair place within the British media, starting with giving light to the sudden growth of a language that has almost been forgotten for the last few decades.
London (above)
Home (below)
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)