Fitting the battle of life

Ubuntu brainstorm mentioned (in passing, I must admit) in the Guardian Technology section, in the first paragraph of this article, which describes Starbucks’ new website along the same lines as Brainstorm and Dell’s IdeaStorm.

It always makes me smile when Ubuntu gets mentioned in the news, even if it’s a tiny little aside as in this case. It just helps get the name out, I suppose.

I just finished reading this story from the Guardian (sorry, it’s just my paper of choice) that has made me slightly angry. They concern remarks made in a leaked e-mail from a Tory mayor:

I am aware Islamic organisations are keen to promote a view that they are peaceful, forward-thinking individuals who wish to integrate into the British way of life.
The policy of clothing the feminine population of Dewsbury in black sack-like clothing from head to toe, the occasional trip out to cause mayhem with explosives and the proposal that all those of homosexual persuasion should be killed by shooting or other means is adequate and practical testimony to the level of progress being made in this direction.

These inflammatory remarks do nothing to help solve some of the problems we have in this country. As much as there is a very small (very small, if I might repeat myself) minority of people in this country who are willing to engage in acts of terrorism, I personally feel that they are not as dangerous as the kind of people who will equate that tiny minority with an entire religious or ethnic group to which they (claim to) belong.

Furthermore, where is the equal outrage from people like this man against all homophobia, for instance? I can’t for a minute believe he truly would like to eradicate homophobia; it is being used as a poor excuse (because again, that is the view of a minority) to make disparaging and damaging remarks against a particular religious group.

I also love how ‘the British way of life’ is trotted out as something that must be defended against all change forever, as if this nation should be stuck in a timewarp, repelling all immigrants and outsiders. There is no ‘British way of life; just look at London. The people and behaviour you might associate with (for instance) white English people living in Camden and Islington is very different, and these are two boroughs right next to each other. Extend the idea to all non-white British inhabitants of these two places and already the ‘British way of life’ is a hodgepodge, smorgasbord, veritable rainbow of customs and cultures. The ‘British way of life’, to me, is about accepting and integrating different cultures by preserving them, not by destroying them and imposing homogeneity.

Mayor Robert Bennett said:

I apologise for any remarks I have made which may have caused offence. I sincerely hope my comments will not undermine the important job of work that has to be done in building greater community cohesion throughout West Yorkshire.

He has rejected calls for him to resign; he is evidently wrong to have done so. I don’t think he can retain any credulity after such remarks, especially as a servant of the public. When he attacks part of that public, even if he later retracts those comments, the damage has been done.