Could He Possibly Be Classed As A Racist?

[anotheoldgit]

/// Speaking in a loud voice, - "HE" - gave a short speech, which was greeted with enthusiastic applause. ///

/// He was addressing a meeting in the community centre of Page Hall, a shabby grid of terrace streets in Sheffield, and giving voice to what many in the audience had long thought - but dared not say. ///

/// ‘We want to claim our streets back.///

A speech from the BNP or the EDL perhaps?

No instead of the word "HE" I purposely left out the following description of the speaker, which was as follows:

/// a bearded man in traditional Pakistani garb ///

Could he possibly be classed as a racist?

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2508120/Fear-loathing-prejudice-Blunketts-yard-A-deeply-disturbing-dispatch-ex-Labour-Home-Secretary-warns-race-riots-Roma-influx-Sheffield.html

[ummmm]

It's about anti-social behavior. I'm sure the complaints would be the same regardless of colour, race or religion.

[jim360]

Of course he can be classed as racist. Though I don't think that he should be. Who is making that claim, anyway?

[FredPuli43]

He is complaining about the standards of behaviour of a group who happen to be Roma. He'd have similar complaints if some council put a whole lot of families from 'sink estates' as his neighbours

[Canary42]

More like a Xenophobe, there's lots of them about.

[anotheoldgit]

Child abductions, knife and gun attacks, Poppy burning, and the gathering of large groups etc. Surely these type of things could also be classed as "anti-social behaviour"?

Marvellous how these 'racist' accusations only work one way.

[FredPuli43]

"It is difficult to distinguish truth from prejudice" [from the link] Don't you agree, AOG ?

Which of the acts you describe above are mentioned in the link? Or are we to take any that aren't as "judicially noted", facts so universally accepted as true, like gravity , or the date of Christmas Day, that they require no separate proof?

[FredPuli43]

And telling the truth isn't racist. If it is true that all Jews are dishonest, or all that all Roma do the things ascribed to them, then saying so isn't racist. It is racist to tar all people with the same brush (and I choose my metaphor carefully).

[anotheoldgit]

FredPuli43

/// He is complaining about the standards of behaviour of a group who happen to be Roma. He'd have similar complaints if some council put a whole lot of families from 'sink estates' as his neighbours ///

So you think that is quite acceptable do you? here we have a Muslim who does not like the behaviour of a particular group of people in this case Roma, and it would also be quite acceptable for him to complain if the council put a whole lot of families from 'sink estates' as his neighbours, according to you.

Well can I now turn this on it's head and ask you, would you also think it was equally acceptable for a white person to say he did not like the behaviour of a group of Muslims or Blacks, and it was also quite acceptable behaviour for that person to complain if the council were to move in groups of these same people in as his neighbours?

[ummmm]

Of course it's okay to complain about groups of people acting in an anti-social manner, regardless where they come from.

[pixie373]

Yes, i think he has tarred them all with the same brush. He is talking about Roma as a race, not about individual trouble-makers. If i made a speech like that (although i wouldn't generalise like that), it would be clearly racist. His mindset is no better.

[anotheoldgit]

FredPuli43

/// And telling the truth isn't racist. If it is true that all Jews are dishonest, or all that all Roma do the things ascribed to them, ///

I don't know about choosing your metaphor carefully, but you were certainly careful to choose your two groups of people careful.

[sandyRoe]

They'll soon blend in. They're only here and already they've adopted the chav style of dress.

[pixie373]

Ummm, it is ok to complain about groups of trouble-makers, but when you classify them by race, it implies it's all of them, or because of their race. It's no more acceptable than complaining about any other racial group.

[FredPuli43]

Yes, AOG, is my answer to the questions in your second and third paragraphs. Where do you get these strange suppositions from? I would certainly complain if any group of people, whoever they were, were behaving badly. Wouldn't you?

[FredPuli43]

AOG, how was I certainly careful in choosing my two groups of people carefully ? I chose the very people who were being complained about and Jews. Who would you wish me to choose to avoid being called 'careful' in my choice for comparison?

[trt]

In the photos its hard to tell, which ones are the Roma's and which ones are British?

[anotheoldgit]

Strange that there have been no posts telling us how these immigrants bring only good to this country, look where the NHS would be without them is generally banded about.

Should we ignore the EU and close our borders to these people, should we send the 'Go home' van to this area?

Perhaps some of the Pro-Immigration ABers can come up with some answers?

[sandyRoe]

They've come to a land of hope. The grandchildren of these economic migrants, now that they have opportunity, may well be powerful figures in the world of finance, law, and medicine.