Just settled down to watch Countryfile, a nice uncontroversial nature program.And we have a segment about racism in the countryside.
What a load of b*llocks.
We are one of the most racially tolerant countries in the world.
What is going on,and no before you ask I don't read the daily Mail,vote BNP etc :BangHead:
Just off to take a chill pill. :BangHead:
I read the Daily Mail, so how does that make me different to you?
I never watch Contryfile, I've found it to be sensationalist doom-mongering, and there's usually a piece about the ill-treatment of animals and that's not something I care to watch.
As for the claim of racism in the countryside, can you say more specifically what was said.
My own limited experience is that racism is still to be found in the rural areas of Berkshire and Wiltshire, though whether that's any different to the situation in non-country areas I really couldn't say. But I'm ethnically English so I'm not the best judge, you really need to ask someone who's not enthnically English whether they experience racism, and whether it's worse in the towns or in the country.
I did not see it as being about racism, more about how to encourage people from non white background in to the countryside.
There have been similar programmes on Radio 4 like Ramblings.
I was interested in the Maize farmer who was accused of stealing his own crop. The white maize was still plump and healthy depite the plants being dry and shrivelled, unlike sweetcorn which soon gets past it.
I doubt racism is any different where ever in country you are. Unfortunately it is part of human nature to differentiate those that are 'different' from ourselves.. and those who choose to be that way, they come from all walks of life.
I didn't see last countrylife..yet..but agree that it is topic that propably could have been left out from the program...it is not actually 'countryside related issue' only.
I agree with pumpkinlover, it was about the lack of non-whites in the countryside, and encouraging more, they went out of their way to point out that odd looks ect where not racism.
The white maize would have been fully dried, as it is ground into flour before being used.
White Maize?!...grinding it to flour?!... :blob7:
That got my 'viewing radar' interested..I must check that in Iplayer. My success with Painted Mountain corn this year and making some tasty food from the flour/meal had turn me into Maize mad now.. :icon_cheers:..move over tomato mania.. :toothy10:
I'd never seen Countryfile, but I've just watched the relevant bits on iPlayer. Oh, what white middle class angst! The lovely birdies! The cute seals! The poor put-upon ethnic minorities!
I live in a very culturally diverse place. The recent census revealed that 45% of people in Harrow were born abroad. Add in second and subsequent generations, and the percentage of white Britons falls below 31%. The great majority are of Indian heritage. Yet looking at our allotment site, what proportion are non-white British? Well, we've got 3 Irish, 1 Spanish, and 1 Afro-Caribbean out of around 40 plots. We had a Sri Lankan couple but they gave up.
Our friends and neighbours love our allotment produce, but react with horror at the thought of growing stuff themselves. We get a similar reaction when we go camping, or cycling, or motorcycling. There's a whole bunch of stuff that we enjoy that they simply wouldn't do. And when you talk to them, you're told, "that's not our culture".
So there is a racial element to it, but not in the way that the (all white) Countryfile presenters tried to make out. It's not at all that white Britons want to exclude racial minorities (or even in our case racial majorities) but rather that grubbing about in the countryside or riding a bicycle are seen as things that poor peasants do, not things that ambitious immigrants aspire to.
It will of course change, but it will take several generations.
The issue of differences of ethic interests also goes the other way. A lot of gardens in towns are being concreted over.
In both Egypt and Turkey walking is seen as a low class activity. So walking for pleasure and exercise particularly for females is not something people want to be seen to do. Even if the lack of exercise is killing them.