[Nettime-bold] Loyalty pledge to Britain urged for all cultures

["ben moretti" <bmoretti@chariot.net.au>]

http://www.guardian.co.uk/racism/Story/0,2763,617395,00.html

Loyalty pledge to Britain urged for all cultures 

Alan Travis, home affairs editor
Wednesday December 12, 2001
The Guardian 

A new agreed concept of citizenship, including a formal statement of allegiance,
is needed to help bridge the polarisation between the white and non-white communities
that exists in Britain's towns and cities, says the official Home Office inquiry
report into this summer's northern city riots. 

The report of the inquiry into the riots in Oldham, Burnley and Bradford, chaired
by Ted Cantle, Nottingham's former chief executive, also proposes that church
and other faith schools should offer at least 25% of their places to pupils
of other faiths and all schools should avoid more than 75% of their pupils from
one culture or ethnic group. 

The Cantle report makes clear that the root cause of the summer riots lies in
a segregation in Britain's towns and cities which is so deep that "many communities
operate on the basis of a series of parallel lives". Extremist groups, including
the British National Party, exploit the fear and ignorance generated by this
gulf to undermine community harmony and foster divisions. 

It says the failure to communicate between communities is compounded by the
lack of an honest debate as people in all communities "tiptoe around" the sensitive
issues of race, religion and culture. But the report also stresses that the
majority white community must make as much of an effort as minority ethnic groups
in improving their understanding of other sections of society. 

The report criticises weak leadership from political and community figures who
suffer from "back home politics", calls for quicker police action to stamp out
potentially inflammatory marches and assemblies, and condemns "postcode" discrimination
by private employers; it also highlights the need to "bust myths" about the
distribution of government grants among white and non-white communities. 

But Cantle's most startling recommendation is his support for the introduction
of a statement of allegiance, similar to that used by Canada for new citizens,
which would establish a "clear primary loyalty to Britain". He calls for a debate
over what common elements now make up British "nationhood". 

"This might revolve around key issues such as language and law. For example,
a more visible support for anti-discrimination measures, support for women's
rights, a universal acceptance of the English language (particularly important
in some areas) and respect for both religious differences and secular views."


The use of English, which is already a pre-condition of citizenship, should
become more rigorously pursued with appropriate support, it adds. 

"A meaningful concept of 'citizenship' needs establishing - and championing
- which recognises the contribution of all cultures to this nation's development
throughout its history, but establishes a clear loyalty to this nation. This
is, after all, the responsibility of citizenship and a clearer statement of
allegiance, perhaps along the lines of the Canadian model should be considered."


The Cantle report is critical of the failure of all political parties to ensure
full representation of all minority groups. 

But perhaps its strongest recommendations are in the field of education, where
the review team found monocultural and single faith schools where the intake
was almost 100% from one ethnic background. 

It says that all schools should be under a statutory duty to promote respect
for the cultures in the school and neighbouring areas, including twinning arrangements
to compensate for the lack of contact with other cultures. 

The report of the group of ministers, chaired by the Home Office minister John
Denham, and published at the same time as the Cantle report yesterday, made
clear that developing policies with the specific aim of community cohesion is
to become an explicit objective of government when it comes to decisions over
schools, housing and neighbourhood renewal. 

The report echoes much of the analysis of the Cantle report, describing different
communities having retreated into segregated "comfort zones" partly out of fear
of racist attacks and a lack of choice about housing, jobs and schools. 

The Denham report also stresses the importance of government taking the necessary
measures to prevent disorder arising from the activities of far-right organisations.
Mr Denham said in some cases that the ability for the police to respond to rumours
of activity by extremist organisations was as important in preventing disorder
as stamping down on actual racist activity. 

Main points
· Segregation has left many communities operating on the basis of parallel lives


· National debate needed on new concept of citizenship, including oath of allegiance


· Faith schools and mono-cultural schools should have no more than 75% of pupils
from single group 

· All towns and cities to develop community cohesion strategies including "myth
busting role" 

· Regeneration funding should not assume ethnic minority group needs are greater
than others 


-- 
ben moretti 
mailto:bmoretti@chariot.net.au
http://www.chariot.net.au/~bmoretti

news and events in adelaide: 
http://www.active.org.au/adelaide

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