A few years ago the BBC had one of those "We'd better redress the balance a little bit" moments. This happens when for example its been hammering the pro-migrant 'aren't we all getting on great' line for too long e.g. pictures of 'Syrian' babies leading every migration story for the previous months, and its worried that even the more obtuse of the public are seeing the agenda.
Normally, this 'balance' moment is a small non story based upon Orkney fisher folk or Cornish shrimpers (where there aren't any migrants anyway), but this time, it was entitled 'Poor white boys get 'a worse start in life' says equality report' .... wow controversial stuff. The reporter Declan Harvey may not have been reading those memo's from editorial and human resources and had reported on an unusual Equality and Human Rights Commission (EHRC) report.
Anyway, it was full of interesting stuff, but to start with 'poor' is defined as any child on 'free school meals'. But the fact-let that I found most enlightening was this .... 'Although the tables make it look like poorer Chinese students are doing very well and keeping up with their wealthier Chinese friends, that may not be the case. The number of Chinese pupils who qualify for free meals is only 168.'
Amazing. There are approximately 400,000 Chinese legally living in the UK, but only 168 claim free school meals .... just 168 families.
Now consider this. Of all the ethnic groups that we could have invited in to work here in the 1960's and 1970's, we chose firstly the West Indians, and then the South Asians. The social results of these choices on the country generally have been at best, patchy, and at worst disastrous (I am happy to argue this with anyone) .....
However should we have chosen Hong Kong on which to open the labour doors .... well, I am willing to argue that we would be a far happier and more integrated society.
They don't have religious or cultural issues with Western societies e.g. In Britain, 52% of Chinese reported no religious affiliation, 25.1% Christian, 15.1% Buddhist ... not too different to the mainstream.They work hard, pay their taxes, commit few crimes, treasure education, and they have ties with China. Win, Win, Win and Win.
And a bonus, Not a jihadi or child abuser in sight ..... a real 'What If' thought.
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| Its Unusual To Pick White Boys As Victims. |
Normally, this 'balance' moment is a small non story based upon Orkney fisher folk or Cornish shrimpers (where there aren't any migrants anyway), but this time, it was entitled 'Poor white boys get 'a worse start in life' says equality report' .... wow controversial stuff. The reporter Declan Harvey may not have been reading those memo's from editorial and human resources and had reported on an unusual Equality and Human Rights Commission (EHRC) report.
Anyway, it was full of interesting stuff, but to start with 'poor' is defined as any child on 'free school meals'. But the fact-let that I found most enlightening was this .... 'Although the tables make it look like poorer Chinese students are doing very well and keeping up with their wealthier Chinese friends, that may not be the case. The number of Chinese pupils who qualify for free meals is only 168.'
Amazing. There are approximately 400,000 Chinese legally living in the UK, but only 168 claim free school meals .... just 168 families.
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| Hong Kong Workers Are Westernised And Highly Educated |
Now consider this. Of all the ethnic groups that we could have invited in to work here in the 1960's and 1970's, we chose firstly the West Indians, and then the South Asians. The social results of these choices on the country generally have been at best, patchy, and at worst disastrous (I am happy to argue this with anyone) .....
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| A Bad Choice Of Immigrants? |
However should we have chosen Hong Kong on which to open the labour doors .... well, I am willing to argue that we would be a far happier and more integrated society.
They don't have religious or cultural issues with Western societies e.g. In Britain, 52% of Chinese reported no religious affiliation, 25.1% Christian, 15.1% Buddhist ... not too different to the mainstream.They work hard, pay their taxes, commit few crimes, treasure education, and they have ties with China. Win, Win, Win and Win.
And a bonus, Not a jihadi or child abuser in sight ..... a real 'What If' thought.
Dangerous post in the current climate. The Labour Party has a very pro Muslim stance these days.
ReplyDeleteI say it as I see it.
DeleteWhat if .. histories have a long and honourable lineage in writing from Livy's Ab Urbe Condita Libri (book IX, sections 17–19). Livy debated an alternative history for the 4th century BC, in which Alexander the Great had expanded his empire Westward instead of Eastward and clashed with early Roman state; He thought the Romans would have beaten him (but he would think that, wouldn't he?).