The problem is, this is the sort of thing that Third world people see when they come here - getting behind the glossy images beamed at them to their home countries via Satellite TV. The simple fact that they are in Britain for whatever reason (College, work etc) might suggest that they are from influential families/positions in their own societies, and you do ask what impression they take home with them. Britain has become a much more aggressive country - certainly over the last 10 years - a lot of which is rooted in the 80s - and there are some pretty unpleasant characteristics about our society that have become quite mainstream these days. Sometimes I think the west needs to look at some aspects of its own, less than perfect, culture before telling others how to live.
20 minutes walk away from the oval office is one of the most poverty stricken and violent urban ghettos in the world, and London has plenty of - erm - 'Non touristy' places a short tube ride away from Downing street. When these people stay here they find out about all this - and the associated problems arising from it all - so what do they say to the people back home after they return? If they're well placed in their own societies their input amongst their people is going to be quite influential. Can we totally blame them for being wary of any western foriegn policy intentions as they see the - sometimes - quite serious iniquities and flaws inherrent in the societies behind all the MTV glamour and edited highlights of western life? Even our own commissioner for racial equality - Trevor Phillips - said yesterday that our ethnic minorities should "integrate with the mainstream", which sends worrying signals to those concerned that there is a push towards a sort of homogenisation, and looking at some of the excesses found in the dominant culture, what do you suppose they think we want to export to them? Have we also reached that point where the whole "me" generation way has become somehow unsustainable, and it's now running up against things in the world that simply won't be entertained by it?
20 minutes walk away from the oval office is one of the most poverty stricken and violent urban ghettos in the world, and London has plenty of - erm - 'Non touristy' places a short tube ride away from Downing street. When these people stay here they find out about all this - and the associated problems arising from it all - so what do they say to the people back home after they return? If they're well placed in their own societies their input amongst their people is going to be quite influential. Can we totally blame them for being wary of any western foriegn policy intentions as they see the - sometimes - quite serious iniquities and flaws inherrent in the societies behind all the MTV glamour and edited highlights of western life? Even our own commissioner for racial equality - Trevor Phillips - said yesterday that our ethnic minorities should "integrate with the mainstream", which sends worrying signals to those concerned that there is a push towards a sort of homogenisation, and looking at some of the excesses found in the dominant culture, what do you suppose they think we want to export to them? Have we also reached that point where the whole "me" generation way has become somehow unsustainable, and it's now running up against things in the world that simply won't be entertained by it?
