An oath on British Values?

My GC have visited the Sikh temple, a mosque and a synagogue with Beavers and Cubs. They've also visited the Mad Museum, the bowling alley, the Guide Dog Centre, been carol singing, camping, night walks in the woods (one lot got lost!) been kayaking, sailing, up climbing walls, down a cave ...I could go on forever.

So this visit is just part of the rich fabric of life, nothing to get worked up about AND an experience which is offered by more than just schools, proving that other organisations see the benefit too.

Oops - wrong thread

@Penstemmon

I hope you can see the point I was actually making, which is that somebody commented on the decline of Christianity in the UK and I pointed out that many immigrants are actually boosting the numbers of various Christian churches.

In the case of my friends (and I do think of them as friends) they're all British-born. They're not Nigerian or African or anything else. They're British. I think we need to get used to the fact that the British have all sorts of different skin colours and facial features. However much they adopt 'British' culture over the generations, they can't change their physical appearance, so I don't think calling them 'black' is an insult.

I don't know what kind of culture the children will adopt, but at the moment, their food is based on traditional Nigerian food (apart from pizzas, burgers, fish and chips, etc ). The mother works as an accountant in the City and wears a smart suit for work and usually wears jeans when not at work, etc, but she wears traditional Nigerian clothes for celebrations and weddings, etc. I've seen the photos and she looks stunning. The girls have their hair braided. The parents are very strict about bringing up their children, as many Nigerian parents are, and they're obsessed with education. They also follow a very strict form of Christianity, which I understand is common in Nigeria.

Despite all the above, they're British and I think would be insulted at being called Nigerian. Britain is made up of all sorts of different people with different cultures. There is no one form of British culture (or DNA), which is why I find this whole British values thing confused.

@ Jalima

I wouldn't necessarily think Diane Abbott is correct.

I think the technical term is BAME (black, Asian, minority ethnic). Personally, I'd rather be called black than bame.

Just to make it clear, I have no problem with black people being called 'black'. To call a group of black people 'the blacks' is what I was tallking about, and still find odd.

Fair enough!

I apologised for causing offence.

Puzzlement rather than offence, daphnedill, as I wouldn't have thought it was something you would say. But I suppose people in different areas of the UK express themselves differently.

That could be because you are not black Daphne

I would just like to be called British, but have my heritage acknowledged and respected.

Totally off topic (well, not really)...

My daughter is in Patagonia (Argentina) and has just been to a place called Y Wladfa.

www.bbc.co.uk/news/magazine-29611380

My daughter had a cuppa in a Welsh tea house, but had to speak Spanish, because she can't speak Welsh.

I think that's what all of us would like, whatever colour our skin may be. (re post of 13.21)

I suspect the government hasn't the first clue what British values represent. They'd probably burble about rule of law and Christian values. But really it would be all nonsense.

Are you saying that "lapping up" elements of other cultures isn't a good thing then, *MargaretX"? I for one am proud that we are not a mono-culture and that we have been embracing aspects "belonging" to other cultures for as long as I can remember. These cultures are part and parcel of the UK.

The OP is about immigrants, not refugees. ONS figures show that in 2015 more than one in eight of the UK resident population was born abroad. Add to that the number of people from ethnic minority backgrounds, and it's easy to see why we are so multicultural.

I don't know many people who mock the NHS either. It has its problems, but I for one think it's something we have cause to be very proud of.

I wouldn't necessarily think Diane Abbott is correct.
I've heard her use it twice now dd, the first time I thought 'oops, did I really hear that?', then I thought I must be out of date with today's terminology.
The first time was on the Andrew Neil programme some time ago.

They'd probably burble about rule of law and Christian values.
Well, don't think they would and I think any mention of God(s) would be optional.

Respecting laws, democracy and other people's beliefs ?

daphnedill a word of warning if you are talking about your Nigerian friends on here; I mentioned some our friends on another thread a while ago (Ugandan Asians, Indians) and was told off for talking about them and told it was a sign that I was a racist by another poster, can't remember who, not a usual poster!
ps their children were born here but they weren't

I just called them our friends and neighbours but I still got into trouble.


You may be OK though

ps daphnedill
you can talk about them all you like as far as I'm concerned, really interesting!

BAME

Thanks for the tip, Jalima. (Whispers - they're not Nigerian - they're British.)

Better hadn't mention that there were approximately 30 Hindus in the 2011 census in this electoral ward and I think I possibly know all of them. The ones I know all originally came from Kenya as children - I guess that would make me a real racist.

can someone explain what BRITISH VALUES are please,lifestyles and attitudes are very dfferent where I live in Scotland and where my south of England born son in law comes from.So which one is the british values they'll need to learn?

Thanks for your reply Daphnedil and I do actually agree with most, of your 'mini essay' actually,especially that some people are most certainly racist through and through.And also that an oath is unlikely to change much,and is a token gesture. But I'm still glad the Casey report has highlighted how some towns /areas feel immigration has impacted on their communities.Interestingly my daughter has had a leaflet posted through today entitled 'challenging extremism' but haven't had a chance to actually see it yet.
Your comment on the elderly lady resonates as I remember how my grandma in the early 60s found her neighbourhood changing rapidly before her eyes as families from Pakistan moved in all around here,her local shops changed ownership and a trip to the local market became an unfamiliar experience.I recall she wasn't the most outward looking and outgoing person anyway,and even as a child I didn't like to hear her grumbling.If anything I was quietly ashamed of her intolerance,but she would never have abused anyone,done anything spiteful.She just withdrew even more into her own house, her own world and apart from a weekly trip to town and to see her sister became a bit of a hermit.As I grew up I looked to my mum and her tolerant, inclusive attitude to people and took my lead from her.
I can't agree about the EU funding in the long term,and think that after 40 + years lots of communities still don't see it as shooting themselves in the foot .I agree funding cuts to schools are the biggest problem,but a relatively sudden influx of immigrants speaking multiple languages only execerbates difficulties,and its only inevitable can cause some local resentment.But currently nursing a very sore hand after an injury today I'm signing off for a while and taking some painkillers and time out.Just didn't want to ignore your response.ps .original question way back in August but I do appreciate your answer now.

If the government wants all immigrants to abide by British values and be integrated into British society, isn't the best place to start in the schools?
So why is there so much emphasis on faith schools, free schools, grammar and public schools?
Integration should start from the top, and be by example.

(Whispers - they're not Nigerian - they're British.)

I was quite shocked when I was told!!

Don't fall on the floor durhamjen but I agree with you

You have agreed with me before, Jalima, but thanks anyway.
I nearly choked on my glass of wine when I saw that, though.