David Lammy on LBC

I agree with you Chestnut and it's been visible elsewhere on GN recently and is rather unpleasant.

I consider myself Scottish/Caribbean. I was born in Scotland but my heart and family is evenly divided between both. I do not recognise ethnicity as it is a totally artificial construct.
On the first occasion I entered the USA I put “human” in the box asking my race. The Afro American who checked my entry document gave me a big smile when he got to that part.

I had been alerted to the magnificent handling by David Lammay of that awful racist woman by Nicola Sturgeon who had a one word comment - Bravo.

I hope those who recognised her voice have by now let her know how appallingly racist she came across as being.

Chestnut

^In what way did Gagajo suggest you're racist? You appear to be jumping to conclusions.^
I didn't say that. But it seems to be implied that anyone who 'dares to have a contrary view about this issue' might be. I have sympathy for all the grans who might have a different viewpoint, and would like to participate, but daren't. There's lots of finger wagging going on here, and a lack of understanding for anyone who is proud of their heritage (whatever it might be). It is not your right to criticise people who feel proud of their heritage.

I'm afraid I think you're imagining criticism when it doesn't exist.

Your understanding of words such as genes and ethnicity would appear to be inaccurate, but that doesn't imply racism.

You're putting two and two together and making five or six or ...

Smileless2012

I'm not personally, but you often hear people say if they age well for example that they have good genes, and I honestly don't see why some seem to have a problem with anyone who is.

But that's just a saying and not the correct scientific use of the word gene. It's often not correct anyway.

In what way did Gagajo suggest you're racist? You appear to be jumping to conclusions.
I didn't say that. But it seems to be implied that anyone who 'dares to have a contrary view about this issue' might be. I have sympathy for all the grans who might have a different viewpoint, and would like to participate, but daren't. There's lots of finger wagging going on here, and a lack of understanding for anyone who is proud of their heritage (whatever it might be). It is not your right to criticise people who feel proud of their heritage.

I'm not personally, but you often hear people say if they age well for example that they have good genes, and I honestly don't see why some seem to have a problem with anyone who is.

I expect David Lammy celebrates the same as Alegrias. He belongs to the country just as much as anybody who is born in the UK and has lived and worked here all his life.

Chestnut

^But there's no such thing as ethnicity.^
So why do they use the term 'ethnic minorities' ?

Because "they" couldn't think of anything better to describe groups of people with similar DNA?

Cross post Alegrias

Smileless2012

I don't know why it matters TBH if someone is proud of their genes it's up to them surely.

But how can they be proud of genes? Genes are scientific units containing DNA. Would you be proud of your kidneys or your blood group? It would be just as relevant.

I admit I'm going a bit off course here but why would you be proud of your genes? My genes made me small and rather rotund. I just have to live with it.

I don't know why it matters TBH if someone is proud of their genes it's up to them surely.

But there's no such thing as ethnicity.
So why do they use the term 'ethnic minorities' ?

I am not proud of my genes. What a strange idea. I'm not proud of my veins either. Or anything else that makes me who I am biologically. They are just there.

I celebrate my heritage. I am happy to belong to a nation that over the years/centuries has developed a perspective on the world that tries to value fairness and openness. I love to think of my ancestors walking in from Doggerland and of the changes they have seen in the land since then. (I had my DNA done.)

I think its the definition of "pride" that I find problematic. I can't be proud of something that I myself had no hand in.

Genes are just a clump of DNA determined by your parents. I don't understand how you can feel proud of what you've inherited from your parents. You had absolutely no choice in the matter.

Smileless2012

That was in answer to your question growstuff BTW.

Thank you. I scrolled back and worked it out from the sequence of posts.

Chestnut

GagaJo

To be fair, Chestnut is not the only person on this site that believes this. She's just the only one that so far has dared to have a contrary viewpoint about this issue.

I could easily name others (I won't, I'd get banned) on here that would agree with her.

I can't believe you're denying people their heritage and finger wagging at anyone who suggests people have different genetic identity! You also seem to be implying racism if anyone disagrees with you, which is absolute nonsense. As you pointed out we are all a mixture, but I believe everyone has the right to feel proud of their genes and their ethnic ancestry, whatever mixture that is. If they want to celebrate their heritage then who are you to judge?

How can you feel proud of genes? Genes are scientific bodies. That really is like saying that you're proud of being tall or having brown hair.

That was in answer to your question growstuff BTW.

Chestnut

GagaJo

To be fair, Chestnut is not the only person on this site that believes this. She's just the only one that so far has dared to have a contrary viewpoint about this issue.

I could easily name others (I won't, I'd get banned) on here that would agree with her.

I can't believe you're denying people their heritage and finger wagging at anyone who suggests people have different genetic identity! You also seem to be implying racism if anyone disagrees with you, which is absolute nonsense. As you pointed out we are all a mixture, but I believe everyone has the right to feel proud of their genes and their ethnic ancestry, whatever mixture that is. If they want to celebrate their heritage then who are you to judge?

In what way did Gagajo suggest you're racist? You appear to be jumping to conclusions.

No.

Chestnut

GagaJo

That makes sense WWM. I am English but am not specifically proud of it, due to our colonial past. I certainly have zero pride about my skin colour. That would be like being proud that I have arms and legs. Daft.

That is your choice. There are people from all ethnicities in the world who are proud of who they are. They don't need you finger wagging at them or making them feel they are in the wrong.

But there's no such thing as ethnicity.

Smileless2012

There's been a lot of posts on GN recently that others are racist because they disagree Chestnut and of course you can't say you're, not because apparently that's racist too.

Do you disagree that the woman on the LBC phone-in is racist?

Pardon?

There's been a lot of posts on GN recently that others are racist because they disagree Chestnut and of course you can't say you're, not because apparently that's racist too.

GagaJo

That makes sense WWM. I am English but am not specifically proud of it, due to our colonial past. I certainly have zero pride about my skin colour. That would be like being proud that I have arms and legs. Daft.

That is your choice. There are people from all ethnicities in the world who are proud of who they are. They don't need you finger wagging at them or making them feel they are in the wrong.