Dianne Abbot - did she want to be suspended, again .

I am not a fan of Diane Abbot but I think she had a point.

Of course, any sort of prejudice is wrong but people with dark skin cannot disguise the fact and so are much easier to target.

The other groups mentioned also experience prejudice but they are not necessarily so obvious as to be accosted in the street or be the victims of violence.

I have a lot of sympathy for the Labour Party at the moment because they are getting the flack for 14 years of corrosive Conservative policies and actions. However, when Kier Starmer starts alluding to the UK as a potential "island of strangers" then I can't see how he can take the high ground with regard to issues regarding racism.

Anniebach

Thank you Iam, she claims what she said last year was right even though last year she apologised for it.

Quote Granmarderby10 Fri 18-Jul-25 14:35:41
I instantly know whether someone is black. I don’t instantly know if someone is a Jew on appearance.

Last year a police officer officer in the Met described a man as
Openly Jewish !

Isn't the openly Jewish about clothing? Bit like Muslims, both can wear clothes that identify them or not. I could convert to either, wear certain clothes that identify me, I can't just suddenly change colour.

theworriedwell

Anniebach

Thank you Iam, she claims what she said last year was right even though last year she apologised for it.

Quote Granmarderby10 Fri 18-Jul-25 14:35:41
I instantly know whether someone is black. I don’t instantly know if someone is a Jew on appearance.

Last year a police officer officer in the Met described a man as
Openly Jewish !

Isn't the openly Jewish about clothing? Bit like Muslims, both can wear clothes that identify them or not. I could convert to either, wear certain clothes that identify me, I can't just suddenly change colour.

The opposite is also true. My son-in-law comes from an Arab family. His parents are still weakly Muslim, but my son-in-law is an atheist. he was born and brought up in the UK and has a slightly Mancunian accent. He still occasionally gets racial and anti-Islam abuse based on the colour of his skin.

I have never really hated anybody due to their religion, colour or gender BUT I started to feel genuine dislike of 2 strangers who were obviously Jewish and that they were Israeli's. They had done nothing wrong but the link to the murdering government in Israel was made in my mind. How can you bomb children trying to get water ? I had to be more logical but it is amazing how a negative experience affects your view of a whole group of people.
Diane Abbott is old enough to have had racists comments made to her and no doubt sexist views too.

Casdon

To be honest I’m weary of her. She fits better with the Corbyn party, I just wish she had shown some bottle and resigned to join them.

I think she just wants to bring down the current government. One of the reasons why people didn’t vote for Corbyn was that they knew she would be in his cabinet. She has been a great revolutionary politician in her time and I presume is a good constituency MP but she should now use her position of mother of the house far more wisely. Imo

Quote kjmpde Fri 18-Jul-25 17:07:59
I have never really hated anybody due to their religion, colour or gender BUT I started to feel genuine dislike of 2 strangers who were obviously Jewish and that they were Israeli's. They had done nothing wrong but the link to the murdering government in Israel was made in my mind. How can you bomb children trying to get water ? I had to be more logical but it is amazing how a negative experience affects your view of a whole group of people.
Diane Abbott is old enough to have had racists comments made to her and no doubt sexist views too.

Good grief , what if you met Muslims

MayBee70

Casdon

To be honest I’m weary of her. She fits better with the Corbyn party, I just wish she had shown some bottle and resigned to join them.

I think she just wants to bring down the current government. One of the reasons why people didn’t vote for Corbyn was that they knew she would be in his cabinet. She has been a great revolutionary politician in her time and I presume is a good constituency MP but she should now use her position of mother of the house far more wisely. Imo

I think she should have retired at the last election, because she is now ruining the memory of her own legacy, it’s actually sad to watch her. I don’t think she has anything to offer Jeremy Corbyn’s party either really now. Knowing when to bow out is an art she doesn’t possess.

Growstuff isn't that more to do with his skin colour? I have Muslim converts in my family and they don't get any racist abuse.

Sorry growstuff I just read your post properly and we agree it was colour not being Muslim.

Another thing is I've read the Ethiopian Jews suffer discrimination in Israel. I don't know if it is true.

I did go to school with some Jewish girls. One was pale, freckled and ginger like me. If anything we both looked Irish which was accurate with me.

Ilovecheese

I know that Diane Abbott is not very popular on Gransnet, but that doesn't justify misrepresenting what she actually said.

I apologised for my haste and posted detail of what DA said

I've met and worked with people from all religions and non-religions. The same with people who born as men and later became women. No problems. I do admit though that I found it difficult to approach a lady dressed in black from head to food with only a slit near her eyes. The one lady in question had to have assistance from a male child as she could not see as the "net" covering her eyes was so thick that it obscured her vision. I've seen transgender women who could not ever be accepted as women but continued to dress in a female form.
We've shared a hotel with Jewish people who were very rude and ignored anyone not of their faith. They even ate outside in the kitchen garden where the hotelier had to provide seats. Still their behaviour did not raise my emotions. The violence in Gaza is very different.
The trouble with Israel is that it attacks unarmed civilians. I have to remember that hate breeds hate and I must not feel that way .

did she want to get suspended, again I think she must have done Iam .

kjmpde I agree with you about remembering that hate must not be allowed to breed hate. However, I'm also aware that I'm in the privileged position of not having any personal reason to hate anybody or any group. Of course, there are individuals and ideologies I dislike intensely, but I can ignore them; I'm rarely affected personally. Making a choice not to hate anybody is a personal philosophy, but I don't think I have the right to impose that on others. How would I feel if a group of people had destroyed my home and killed a number of my friends and family? I don't think I could ever put it behind me or avoid letting it colour my mind.

Quote Smileless2012 Fri 18-Jul-25 17:45:07
did she want to get suspended, again I think she must have done Iam hmm.

She certainly knows how to gain attention resigning would not
have brought the same attention

theworriedwell

Growstuff isn't that more to do with his skin colour? I have Muslim converts in my family and they don't get any racist abuse.

Yes, it is to do with his skin colour and appearance. He's an Arab, looks like one and has an Arab name. Idiots assume he's Muslim and call him a Paki or a Muzzie. I agree with you that the assumptions are made based on his appearance.

Iam64

Ilovecheese

I know that Diane Abbott is not very popular on Gransnet, but that doesn't justify misrepresenting what she actually said.

I apologised for my haste and posted detail of what DA said

Yes, sorry, I should have acknowledged that.
Dianne Abbott has suffered such abuse during her career and bravely carried on.

Iam64

DA has given an interview in which she doubles down on her previous comments that only black people are subjected to racism. Travellers, Jewish people are in her view treated like red heads
She’s been suspended again. No diubt that’s what she wanted.

She never said that only black people are subjected to racism. She has consistently said that there are different forms of racism caused by different factors and that depending on the factor the racism type will be different.

Above I was not quoting her words exactly; paraphrasing the point she is making

But nobody could deny the intensity of hatred that Jews experience or the extremes of intent - such as complete extermination of the whole race.

Diane Abbott has never denied the intensity of hatred or extremes of intent towards Jewishbpeople. That is not what she is saying!

kjmpde

I have never really hated anybody due to their religion, colour or gender BUT I started to feel genuine dislike of 2 strangers who were obviously Jewish and that they were Israeli's. They had done nothing wrong but the link to the murdering government in Israel was made in my mind. How can you bomb children trying to get water ? I had to be more logical but it is amazing how a negative experience affects your view of a whole group of people.
Diane Abbott is old enough to have had racists comments made to her and no doubt sexist views too.

Hmm. Did the slaughter of young Jews who were just enjoying a concert make you as angry against any Muslims that you happened to see?

If not, why not?

I agree my feelings towards people who are not involved in the slaughter of the innocent is wrong . That is also why it was a shock to me to feel that way. A new feeling and a very uncomfortable one .
That is the reason for my comment - to admit I felt prejudice which is not normal for me and in my own way admit how easy it is to be prejudiced against somebody who has totally different views or looks very different

I abhor violence in any form and I certainly don't agree with the slaughter of any person .

My older grandson is marrying his fiancé later this year. They recently bought their first house. There was a scramble to buy it. His fiancé is of dual heritage, white British father, Muslim convert after marrying her mum. Mum a Burmese Rohingya Muslim. A relative of mine recently described her as a beautiful exotic, I forgive my 85 year old relative, she meant well.
Anyway, the point of this post is the owner of the house had four people wanting it, none had a chain, it’s a furs time buyer home. My grandsons partner gave his name in the initial negotiations. Her name would identify her Muslim heritage, a faith she no longer follows or believes in. Thankfully, the owner liked this young couple and gave them her house. It was awful though to hear this confident yiung British woman worried thst her name might rule them out at stage one

I’m desperately sad that the sections of Netanyahu are increasing anti semitism

Me too Iam; if only Netanyahu was.

Why Netanyahu? Abbott spoke of Jews, posts then referred to
Jews