We don't feel British, say Asians

[dirtydog]

Many Asians 'do not feel British'

Over a third of British Asians do not feel British, a BBC poll suggests.

The research for the Asian Network discovered 38% of the UK residents of South Asian origin polled felt only slightly or not at all British.

Over a third agreed that to get on in the UK they needed to be a "coconut", a term for somebody who is "brown on the outside but white on the inside".

Yet 84% are satisfied with life in Britain and almost half think they have more opportunities here.

Half of the South Asians and nearly two-thirds of the white people interviewed agreed it was too easy for immigrants to settle in Britain.

Identity 'important'

Three-quarters feel their culture is being diluted by living in the UK and nearly half believe white people do not treat them as British.

The poll was commissioned to coincide with the BBC's India and Pakistan '07 season of programmes to mark the 60th anniversary of the 1947 partition of India.

Some 12% of those polled said they considered themselves to be "coconuts".

Meenal Sachdev, director of Connect India - which works with young Asians to strengthen identity - said she did not think British Asians needed to be "coconuts" to be successful.

Identity can be a tool for success. I feel very confident about being a British Indian," she said.

"Confidence with identity comes down to ability and knowing you have as many opportunities as other people," she added.

Reena Combo, editor of Ikonz, a monthly Asian magazine aimed at young British Asians said: "I feel British but I feel very Asian as well.

"Many British Asians consider themselves to be British but at home they are more in touch with their cultural and ancestral roots."

But she agreed that some British Asians think they need to become "coconuts".

"They feel they need to fit into society and that society looks at them in a bad way," she added.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/6921534.stm

This seems to back up what I've always believed which is that a lot of Asians although born here, consider themselves foreigners in a foreign land.

To the Asians on this forum, do you feel British? How many Asians are 100% British?

 

[@if ®afiq]

To the Asians on this forum, do you feel British? How many Asians are 100% British?

Why pick on just the Asians?

Why not turn this into a poll for all forums members to ask them if they feel this, imo, abstract thing called "being British"? And how the hell do you calculate your percentage????

 

[semi-pro waster]

How many Asians are 100% British?

Surely an entirely rhetorical question? There is no way to say for certain, for all I know it varies on a daily basis and would additionally depend on whether you are asking if Asians feel British or if they would satisfy your criteria to be British(whatever that may be?).

 

[dirtydog]

Why pick on just the Asians?

Because it is they to whom the article refers?

Why not turn this into a poll for all forums members to ask them if they feel this, imo, abstract thing called "being British"? And how the hell do you calculate your percentage????

It is quite simple really I'm sure most people know whether they consider themselves British or not, and to what degree. I am 100% British for example.

 

[dirtydog]

Surely an entirely rhetorical question? There is no way to say for certain, for all I know it varies on a daily basis and would additionally depend on whether you are asking if Asians feel British or if they would satisfy your criteria to be British(whatever that may be?).

I agree that what Asians may consider 100% British, and what I consider 100% British, may well not be the same thing. The article is based on what Asians themselves think, and clearly by their own admission many of them do not feel British Of course it is true that some of those who *do* consider themselves British, might nonetheless not be considered so by others, but that is beyond the scope of the article.

 

[@if ®afiq]

It is quite simple really I'm sure most people know whether they consider themselves British or not, and to what degree. I am 100% British for example.

My point being, it would be interesting to see as a whole how "British" forum members are, as apposed to just the Asian on this forum. It would give a much better indication of how people relate to where they live. Unless of course you just want to analyse Asians to try and reinforce the idea that they are not welcome here, regardless of how "British" natives feel?

And as SPW has pointed out, all this is pretty useless without defining what exactly being British is. Do we go by your definition (which I believe includes skin colour???) or by some other one?

 

[dirtydog]

Why don't we just go by what the Asians themselves consider themselves to be.

I agree that it would be interesting to hear what other ethnic minorities think too.

 

[Toryglen-boy]

This isnt a new thing DD, i remember as a boy Asians saying *** same thing, and to be quite honest, the muslim religion and thier heritage is something very dear to the asian community, and something to be cherished by them. I just think the problem arises when there is not attempt made to involve others and integration. But we have had this in other threads mate, and you knwo my views on this



as an interesting point, how about asking people who are British, wether they 'feel' British? Do i feel British? well , i can answer with this ....

British by birth ...
Scottish by the grace of God

 

[@if ®afiq]

I agree that it would be interesting to hear what other ethnic minorities think too.

Not just ethincs - all members regardless of ethnicity, including native whites. How British do people in Britain feel?

 

[dirtydog]

Not just ethincs - all members regardless of ethnicity, including native whites. How British do people in Britain feel?

I don't want to broaden the question out to ask natives if they feel like natives because it is a given. All it will do is derail the thread with people saying they feel English or Scottish and not British, or whatever. That is not the point of the thread.

 

[dirtydog]

This isnt a new thing DD, i remember as a boy Asians saying *** same thing, and to be quite honest, the muslim religion and thier heritage is something very dear to the asian community, and something to be cherished by them. I just think the problem arises when there is not attempt made to involve others and integration.

What does 'involving others' mean?

What does 'integration' mean, in your view? Can they consider themselves not really British (or not at all British) and practise an alien religion, yet still integrate? I don't think they can. They have to choose one or the other, they can't have it both ways.

 

[Greenlizard0]

This seems to back up what I've always believed which is that a lot of Asians although born here, consider themselves foreigners in a foreign land.

That's because we're fairly close to being so. First or even second generation Asians will more than likely have connections/family in a foreign country. It doesn't really apply to only Asians though, I have a housemate who was born and bred in Manchester, yet considers himself to be very southeren Irish.

To the Asians on this forum, do you feel British? How many Asians are 100% British?

I think the answer to that is in the article, i.e. the coconut reference.

 

[@if ®afiq]

I don't want to broaden the question out to ask natives if they feel like natives because it is a given...

...and that's my cue to leave this thread.

It seems to me you only wish to analyse immigrants regardless of how the natives themselves feel (that is one massive assumption you have made!). In my opinion, any answers given would be useless unless compared to something as a guideline and the best thing would be how "British" white natives feel.

To answer the question, I feel 100% human as I think that is all that matters.

 

[Darkwave]

Though I think you're a little extreme sometimes dirtydog (most of your opinions are fine with me, you just seem very preachy about them and I mean no offense by that), I think you should be asking a different question...

If you asked a British person if they felt British, as you already said, they might say "No, I feel English/Scottish/Irish/Welsh" instead of British. So, I think that you should ask immigrants if they feel one of those instead, that way they can't dodge the question so easily.

@if: If you're currently residing in England, do you feel English?

 

[@if ®afiq]

@if: If you're currently residing in England, do you feel English?

That all depends on what you mean by "English"?

I live here with a full time job and pay my taxes, (try to) abide by the laws, treat people with respect, look after my environment, love my family, don't lie or cheat, enjoy meeting different people, love eating out and socialising, don't support England at sport as they are generally crap at most ...not too sure how that qualifies though.

 

[Darkwave]

That all depends on what you mean by "English"?

It's completely subjective, so just ask yourself if you feel English by your own definition of what constitutes an English person culturally etc. I'm not part of the club who think there is a real criteria.

I guess the easiest way to put it would be; Do you feel as close to "native" English people as you do to people of your own ethnic background, whichever background they may be, or do you still relate much more to the people and culture of said background?

 

[@if ®afiq]

It's completely subjective, so just ask yourself if you feel English by your own definition of what constitutes an English person culturally etc. I'm not part of the club who think there is a real criteria.

TBH, I have no real Idea. I would hope the above would pass for being English.

I suppose the other thing we could do is see what the white youth (100% native ) of today is doing as they are more English than a chip buttie...but then things don't look to great when we do that

 

[dirtydog]

...and that's my cue to leave this thread.

It seems to me you only wish to analyse immigrants regardless of how the natives themselves feel (that is one massive assumption you have made!). In my opinion, any answers given would be useless unless compared to something as a guideline and the best thing would be how "British" white natives feel.

To answer the question, I feel 100% human as I think that is all that matters.

Why would natives NOT feel like they are natives?

Of course the question is only directed at immigrants, it wouldn't make any sense otherwise.

Do you think perhaps that there are some white British natives who feel Pakistani then?

 

[dirtydog]

Though I think you're a little extreme sometimes dirtydog (most of your opinions are fine with me, you just seem very preachy about them and I mean no offense by that), I think you should be asking a different question...

If you asked a British person if they felt British, as you already said, they might say "No, I feel English/Scottish/Irish/Welsh" instead of British. So, I think that you should ask immigrants if they feel one of those instead, that way they can't dodge the question so easily.

@if: If you're currently residing in England, do you feel English?

Bringing the home nationalities into it totally confuses the issue, and is not the issue of this thread so I'd appreciate you not taking it down that road please

In simple terms I want to know whether Asians (and other immigrants if they wish to participate in the thread) feel that this island is their home and they have full allegiance to it and its people, or whether they feel stronger ties to a foreign land and people.

 

[penski]

Mr. Dog, a few questions for you:

When did your family move to Britain?

How long does a lineage have to live in Britain for its' decendants to be considered 'British'?

Is this measured in years? Attitude? Generations?

Can only those with white skin be considered 'British'?

And...Can we please have your definition of 'British'?

*n