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James Ross's avatar

A friend of mine, fairly high up in the civil service, told me there’s an ongoing drive to ensure 80% of new employees are non-white.

As an indigenous English male, this sort of casual, everyday racism forms a permanent backdrop to my life. The establishment despise us and they’re happy to show it.

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Pallavi Dawson's avatar

This echoes my husband’s experience, in a different field but with the same blatant racism.

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Daniel Saunders's avatar

I think people flying "Flags of All Nations" (as I call it when people are showing a lot of "victim" flags on social media) are mostly mindlessly virtue signalling, but some causes (notably Palestine and trans) do seem to attract a lot of bigots and bullies looking for an excuse to attack others (Jews and women) violently, but still be considered "one of the good guys."

I think Starmer and all the Cabinet think they're doing the right thing and not harming anyone, that they're actually making the world a better place. That's the scary thing, that they're that far out of touch with reality.

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Pallavi Dawson's avatar

I agree with you on both issues. One thing is for sure you learn a lot about human psychology just by observing these behaviours and mentalities.

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EKB's avatar

Starmer and his crew only care about staying in power. They do not care about freedom, equality, or ending racism, or hate of any kind. They are the quintessential demagogues and authoritarians. They like to say its on the right, which honestly yes it is there as well, but it doesn't let them off the hook for how they have actually caused the situation and exploit it.

I dont know how a society survives with it so divided. None of this bodes well for any country in the west.

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Pallavi Dawson's avatar

Spot on. Unfortunately, the future does not look good.

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Chris Reid's avatar

The more we are able to talk about it though, the more we can mitigate the violence.

You could almost say it’s all been engineered to get us to this point. Especially when every lever of power has done everything conceivable to ensure we couldn’t address problems or even talk about them.

This kind of work is vital right now.

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Mike H's avatar

Regarding Harehills where were the mass arrests for riot and the swift heavy prison sentences meted out to offenders just like they were to the people that posted hurty words? And, while I’m on in, what’s happening to that Ricky Jones, the councillor who called for people’s throats to be slashed? As football fans chant on the terraces, it’s all gone quiet over there! 👍👍. Tried to post this before but it just disappeared for some reason so if it reappears apologies 😊

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Pallavi Dawson's avatar

Thanks for reposting. I experience similar with the disappearing/reappearing posts. It’s so annoying so thanks for taking the time to post again. Great point re Ricky Jones. It’s truly a parallel system out there.

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Mike H's avatar

Love to hear your comments. I have a brown friend as she likes to call herself, very strong woman who has suffered racism but doesn’t have an ounce of it in her👍

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Pallavi Dawson's avatar

Thanks Mike, likewise. Your friend sounds amazing, more power to her and to you for being supportive.

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EKB's avatar

Starmer and his crew only care about staying in power. They do not care about freedom, equality, or ending racism, or hate of any kind. They are the quintessential demagogues and authoritarians. They like to say its on the right, which honestly yes it is there as well, but it doesn't let them off the hook for how they have actually caused the situation and exploit it.

I dont know how a society survives with it so divided. None of this bodes well for any country in the west.

Expand full comment