Perhaps I am not getting all the e-mails from the list? I find it
incredible, even an indictment, that the `critical geography forum' has not
discussed, assessed, nor ultimately attempted to determine which actions
might be taken to confront the most recent in a series of `racist' attacks
against two of London's communities.
This is certainly a geographical issue. These are two spatially defined
communities, or at least they are perceived to be - certainly by the
bomber(s) and their cohorts. This also ties into notions of national and
group identity, race and otherness; how it is defined and by whom. It is
also directly related to the study of urban socio-economic and spatial
differentiation; issue of race and class.
Was the bombing the work of Combat 18? How can a democratic society allow
these groups to exist freely; threatening the security and basic rights of
follow citizens?. To those who know of these extreme groups, this type of
action is not a complete shock. Is it possible that there will be other
attacks? How are the police dealing with this situation? Especially in
light of what some were referring to, in recent months, as a `backlash'
against minorities in the wake of the Laurence Report? Are London whites
now being arrested and questioned at a similar rate as members of the
Afro-Carribean and Asian communities? Are other communities or groups at
risk?
Perhaps some of the geography lecturers and Chairpersons of Departments,
from the Asian and Afro-Caribbean communities would like to respond? What
have we, as an academic community, gained from the Steven Laurence Report?
Do we, our Departments and Colleges, need to change? If nothing changes in
real terms, what do you think will be the effect? is the police, as one
institutions in society, any more or less racist and exclusionary, than
other institutions? For example, higher education? Is it time to serious
discuss affirmative action in the U.K universities and colleges; to hire
academic staff from communities that are severely underrepresented? Is it
time to discuss approaches to education on these issues, which threaten the
very fabric of society?
I hope that these thoughts and questions stimulate some debate.
____________________________________
Dr. Charles Small,
VATAT Research Fellow,
Department of Geography,
Ben-Gurion University, P.O.B 653,
Beer-Sheva, Israel
84105
Tel: 972 7 647 2015
Fax: 972 7 647 2821
E-mail: [log in to unmask]
E-mail: [log in to unmask]
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