I am a British PhD Student studying at the University of Sheffield. Unlike most students, I’m actually a local student, born and brought up here in Sheffield. I am proud to be from Sheffield. It’s my home. I’m extremely passionate about the welfare of the City (my City), its people (my people) and the district (my district) as a whole. You can say I am extremely patriotic about this country (my country), its British values (my values) and its well-being (my well-being). But the problem with this love affair is that it can sometimes appear to be one-sided. I am from Asian (Bangladeshi) origin and furthermore, I am Muslim. The penny drops. Why is it that despite all my love and affection for this City and moreover this country, I feel I can never be accepted as norm due to my skin colour and religious beliefs? Why is it that I feel so hurt inside when the media stereotypes all Muslims as terrorists, and some kind of enemy within when I am prepared to give my existence for this very same land? Why do I feel heart-broken? Please explain…

Probably the same reason as I, as a white male from yorkshire am portraid as being biggoted, stereotypical, and judged as stupid because of my accent.

When I travel to muslim countries I am judged as an evil infidel by people who have never met me. People who believe as a westerner I am automaticaly responsible for any single wrong doing against any muslim since the time of the crusades, and am engaged in a plot for western domination of the world.

The world is truly a place of blinkered views, stereotypical judgements and generaly stupid people. As a PHD student you must demonstrate some intelect, in addition to education. Though the two do not automaticaly come together. See the world for what it is. And what it is, is MUCH bigger than than the small city of Sheffield.

I think it is a shame for yourself respect because reading your post you do come across a thoroughly geniune person and just as passionate as the rest of us.

As far as I am concerned, any person like yourself who has originated from another country to come here to take the opportunity of a great nation and are willing to work and contribute to society should be commended. However, the media is generally more interested in asylum figures, terrorist threat from asylum seekers and raise in unemployment due to to this.

Its shame that people like yourself get thrown into the latter. But what you must realise is that the people who throw you into this category are usually narrow minded idiots themselves and their opinion should mean little or nothing to yourself. Just brush the dirt off your shoulder, chin up and carry on. Whatever doesn't kill us makes us stronger.

Originally posted by Respect
I am a British PhD Student studying at the University of Sheffield. Unlike most students, I’m actually a local student, born and brought up here in Sheffield. I am proud to be from Sheffield. It’s my home. I’m extremely passionate about the welfare of the City (my City), its people (my people) and the district (my district) as a whole. You can say I am extremely patriotic about this country (my country), its British values (my values) and its well-being (my well-being). But the problem with this love affair is that it can sometimes appear to be one-sided. I am from Asian (Bangladeshi) origin and furthermore, I am Muslim. The penny drops. Why is it that despite all my love and affection for this City and moreover this country, I feel I can never be accepted as norm due to my skin colour and religious beliefs? Why is it that I feel so hurt inside when the media stereotypes all Muslims as terrorists, and some kind of enemy within when I am prepared to give my existence for this very same land? Why do I feel heart-broken? Please explain…

There's one cookie here who aint judgin ya on the colour of ya skin :)

Take care

Dont worry respect.

As far as I am aware, most people dont think like that, its just that the minority of those that do have a big voice and seem to get heard above the others. This makes it seem like the whole world is out to get you.

I think you will find almost everybody on this forum to be very friendly and supportive. Also the Muslim perspective on many forum issues would be most welcome.

:) :) :)

Hiya Respect :wave:

A very thought provoking post.

It was not so long ago that gay men were treated with abhorrance and regarded as carriers of a 'gay plague', i.e., Aids. Even a Chief Constable joined in the condemnation of gay men at that time. Over time, the hysteria abated, people became less ignorant, and the fears passed.

The so-called war on terror and the London bombings have tended to fuel suspicions of Muslims. In time, the hysteria that equates Muslims with terrorists (and which is stirred by right-wing bigots and certain elements of the media) will abate. People will be less ignorant of Muslim traditions, and I believe your fears will pass.

Broken hearts mend. I wish you well.

Regards

Red

Im being very harsh but open here, most people would call her for being asian even if you dont admit it.

Dont tell me that, not 1 single person here hasnt or doesnt say anything about pakistanis,asians,blacks,fat people,ugly people ect because i dont believe you.

Its a cruel world and you just have to live with this sort of thing.

Originally posted by Respect
I am a British PhD Student studying at the University of Sheffield. Unlike most students, I’m actually a local student, born and brought up here in Sheffield. I am proud to be from Sheffield. It’s my home. I’m extremely passionate about the welfare of the City (my City), its people (my people) and the district (my district) as a whole. You can say I am extremely patriotic about this country (my country), its British values (my values) and its well-being (my well-being). But the problem with this love affair is that it can sometimes appear to be one-sided. I am from Asian (Bangladeshi) origin and furthermore, I am Muslim. The penny drops. Why is it that despite all my love and affection for this City and moreover this country, I feel I can never be accepted as norm due to my skin colour and religious beliefs? Why is it that I feel so hurt inside when the media stereotypes all Muslims as terrorists, and some kind of enemy within when I am prepared to give my existence for this very same land? Why do I feel heart-broken? Please explain…

Here's the answer: Islamic extremists have scared the **** out of westerners and as a result many westerners are now really really rasist against muslims, this will be the reason why you feel the way you do. People are wrong to steryotype but its human nature, everyone does it, and yes its wrong

I feel sorry for you, I Feel sorry for all minority groups who receive such stereotypings

Alot has to do with attitude aswell. If u go down to whicker, you'll know what i mean.

Originally posted by mattyuk1
Alot has to do with attitude aswell. If u go down to whicker, you'll know what i mean.

Please enlighten me.

Originally posted by mattyuk1
Alot has to do with attitude aswell. If u go down to whicker, you'll know what i mean.

And please enlighten me. I occasionally call in at the hot food take-aways at The Wicker, and have no idea what you mean. :confused:

many westerners are now really really rasist against muslims

Racism and religious bigotry are completely different things.

Personally, I never judge anyone by their skin colour and I view all religious followers with the same amount of distrust, regardless of their chosen fantasy.

Originally posted by mattyuk1
Alot has to do with attitude aswell. If u go down to whicker, you'll know what i mean.

Another here needing enlightenment on the meaning of this one?

Originally posted by punk
Racism and religious bigotry are completely different things.

Personally, I never judge anyone by their skin colour and I view all religious followers with the same amount of distrust, regardless of their chosen fantasy.

But intolerance is intolerance no matter what form it takes.

This sort of thing isn't just a race / creed / culture issue.

Twenty years ago when the policies of the Thatcher Government ripped apart the mining community where I was born, put a large number of men on the dole and turned those who dared to strike in to political criminals I too was heartbroken at what happened.

Of course you feel upset when circumstances are such that you feel you don't 'belong' anymore. It's happened to me on numerous occasions - to lose what we regard as 'home' is always a traumatic experience.

At the same time, some people will always view folks as different based on colour, religion, sexuality, etc. Having said that, I think that some 'backlash' was inevitable after 9/11 and 7/7, and some people will always exploit such things for their own ends.

I hope you heal - don't let bigots upset you, and certainly don't let yourself be dragged in to despair. Enjoy this city, engage with it, irrespective of what others say.

Joe

people are all different some like to welcome other races & some dont i know some people who get on really well with asians & black people but despise welsh people ???
mystery of life

I believe its a consensus that Sheff people of all creeds and colour are generally friendly folk and integrate well. However the authorities and all of us have a (moral) responsibility to take action and condemn racism and bigotry when it rears its head. I feel it can be nipped in the bud in a place like Sheffield before it reaches the stage of other towns and cities where the seeds of hatred have already been sown and there are massive divisions.

people who do not fit into this stereotypical world are all made to feel like this and shouldnt be.the people who judge are the losers as they do not have the ability and sense to get to know people for themselves and not as what colour ,size gay etc.as a larger person myself i do get treat pretty badly but if that is the way peoples ignorance is and they do not want to get to know me then so be it

Respect, for one reason or another we are all 'different'. It's sad you feel the way you do, especially as its 'your own' that make you feel this way. I don't think this way and try to judge a person as I find them, I know it can't be easy for you but try to not let them get you down. Some Sheffielders...like you, me and some on here are happy to get along and live our lives without looking for reasons to distrust/dislike others. Good Luck with your PhD, glad to see some brains here :thumbsup:

Originally posted by Respect
I am proud to be from Sheffield. It’s my home. I’m extremely passionate about the welfare of the City (my City), its people (my people) and the district (my district) as a whole.

Don't let ignorance stop you feeling this way. Your voice needs to be heard to help us realise that people of all types share a common bond living in this great city. I'm proud to be a Sheffielder and proud to hear others talk positively about the place, no matter what their background.

Originally posted by redrobbo
And please enlighten me. I occasionally call in at the hot food take-aways at The Wicker, and have no idea what you mean. :confused:

Me too, is it Imrans on the corner??? They do the BEST kebabs! and the guys are lovely.

I am white and have only experienced racism once when I went to college and white people were a minority, an aisian lad asked me for a cigarette and I don't smoke so I told him so and he called me a whie bi***! :confused: I was so mad! what did it matter what colour my skin was?

His friends stuck up for me though, as some of them were in my classes.

I have experienced quite a bit of racism and it can be extremely upsetting. The most upsetting thing, to me, is having racist remarks made by someone who only speaks a little of your language but still feels that you are inferior to them as a person.

I have no judgements or prejudices to any other race or culture but it does break my heart to find that so many feel they have to bully you because of your skin colour.

The media can be a big part of racism as the papers and magazines make such a big thing of race (sometimes). They have done it with weight, sexuality, looks and alsorts of other things.

Most take aways and things are very friendly so I'm afraid I too will need enlightening on that one.

Originally posted by mattyuk1
Im being very harsh but open here, most people would call her for being asian even if you dont admit it.

Dont tell me that, not 1 single person here hasnt or doesnt say anything about pakistanis,asians,blacks,fat people,ugly people ect because i dont believe you.

Its a cruel world and you just have to live with this sort of thing.

The thing is, its easy for ethnic people to scream 'racist' but their are people of other colour that are racist too. You don't mention people who call white people, i for one have been subjected to a verbal racist attack for being white. I just don't understand why she has posted this in the first place, we all feel passionate about Sheffield and there is racist people from all backgrounds, white, black, asian, polka dot, its not just bad white people that do the name calling.

I agree that prejudice is not only levelled at people because of race, culture etc but is shown against lots of people .........i used to be a 'pretty big person'.........and frequently had obsceneties shouted at me from car windows etc while i was just walking down the street.........once a good friend of mine was with me and she couldnt believe what had happened.....i just shrugged it off as i was used to it.....i have now lost a lot ! of weight and wouldnt stand out in a crowd as being 'fat'! ........although i am still not, and would never wish to be a stick insect!.thats just not 'me'!..........although it upset me at the time i have learned that you just have to ignore the idiots and get on with your life.........they will just show themselves up for what they are........not worth giving the time of day to!.........and your friends (and most people who meet you) will love you for what you are.........

hope you all have a happy 2006!:)

I havent ever been called a white 'b' so i cant really comment.

when the sunbed craze was around in the 80s me and my brother 'caned it'...and i mean, proper sun worshippers, we had tans that would have made people jealous at the time,one night my brother was in a club and he got told to eff off and was called a P**** *******, ive been called a black C****at that time too. i just laughed..at the ignorance...me an my brother are white, but we go browner than brown, now its spray tans as the sunbed thingy is a bit riskay...dont worry love, its ignorance...and in the minority
Witch XX :)

Hi Guys,

Thanks ever so much for the warm-hearted replies, I must say I am overwhelmed and overjoyed with some of the kind comments posted here. Call me naïve or whatever; it’s my dream to see different communities from different backgrounds to live side by side, stand shoulder to shoulder in peace and harmony in today’s multicultural Britain. Lets all work together to make this city and country truly great and be the beacon for the rest of humanity!

Have a wonderful new year!

*********************************
Mohammed Ibrahim Ullah
PhD Candidate, the University of Sheffield

IF WE ALL CLOSED OUR EYES WE WOULDN'T KNOW WHAT COLOUR ANYBODY WAS, I DON'T CARE IF SOMEONE IS PURPLE WITH YELLOW SPOTS BUT I THINK I'M IN THE MINORITY.

I HAVE GROWN UP WITH AN ADOPTED BLACK SISTER AND DATED A FRENCH MUSLIM, I HAVE TO SAY, THE STARES I GOT IN SHEFFIELD WHEN I WAS WITH HIM WERE CRING-WORTHY!! WE WENT TO THE STRINES FOR A DRINK ONE AFTERNOON AND YOU COULD HAVE HEARD A PIN DROP!!

THERE ARE TOo MANY INSUALR, INSUCURE, IGNORANT PEOPLE IN THE WORLD AND I FEAR IT WILL GET WORSE

HAPPY NEW YEAR XX

Originally posted by mel77
IF WE ALL CLOSED OUR EYES WE WOULDN'T KNOW WHAT COLOUR ANYBODY WAS, I DON'T CARE IF SOMEONE IS PURPLE WITH YELLOW SPOTS BUT I THINK I'M IN THE MINORITY.

I HAVE GROWN UP WITH AN ADOPTED BLACK SISTER AND DATED A FRENCH MUSLIM, I HAVE TO SAY, THE STARES I GOT IN SHEFFIELD WHEN I WAS WITH HIM WERE CRING-WORTHY!! WE WENT TO THE STRINES FOR A DRINK ONE AFTERNOON AND YOU COULD HAVE HEARD A PIN DROP!!

THERE ARE TOo MANY INSUALR, INSUCURE, IGNORANT PEOPLE IN THE WORLD AND I FEAR IT WILL GET WORSE

HAPPY NEW YEAR XX

Pardon?

WE WENT TO THE STRINES FOR A DRINK ONE AFTERNOON AND YOU COULD HAVE HEARD A PIN DROP!!

that happen's what ever colour you are..if you aint a reg...ive stopped going there on my way back from the country...they always make you feel uncomfortable in there
SW! xx

Mel77,

Some years ago I was with a group of actors, rehearsing for a short film in Brixton. After rehearsals we went to a local pub. We too had the silent treatment, the filthy looks and we decided to just leave.

It mght have been that teh problem was that we were white and the locals were black - alternatively it might have been that the locals didn't take to strangers.

It's too easy to see intolerance where there isn't any.

And PLEASE, take the Caps-Lock off next time because your post is really hard to read!

Joe

Here we go another thread down the racist route,

anyone for tennis.


can you put your name on this dot . if so youve got perfect eyesight