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bantaba
Switzerland
61 Posts |
 Posted - 11 Nov 2006 : 00:25:44
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This is my third time visiting England, this last visit has been an eye opener for me. I spent two weeks in Birmingham, I stayed with my cousin. The city of Birmingham was very interesting and the lifestyle of Gambians in this city was somehow an amazing. I had no idea that Birmingham is a multi cultural city. I will always remember my first day in Birmingham, while I was accompanying my cousin to ASDA I was surprised to see women dressed like women in Afghanistan and men dressed in traditional Pakistan garments. I have nothing against how people dress, anyone should be allowed to dress according to their personal choice. The fact is that I was not prepared to see such dress codes in middle of England. The area that my cousin resides in feels like being in Pakistan, again I believe that multiculturalism is what the world needs. One of my Gambian friends told me that the Pakistanis do not like black people; I disagreed with him telling him that perhaps he might be labeling the entire people of Pakistani background. His answer was you do not live here, if you do you will agree with me. One day we were talking about interracial dating, “you better stay away from the Pakistani women” I asked why he said “if you don’t want to get hurt or worsted gets killed, stay away from those women”. He said if the Pakistani boys catch a black man holding hands or walking with a Pakistani girl, the outcome will not be pretty. I told them that this is a democratic and free society, anyone is free to love or be loved by anyone. Has we continue to discuss the subject of interracial relationship, a segment of BBC ONE about honor killing appear. The program was about a girl who is of a Pakistani descend and a man whom I believe was not from a Pakistani background. The couples were killed by the girl’s family because they thought that the girl is dishonoring the family by dating a man who is not a Pakistani. Several men of Pakistani descent were questioned whether they think honor killing is a correct thing to do, I think about 95 percent thought so and they even went further to say that they will hurt anyone who is bringing dishonor to their family. I was shocked at this revelation and all of the men question are born and raised in England.
Also one of my friends told me that one day has he coming out of the mosque after Friday prayers he was questioned by one of the Pakistan man asking whether he is a Muslim. The answer that my friend gave him was that no I am a Christian. Well I have thing to do, I will continue on the situation of Gambian in Birmingham later
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gambiabev
United Kingdom
3091 Posts |
Posted - 11 Nov 2006 : 09:11:15
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All that you say is true. It is not always the white population that are against one group or another, but different racial groups. Pakistanis traditionally dont like the west indian life style for example.Sikhs have alot of racial prejudice against them. I THINK it is because of historical things is India that they are hated by Pakistanis, but I am not sure. Also because they wear a turban they are easy targets.
These days to see a black man or women (african or west indian) with a white person is nothing new. Butit is still very rare to see an India or Pakistani with someone from outside of their own culture. Girls who dare to disobey their families are often sent back to Pakistan to an arranged marriage or can end up dead.  The cultural pressure to conform to the family is incredibly strong.
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