brighton green party denounce white night as “too white”
By Mike Ashworth | October 28, 2009
In what must be one of the most stupendous acts of shooting oneself in the foot Brighton Green Councillor Ben Duncan labels the City’s White Night celebration as “too white”.
White night is an event that celebrates the clocks going back an hour at the end of British Summer Time with unique events throughout the City Centre from 6pm to 6am.
Following a comment that been made to Councillor Duncan, which stated…..
“…as an ethnic minority resident of the city I don’t feel that the name of the festival celebrates the diversity of the city or indeed of an arts festival.”
Councillor Duncan replied on his blog
“Well I think he might have a point: White Lights was fantastic. Although there were events specifically focused on ethnic minority arts, it still felt mono-cultural.
According to the 2001 census (now hopelessly out of date, of course) the city’s Black and Minority Ethnic Population is about 15,000 people. Not many of them were out and about last night. But racism doesn’t have to be deliberate, or obvious:
I really believe if someone reports that they have been the victim of racism then they probably have - and we at least have a duty to look more closely at their claims. “So let’s see if we can make the festival a little more inclusive next year.”
So he actually thinks that not only was the event “too white” he has used the word “racist” as well.
I think that this is political correctness gone mad. There was nothing about the event whatsoever that would have excluded anyone from enjoying it. In fact I know a number of white people who were in Brighton that evening and did not participate either.
If the Green Party want to consider themselves a valid and realistic alternative to the traditional mainstream political parties we have had to contend with for many years in the UK they would do well to heed the lessons of the past.
We don’t need to hear stuff like this. Brighton is a vibrant city full of many different people who get on quite well with each other as it is.
We don’t need this some namby pamby politico telling us how we should live our lives at a local level. We’ve had enough of that from the Government.
Topics: Politics |
One Response to “brighton green party denounce white night as “too white””
Comments
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12:47 am on December 2nd, 2009
Mike,
As always, you have a realistic point of view. This one I also agree with you, thats PC gone mad. Does Ben Duncan want to win votes or does he need to go and see a quack?
I have to say in the 2 years I lived in Brighton, I have NEVER came across any racism nor heard of any when I wasn’t there (apart from the minor BNP thing). I love the White lights for what is, the name should never be changed!
Keep up the good work