An important distinction

Submitted by David McDuff (United Kingdom), May 17, 2004 at 09:42

I agree with many of the article's conclusions regarding Muslim immigration to Europe.

However, as someone who has lived in Britain all my life, now approaching the age of 60, I think I may be entitled to comment on just one point: I do not think it's accurate to say that in his "Rivers of Blood" speech Enoch Powell was predicting Muslim immigration - his speech was racist, and (with the exception of some remarks about the religious practices of Sikhs) was directed primarily against those whose skin colour was not white.

This is an important distinction, for I believe that it's all too easy for critics, especially on the left, to claim that those who want to restrict Muslim immigration are "racist". Few people in Britain - with the exception of those on the far right of the political spectrum (BNP and NF) would have much time for Powell's arguments in that speech now - and rightly so.

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