by Euryclea

Created on: January 27, 2007   Last Updated: April 30, 2007

Racism has existed for many hundreds if not thousands of years. For example, the romans and the jews, the catholic churches hatred of non-christian groups. The boar war, apartheid in South Africa, Slavery, Rwandan genocide and of course the holocaust.

Unfortunately, people want someone or some group of people to blame for their economic problems, and very often the people they blame are minority groups who do not have as much media power as their own group of people. People who depend on the public for power. Looking at many of the tabloid press today I see many sensationalised news stories concerning immigrants and refugees. Which seems to be encouraging racism. The most important thing to these newspapers is perhaps not whether the story is accurate but whether or not it sells.

I cannot help but notice that the media in the United Kingdom is up in arms concerning the treatment of one Indian contestant by three white women. Whilst, I admit that I do not watch the programme in question and think that racism, no matter where it is seen is wrong. I cannot help but notice that not once has any of these newspapers condemning the treatment of the Indian contestant, apologised for their own treatment of immigrants, asylum seekers and refugees. They seem to be saying that racism against immigrants, refugees and asylum seekers is right and should be encouraged.

If you watch the film Hotel Rwanda set during the Rwandan genocide of the nineteen nineties. You will hear a radio presenter constantly refer to the Tutsi's as cockroaches. Which encouraged the Hutu's not to see the Tutsi's as human beings. The presenter is also heard advocating violence towards the Tutsis.

In some western newspapers. We are constantly given the impression that immigration is a problem and is never welcome.

The media tells us to think that refugees and asylum seekers are all liars, and that none of them would face persecution if returned to their own countries. We are not encouraged to learn about other nationalities, or the political problems of other countries. We are encouraged to see them as a threat. We have to ask ourselves if we where given the opportunity to go to another country. Where we thought our family would have a better future would we take it?

I also cannot help but notice that at no point is our own British nationality criticised. For example, the amount of Britains who move abroad just to get places in the sun. Surely, these Britains are taking property away from nationals of the country in which they emmigrate.

We are encouraged to hate foreigners, who employers may hire for a lesser wage than workers of our own nationality. However, we do not ask ourselves the question. If we want things for a cheaper price does that mean that British manufacturers can employ British workers? My answer to this would be in order to keep up with demand the British manufacturer would not be able to afford British workers or legally take on workers from other European countries.

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