Experiencing more than enough reality (From Dudley News)

Experiencing more than enough reality

12:14pm Wednesday 13th June 2007 in Letters

I WAS surprised by the inaccuracies present in Claire Westwood's response to my various letters.

If we are to stand a chance of solving these problems we must cease throwing mud and make a determined attempt to use reason, for that alone will guide us through the troubles we face.

When have I said I am against integration? Claire's comments concerning tarnishing everyone with the same brush' require the injection of further substance: the world we see and touch every day is not formed by the moderate majority but by leaders seeking to build a world in their own image.

It is true that Britain was already a mongrel nation and all the better for it but we must have a homogeneous political system for without it the country will become ungovernable.

There is absolutely no evidence that integration is taking place nor will it as long as people use conflicting sectarian beliefs as the basis for their attitudes.

We all have to give and take a little to make things work.

My point has always been that the indigenous British are being called upon to do all the giving, with no sign that other ethnic groups are prepared to compromise.

Remember that beliefs of any kind have no place in public life.

In other words, believe what you like but please do it at home.

Claire's comments about the British Empire are unhelpful and lack context.

Despite the many transgressions of the past the Empire was, on balance, the greatest force for good the world has ever seen. The surest test for an individual or a nation is to count the number of imitators.

Sikhism was born at a time when Muslims attempted to force Islam onto the Indian subcontinent and a series of bloody battles were fought. Divide and conquer, again, Claire?

Far from needing a reality check' if Claire had followed me over the past 12 years when I have spent whole days living with various ethnic groups, exchanging frank and honest views and hearing an alarming level of contempt and disapproval of British values, I believe that any armchair observer would have experienced more than enough reality.

John Morton

Dudley