Shut up and listen

One of the big topics in the news this morning, was our governments plan to counter terrorism in Britain. Obviously it had shocked a lot of people that the 7/7 bombers were home-grown British citizens. The problem, the government reasoned, was that there was not enough social cohesion, and these young men had felt alienated from society which had enabled them to attain a mindset that would lead to this gruesome deed. So far I completely support the analysis. Unfortunately that’s where the good news ended. Because how were we going to remedy this sense of alienation? Schools were going to have to teach children about what it means to be British: values, and an understanding of modern society in the light of its history.

There’s a fundamental misconception underlying this approach. It’s the same misconception that underlies the whole problem of global terrorism if you ask me. For some inexplicable reason we always think that our point of view is the only right point of view. And if people do not warm to our point of view, then that is probably because we haven’t explained ourselves well enough or perhaps because they are just plain stupid. And from this perspective, the proposed solution makes perfect sense. So what then is the problem? The answer I think is twofold.

First of all I don’t think the best way to let people warm to you, is to overwhelm them with your point of view. I don’t think the 7/7 bombers did what they did because they did not feel they understood Britain. I think they did it because they felt Britain did not understand them, of not respecting their values, their world view. And so once more overwhelming them with our point of view is only going to be counterproductive. Maybe we should consider the possibility that it is not them who need to listen, maybe it is us.

Secondly, if we really want to explain what it is to be British, then maybe we should try and present a more fair view of what we really are, and especially what historic role Britain has played in world events. Maybe in stead of painting a picture of the gallant knights of the west, we should be more honest about the exploitation that took place in imperial Britain, and about the mess created by the parts of WWII that we always conveniently forget to mention: The oil battles in the Middle East. And yes of course Britain has done a lot of good things, and is certainly not some evil empire. But some recognition of past mistakes would go a long way. It would give certain ethnic groups a sense that they are being done some justice.

But most of all it would educate the white British population on what it means to be British, and to take responsibility for the fact that alongside many good and positive aspects, there are darker sides as well. And maybe when white British people finally understand what it has meant to others that they are British, will they finally appreciate how they are perceived in the current era. So yes, let’s have compulsory lessons on what it means to be British. But let’s invite others to tell us what it means to be British, in stead of us telling others. Let’s just shut up and listen, in stead of talk.