Why are people so proud to be racist, scary,
horrible people? Why do people think they are being clever, when they entice
fear in others? I live alone, but lucky for me, no one on my road is racist,
homophobic, transphobic or anything a-phobic. Or if they are, they keep their
opinions to themselves and do not threaten the rest of the community or demand
that everyone else must follow their beliefs, like some crazed cult leader. My
problem is that, although, I live in a nice area, I am on the next road over from
the boarder of the Birmingham catchment area. The first two roads that I have
to walk down, after I leave my road, on my way to work, every day, are lined
with Union Jacks and St George’s Crosses. I guess, the numbskulls who hung the
flags, at the very least, hung the Union Jacks the correct way up. I have heard
from a few colleagues that, where they live, the idiots responsible for the
flags hung them all upside down. Well, I guess they are in distress, because
their masculinity feels threatened, so maybe we should give them the benefit of
the doubt.
Walking down those two roads, before 6am, five days a week, and after 5pm every
evening, really do not make me feel safe at all. I carry a personal alarm with
me, but still, knowing that the area is so racist, and thug-like, really makes
me feel uncomfortable. I have a five mile walk to and from work as it is, and
the only way to avoid these two roads, would be to walk in the opposite
direction, which would make my walk to work almost seven miles, which, to me,
just feels very stupid to decide to opt for a walk to work that takes an extra two
mile walk, but I am wondering whether I should start walking that way. Nowhere
else on my walk has any flags. It is just the first two roads that start the
Birmingham area off, from where I live.
Now, this complaint is coming from a white, British female. I feel threatened
and I fit the racists’ Nazi-like ideologies. Did no one learn anything from
Hitler’s World War II? Nobody? I know a lot of the racists flying these flags
don’t have a secondary school education, but, scarily, some of them do. I don’t
even think that the majority of these racist, flag bearers have a single piece
of human decency. Take the guy who is head of the anti-Islam campaign and
one of the UK's most prominent far-right activists. He goes by the name Tommy
Robinson, probably because he believes it sounds more racist than his actual
name. The merchandise that he is selling is made by the people that he is being
racist against. This makes me so very angry! How is this man able to get away
with the things that he does and says? I know that he has had court
appearances, but he is essentially the new Hitler and must be stopped before he
causes a civil war, in the UK.
I have said several times that I would really like to take down the Union Jacks
and St George’s Crosses and replace them all with the LGBTQ flag. To me, that
flag represents safety, peace and belonging. That community is full of very
friendly, respectful and supportive people. It is my community. I bet all of
the racist people would feel threatened then, because racist people, also seem
to be homophobic too and transphobic. I honestly have no idea why. The LGBTQ+
community are not a cult, trying to convert every straight person into being
gay. We are not choosing to be different. Nor is this a new trend. There have
always been gay, bisexual, asexual, demisexual etc. people. It is just taken
until now, for us to be allowed to not feel terrified to exist, or that there
is something wrong with us. My mum’s dad was a drag queen in the 70s, and they
had to hide it, in fear that they would lose their job. People shouldn’t have
to live in fear of who they are or who they have feelings for, and who they
don’t have feels for. The LGBTQ+ community is not out there, forcing people to
not be straight, they are there to support people who aren’t sure, or who know
they aren’t straight and need some support, as their family or friends might
not understand. They are there as friends and allies for those who share the
same feelings and ideologies. Why can’t I take down the flags that only stand
for racism and that were put up specifically to spread fear by thugs, and
replace them with a flag that represents a community full of so many positive
messages. The world has come so far, especially since the internet, which has
helped the LGBTQ+ community grow strong and be understood. We are able to reach
so many positive communities, make friends with people and share happiness,
peace and friendship. Isn’t that the message that the UK should be spreading?
We aren’t racist thugs, who want to kill anyone who doesn’t have ten generations,
plus, of British heritage. What kind of lesson does this teach future
generations?
I am pleased to see that the local council painted over the red cross that was
made on the white roundabout, near me, but I dare say that my local council
painted over this, and not Birmingham, who are the ones to blame for the flags,
near me anyway. At least that is progress. Solihull, also, held their very
first pride parade this year, and although I was really sad that I was unable
to go, because I was unwell, it is so exciting to see all of the photos from
the event, and how it brought so many people together.
My partner said something that I find very interesting, as it was not something
I have thought about before. He said that as people get older, there is a
higher probability that they become less inclusive of others/more close-minded,
and this age-change of viewpoints can happen from as early as their thirties.
This has got me a little worried about possibly losing the few friends that I
do have, as we are all in our mid-to-late thirties/early forties, so what if
one of them suddenly decides to become a completely different person overnight.
It also helped me to come to terms with a person, from my past, who severely
changed their political viewpoints over the last ten years, from neutral with
slight left-wing tendencies, to far right political beliefs. I had, always,
thought that he was influenced by his sunflower, but maybe his age led him
astray. It’s always heartbreaking to see someone you once cared so much for,
turn into the type of person that you hate.
I really do hope that Birmingham council see sense, stop the racists, and take
the flags down soon, so it feels safe to walk to work again, and just go for a
walk in general.
- Josie -
