2. Community Cohesion Twenty-five Questions

3. Twenty Questions 12345 678910 1112131415 1617181920 2122232425

4. The whole campaign has been based on the belief that those who have fought and been prepared to die for our country should have the right to live in our country. We owe them a debt of honour - a debt that will now be paid. All ex-Gurkhas who have served more than 4 years in the British Army will have the right to settle in the UK if they wish. 1. Why has the United Kingdom always been a mixed society? The Celts, Romans, Angles, Saxons, Jutes, Danes, Vikings, Normans are all ancestors of the British. In the 19 th century the UK built up an overseas empire around the world, leading to small black communities in Bristol, Liverpool and Cardiff. After the 2 nd WW a shortage of workers led to many different cultures from the Empire and Commonwealth coming to work in Britain. People from Africa, The West Indies, India, Pakistan, China and Bangladesh have all settled in the UK many of them having fought in the British forces in the 2 nd WW. (The Gurkas – Joanna Lumley’s campaign see below;)

5. 2. What has happened recently to increase the diversity of British society? The extension of the European Union led to a large influx of Eastern Europeans. Wars and racial / religious persecutions have led to an increase of asylum seekers. Even so in the 2001 census only 7.9% of the UK population came from ethnic minorities and over half of these were born and educated in the UK. By the 2011 census the UK had become more ethnically diverse (multi-ethnic). The Office for National Statistics states (26/01/14 http://www.ons.gov.uk/): The White ethnic group accounted for 86.0% of the usual resident population in 2011, a decrease from 91.3% in 2001 and 94.1% in 1991. White was the majority ethnic group at 48.2 million in 2011 (86.0%). Within this ethnic group, White British 1 was the largest group at 45.1 million (80.5 per cent). 91.0 per cent of the usual resident population identified with at least one UK national identity (English, Welsh, Scottish, Northern Irish, and British) in 2011. (Notes: 1 White British census tick box is labelled as ‘White English/Welsh/Scottish/Northern Irish/British.)

6. 3. What are the problems of discrimination and racism? Racist people believe the ethnic group to which they belong to be superior to all other ethnic groups. Religiously prejudiced people believe that everyone who does not believe in their religion is wrong. Racially prejudiced employers will not give jobs to certain ethnic groups. Religiously prejudiced employers will not give jobs to certain religious groups. Prejudiced landlords are likely to refuse accommodation to certain ethnic groups or religions. If teachers are prejudiced against certain ethnic minorities or religious groups, they will discriminate against them in their teaching so that those pupils do not achieve the results they should. Prejudiced police officers will discriminate against certain ethnic or religious groups, for example by stopping and searching them when they have no real reason for doing so.

7. 4. What are the effects of discrimination and racism? Discrimination and racism have very bad effects for a multi- ethnic society: If certain groups feel that they are being treated unfairly by society, then they will begin to work against that society. Some politicians believe that young black people turn to crime because they feel they will not be able to get good well-paid jobs because of discrimination. Some politicians believe that young Muslims have been turning to extremist Islamic groups because they feel they have no chance of success in a prejudiced British society. Racism and discrimination can lead to groups like the EDL (English Defense League) stirring up hatred and violence.

8. 5. What are the benefits of living in a multi-ethnic society? Multi-ethnic societies bring far more benefits than problems: People of different ethnic groups and nationalities will get to know and like each other, and probably intermarry, bringing more peace. More progress will be made in a multi-ethnic society because new people will bring new ideas and new ways of doing things. Life is more interesting with a much greater variety of food, music, fashion and entertainment. A multi-ethnic society helps people to live and work in a world of multi-national companies and economic interdependence between all nations.

9. 6. What has the government done to promote community cohesion in schools in the UK? A multi-ethnic society needs to promote community cohesion in order to remove the problems of prejudice, discrimination and racism. The UK government has made sure the importance of community cohesion is taught in schools. The following is taken from government advise to all schools: The new sub-paragraphs are intended to ensure that schools: encourage pupils to respect specified fundamental British values; do not promote extremist views, or partisan political views, through their curriculum and/or teaching, and offer pupils a balanced presentation of views when political issues are brought to their attention. The following is taken from the governments ‘Prevent’ strategy document published in June 2011 3.6 There is evidence to indicate that support for terrorism is associated with rejection of a cohesive, integrated, multi-faith society and of parliamentary democracy. Work to deal with radicalisation will depend on developing a sense of belonging to this country and support for our core values.

10. 7. What government guidance is given to schools about promoting community cohesion? The excerpt below is taken from government guidance to schools 2013. This is part of the ‘Prevent’ strategy which can be found at this web address: https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/97976/prevent -strategy-review.pdf Standard 5(1)(a)(v): assist pupils to acquire an appreciation of and respect for their own and other cultures in a way that promotes tolerance and harmony between different cultural traditions 11. This part of the standard was not changed in the recent revision. Enabling pupils to gain knowledge and respect for their own culture is an essential part of the standard and schools should ensure that work on other cultures takes place on a secure foundation. Culture is about the factors that are common to communities, such as custom, traditions, dress, food, and so on. It can be examined from both a historical and a contemporary perspective. While culture is different to faith, the two can be interlinked, and influence each other. Pupils must be encouraged to regard all faiths, races and cultures with respect. Teaching should also have a positive aspect, preparing pupils to interact easily with people of different cultures and faiths. Schools should develop opportunities for pupils through links with other schools and organisations, as well as the content of curriculum.

11. 8. What has the government done to promote community cohesion in the UK? Given money to groups working for community cohesion. Given guidance to schools about what should be taught. Paid for research into the best ways of achieving community cohesion. Appoint cabinet ministers, judges etc. from ethnic minorities. Passing the Race Relations Act 1968 which makes it unlawful to discriminate against anyone because of race, colour, nationality, ethnic or national origins; or to stir up racial hatred http://www.bbc.co.uk/learningzone/clips/race-relations-act/7690.html Updated in 1976 and again in 2001 (it was amended by the Race Relations (Amendment) Act 2000 (RRA 2000) to include discrimination by all public bodies.) http://www.bbc.co.uk/learningzone/clips/race-relations-act/7690.html Passing the Crime and Disorder Act 1998 which allows more severe punishment for offences which involve racial or religious hatred. Passing the Racial and Religious Hatred Act 2006 which makes it an offence to use threatening words or behaviour about religious beliefs or lack of belief. Establishing the Equality and Human Rights Commission (http://www.equalityhumanrights.com/) which promotes equality and human rights for all, and works to get rid of discrimination and to build good relations.http://www.equalityhumanrights.com/ Making sure that all political parties oppose racism and encourage members of ethnic minorities to become MPs.

12. 9. Why is community cohesion important in the UK? Community cohesion is important for all multi-ethnic and multi-faith societies because: Without it different groups would have different ideas about what society should be like and this can lead to violence. A lack of community cohesion in Oldham, Burnley and Bradford led to racially and religiously motivated street rioting in 2001 caused by different groups leading separate lives, ignorance about other communities and weak local leadership and policing. The 7/7 London bombers were British citizens who had lost their sense of allegiance to Britain (as were the killers of Lee Rigby). In countries without community cohesion (such as Iraq, Kashmir, Afghanistan, Pakistan?) violence becomes a way of life. Lack of community cohesion makes it impossible for people to work together as modern societies need.

13. 10. What is community cohesion about? How to avoid the bad effects of prejudice and discrimination. How to encourage different groups to work together. How to ensure respect for others whilst building up loyal citizens of the same society, with a shared vision of how that society should be.

14. 11. Why should Christians help to promote racial harmony? In the parable of the Good Samaritan, Jesus showed that races who hated each other (as did the Jews and Samaritans) should love each other as neighbours. The story shows that Christians should treat all races as their neighbours. Jesus treated people of different races equally (e.g. the Samaritan woman, a Roman centurion and the black African who helped him carry his cross. St Peter had a vision from God, telling him not to discriminate because God has no favourites among the races. St Peter promoted racial harmony. St Paul taught that all races are equal in Christ (Galatians 3:26-28) since God created all races in his own image. The Christian Church has members from every race. Over 50% of the world is Christian and 70% of Christians are non-white. All the Christian Churches have made statements recently condemning any form of racism or racial discrimination.

15. 12. ‘Nothing does more for racial harmony than religion’ – how would you argue against this statement? Arguments against this statement would be religious people who are racist, and groups that claim to be religious but are racist, for example, the Klu Klux Klan in the USA claimed to be Christian but used violence against black people; also the Dutch Reformed Church in South Africa taught that black people should not be treated equally. We are also entering an era where religion is being used as a reason for violence in some countries.

16. 13. Why is the UK a multi-faith society? Many societies were mono-faith until the 20 th century. However Britain had believers from different faiths for many years; From the 16 th Century the two main branches of Christianity – Roman Catholic and Protestant existed side by side in Britain, as well as some Jews who arrived in the 17 th century. This led to laws allowing religious freedom in the UK. By the middle of the 19 th century members of any religion were free to worship and had equal political rights. In the 20 th century Muslims, Hindus, Sikhs, Buddhists and other religions settled in the UK, so it became a truly multi-faith society.

17. 14. How did the religious make-up of the UK change between the 2001 census and the 2011 census? In the 2011 Census, Christianity was the largest religious group in England and Wales with 33.2 million people identifying with the religion, a decrease of 4.1 million from 2001 (from 72% to 59% of the usual resident population). Muslims made up the second largest religious group with 2.7 million people, an increase of 1.2 million (from 3% to 5% of the population). The number of people who reported that they did not have a religion reached 14.1 million people, an increase of 6.4 million (from 15% to 25% of the population). Video on these statistics available on http://www.ons.gov.uk/ons/rel/census/2011-census/detailed- characteristics-for-local-authorities-in-england-and-wales/sty-religion.htmlhttp://www.ons.gov.uk/ons/rel/census/2011-census/detailed- characteristics-for-local-authorities-in-england-and-wales/sty-religion.html

18. 15. What are the benefits of living in a multi-faith society? People can learn about other religions. This can help them to see what religions have in common. People from different religions may practice their religion more seriously. This may make people think about how they practice their own religion. People may come to understand why different religions believe what they do. This may make people think more seriously about their own beliefs. People are likely to become a lot more understanding about and respectful of each other’s religions. Religious freedom and understanding will exist in a multi-faith society. This may help to stop religious conflicts. A multi-faith society may even make some people think more about religion as they come across religious ideas they have never thought about before.

19. 16. What are the issues raised for religion by a multi-faith society? For a multi-faith society to work, people need to have the same rights regardless of the religion they do or do not belong to (religious pluralism). A multi-faith society cannot accept any one religion as being the true one. A multi-faith society must have religious freedom. The people living in the society must be free to choose or reject any or all of the religions practiced in the society. This raises issues around conversion, bringing up children and interfaith marriages.

20. 17.Why is conversion an issue in a multi-faith society? Many religions see it as their duty to convert everyone to their religion because: They believe that their religion is the only true religion. They believe that the only way for the followers of other religions to get to heaven is for them to be converted. Their holy books teach them that they should convert non believers. Trying to convert other religions can cause major problems because: Treating people differently because of their religion and trying to convert other religions is discriminating against those who do not have the same faith as you. It is impossible to say all other religions are wrong unless you have studied all of them and no one who is trying to convert others has done this. Trying to convert others can lead to arguments and even violence when people are told their religion is wrong.

21. 18. What are the problems of bringing up children in a multi-faith society? A multi-faith society requires everyone (including children) to have religious freedom and be able to choose which religion to follow, or to reject religion. To do this they must learn about the different religions in society. This is a problem for many religious believers because: Most religions encourage parents to bring up their children in their religion, and to become members of that religion. Most religions teach that only those who follow their religion will have a good life after death. Parents worry what will happen to their children after death if they do not stay in their religion. Social and peer pressures compel parents to exert pressure on their children to remain in the faith. Children educated in state schools are tempted away from religious lifestyles into the lifestyles of British teenagers.

22. 19. How can interfaith marriages cause problems in a multi-faith society? In a multi-faith society, young people of different faiths are going to meet, fall in love and want to marry. This can cause problems because: Often both couples must be members of the same religion to have a religious wedding ceremony. There is a question of which religion the children of the marriage will be brought up in. There is also the problem of what will happen to them after death. The parents and relatives of the couple often feel that they have been betrayed. (Look at the BBC 2 series of ‘A Very British Wedding’.) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7xonn0V1cl4 ) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7xonn0V1cl4

23. 20. How do religions work to promote community cohesion in the UK? The different religions in the UK are beginning to work to promote community cohesion. The Abrahamic religions (Judaism, Christianity and Islam) are beginning to recognise that they share certain beliefs and prophets (Abraham and Moses). From this they can work out ways of living together without trying to convert each other. Pope Benedict XVI (16 th ) in 2007 said he respected Muslims and that the future of the world depended on Christians and Muslims talking and working together. Some religious groups are developing ways of helping interfaith marriages. Many Protestant Churches and Liberal / Reform Jewish synagogues have developed special wedding services for mixed faith couples. The Church of England now has ‘Guidelines for the celebration of interfaith marriages in church’. Some religious leaders have set up the website to offer help and advice to couples from different religions. http://www.interfaithmarriage.org.uk/marr_findsomewhere.html http://www.interfaithmarriage.org.uk/marr_findsomewhere.html

24. 21. How do interfaith marriage couples get help with bringing up their children? Some Protestant Christian Churches and Liberal / Reform Jewish synagogues encourage mixed faith parents to bring their children up in both faiths. Leaders from the Church of England, Hindu, Sikh, Roman Catholic, Muslim, Jewish and Buddhist faiths have agreed to follow the National Framework on Religious Education so that children in faith schools will now be taught about all the main religions practiced in the UK.

25. 22. What is the main way that religions are trying to promote community cohesion? The main religions are working together in special groups to help promote community cohesion. There are national groups such as the Inter Faith Network for the UK which was founded in 1987 to promote good relations between people of different faiths in this country. http://www.interfaith.org.uk/ http://www.interfaith.org.uk/ There are also groups in most towns and cities bringing together the different religious groups in an area. http://www.hastingsinterfaith.org/ http://www.hastingsinterfaith.org/ There are individual places of worship which work together. For example, Father Michael Barnes, parish priest of St Anselm’s, Southall, says ‘Our neighbours next door are Hindus. For the last three years at Diwali (Hindu festival of light – story of Rama and Sita) we have hone there for a meal and then gone out into the garden to set off the fireworks.

26. 23. You must study how one issue from religion and community cohesion has been presented in one form of the media? Which issue have you chosen? Equal rights for women in religion. Problems of discrimination and racism. Equal rights for ethnic minorities Equal rights for religious minorities Religion and racial harmony Issues connected with living in a multi-faith society Religions working for community cohesion You can use ONE of the following: A soap opera A film A television drama or documentary A radio programme A newspaper article in two different types of newspaper, for example, The Times newspaper and The Sun newspaper.

27. 24. How will you answer a question on the issue and media source that you have chosen? You need to be able to answer questions on: Why the issue is important How it was presented Whether the presentation was fair to religious beliefs Whether the presentation was fair to religious people To do this you must: Select an issue and a form of media. Decide why the issue is important and why you think the producers of the media decided to focus on this issue. Write an outline of how the issue was presented, listing the main events and the way the events explored the issue. Look closely at the way religious beliefs are treated in the presentation of the issue. Use thus information to decide whether you think the presentation was fair to religious beliefs. Look closely at the way religious people are treated in the presentation of the issue. Use thus information to decide whether you think the presentation was fair to religious people.

28. 25. Which films or television programmes could you use to answer a media question on community cohesion? FILMSTELEVISION My Beautiful Launderette Shrek Bend it Like Beckham My Big Fat Greek Wedding Made in Dagenham The Vicar of Dibley The Khans TV SOAP OPERASDISCUSSION / Opinion programmes East Enders4thought TV The Big Questions