I went into the centre of Brighton yesterday for the first time in ages. Internet shopping along with the road works on the A259 have conspired to make this the case.
Anyway, I was struck by how different the centre of Brighton is to the centre of Reading. Reading and Brighton both have reasonably large over-seas-originated populations (though perhaps Reading more so). Both towns are roughly the same size and Brighton is prettier. The main difference that I wish to pick up on now, though, is the crime and atmosphere.
Reading feels oppressive. Not architecturally, but the atmosphere is of impending crime.
Reading is a dangerous place and it has the potential to explode at some distant point in the future. Reading needs to be protected from this future and the way to do this is pointed out by Brighton & Hove.
Tolerance is one of the attributes that Brightonians are most proud of, and rightly so. There has been the occasional racist crime but they are occasional, unusual and atypical.
And why do I think Brighton is this relative haven? I would suggest that the violently inciting mural in Reading is typical. There are so many racial equality projects and institutions that the slightly racist (if I can say such a thing) are radicalised. And the minorities that are apparently being protected, imagine that there’s a rights culture they can exploit.
Britain has a proud history of assimilating migrants and Brighton is continuing it. Reading should stop trying so hard before it creates permanent damage.
Oh, and I cannot miss this opportunity to criticise Thames Valley Police, but I stand by my comments above.
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#1 by yellerKat on June 6th, 2006 - 10:43 pm
At least Reading has a John Lewis! Not just a succesion of pond shops…
#2 by yellerKat on June 6th, 2006 - 10:44 pm
err…poUnd shops. Not to forget the 99p shop.
#3 by Gav on June 7th, 2006 - 7:42 am
Yes, Brighton’s lack of department stores (sorry, Debenhams, but you’re not) is annoying.
#4 by Tony Martin on June 7th, 2006 - 9:20 am
But my wife loves the pound shops!
I’ve never been to Reading so I can’t comment about it. I’m under the impression that many of the migrants in Brighton are Chinese students who will return in a few years.
#5 by Gav on June 7th, 2006 - 12:15 pm
No, there are a few colleges near where I work but there is an ever-increasing ethnic-minority population which, in my experience, lives in perfect harmony.
What I’m trying to suggest is that Brighton’s largely colour-blind attitude to race is the reason for the lack of friction.
#6 by Tony Martin on June 7th, 2006 - 1:15 pm
Or maybe the large number of Chinese in Brighton are a bit more passive than other groups.
#7 by Dave on June 8th, 2006 - 6:10 pm
yeah exactly Tony.
Gav didn’t say which ethnic groups he was talking about, it makes a big difference.. All people are not the same, all cultures are not the same…
meanwhile:
“POLICE patrols have been stepped up in an area of Bolton that saw running battles between white and Asian youths at the weekend.”
link
#8 by Tony Martin on June 9th, 2006 - 4:01 am
How much youth un-employment is there in Bolton?