The Impact of 9/11 on Race Relations.

As the the tenth anniversary of the 9/11 attacks is approaching, I thought it would be appropriate to write a blog related to it. Something I have always considered, but never really researched in depth, is the negative impact that awful day and its aftermath had on race relations.

Since the atrocious attacks on the Twin Towers a decade ago, race relations, particularly those between Muslims and the so called West, have apparently deteriorated. At the very least they have intensified. It seems as if the British National Party and the  English Defence League are almost a direct response to the attacks on 9/11. Could it be that the September 11th attacks and reactions to it gave rise to the efforts of British far right groups to identify Muslims as symbolic of unwanted difference and almost excused anti Islamic violence? In Nazi Germany, the far right were able to use the Jewish community as a scapegoat, in the twenty first century the far right are focused on Islam.

There has long been a Muslim presence in Britain, since the beginning of the 19th century in Britain in fact. Islam first came to Britain with the immigration of Muslim seamen who settled around major British ports. Again,  after World War Two there was an increase in the number of Muslims in Britain as a result of large numbers of  Banglasdeshis, Pakistanis and Indians being brought in to address labour demands.

In all fairness to the BNP, EDL and other similar organisations, the portrayal of Muslims in Europe has been negative since the formation of Islam. The negativity towards them is not a new phenomenon. Anti-Muslim feeling grew out of the desire to prevent Christians from converting to Islam and to encourage resistance to Muslim forces on borders. They were portrayed then, and sadly in many instances still are unfairly portrayed as barbaric, ignorant, closed minded terrorists. This, needless to say was and is absolutely disgraceful.

In the decade that has followed 9/11, Muslisms have been the target for more subtle forms of prejudice and hatred by right wing groups. The media worked collectively to reinforce negative beliefs and perceptions by highlighting honour killings, terrorist organisations like Al-Quaeda, and extremist muslim groups like Islam4UK led by Anjam Choudary.

Often the language used to describe Muslims is violent, which infers that Muslims are violent. Lest we forget the old adage 'violence only begets more violence.' Arabic words have been put into universal vocabulary with new meaning such as Jihad. This now signifies a military war waged by Islamists against the the West. However the Qur'anic meaning is far braoder and refers to the idea of struggle.

It's not just the media who are guilty of using anti- Muslim rhetoric for their own gains. Politicians are at it too. When politicians used the phrase "War on Terror", they are using the Anti Muslim frame already put in place, but being subtle about it. David Miliband rightly said in this weeks BBC Question Time that those words "should never have been uttered." Why? Because the only purpose that sentence serves, is to almost justify radical right wing groups, and their hatred towards Islam and Muslims, because they are seen as the enemy.

Something that I found utterly shocking, was something I read on the website of the broadsheet newspaper The Guardian. A colouring book has just been released entitled "We shall never forget 9/11: The Kids Book of Freedom." This colouring book contains pictures of the Twin Towers burning and the execution of Osama bin Laden. Highly appropriate for children isn't it? It even contains this text: "Children, the truth is, these terrorist acts were done by freedom-hating radical Islamic Muslim extremists. These crazy people hate the American way of life because we are FREE and our society is FREE." This book serves to demonize Islam, not to speak the truth as it says. It essentially characterizes all Muslims as terrorists and radicals which could lead children to believe they were all responsible for the attacks on 9/11. Instead of teaching equality, it seeks to divide children and fear other religions.

 Something which I take particular exception to, where anti- Muslim rhetoric is concerned is the way in which people describe the relationship as 'them' and 'us'. As far as I'm concerned religion is irrelevant. If the people which got on the plane that day were Muslim, it does not mean that millions of other Muslims behave that way as well. Not too long ago there was a terrorist attack committed in Norway by a Christian.

I think ultimately, Muslims are the new blacks, the new Jews, the new Irish. They are at this moment in time the scapegoat people use. In time it will pass, when they find something else. I don't think that September 11th 2001 necessarily increased prejudice towards Muslims, although unfortunately it did give people with such disgusting outlooks something with which to justify their twisted logic and unacceptable views.

The Devaluation of a University Education.

When Labour came into power in 1997, Tony Blair proclaimed his three main priorities were ‘Education, Education, Education.’ The importance of education as stressed by Tony Blair is certainly something with which I am inclined to agree. I have always believed, as I’m sure many others would, that a good standard of education can lead people in positive directions.

Since 1997, there has been sustained improvement in education, which was certainly helped with a major financial imput, which resulted in better Ofsted reports, improved GCSE and A-level results and more people than ever going to University. It seemed, no matter what a child’s background, the opportunity was there for everyone. It is thanks to this improvement in education, that I, myself, was able to study at University. Without the Labour government’s reforms I and many of my friends would not have been able to afford to go to University.

Obviously, this is not without criticism. With more people than ever going to University, there is now apparently 70 graduates per graduate job. I myself, have been unable to achieve my graduate dream of working along side an MP as a caseworker as I lack experience, when there are many others who have such experience. The situation has also not been helped by the current economic climate. One would believe that three years of hard work, presentations, seminars, countless essays and a 10,000 word dissertation which involved hours of time and energy, would provide me with a  degree which would hold much more value than the £20,000 spent in achieving it. Unfortunately it does not. The highly competitive job market I find myself in, means that there are thousands of graduates out there offering employers exactly what I have to offer.

We now live in an age where in some cases a University education is almost something to be ashamed of.  I graduated twelve months ago with a degree in history from the University of Liverpool and I am still searching for a career. For now I have no other option than to work part time in a betting shop to support myself.

Upon meeting me and learning I have a degree, a lot of people ask what I studied at University and when they hear that I studied history they invariably respond in one of two ways. The first is “Oh do you want to be a teacher then?”, the second is “What can you do with that?”

So why did I study History? Those who ask this question, sadly, fail to see not only the cultural but intrinsic value of academics, but specifically arts and humanities. Could this be because there is not necessarily a career path for such subjects? Or could it be that we now have a generation of people, as Oxford graduate and stand up comedian Stewart Lee argued, who believe “the only purpose of education is to earn money.” Clearly people believe, without even realising, that if it is not financially viable to the state, then art subjects like history, shouldn’t be studied.

In fact I was asked throughout my undergraduate studies, what I was going to do with my degree, often implying that I would get nowhere in life studying a subject like history. They may well have a point. There may not be a direct career, but that does not mean it is wrong to study it.

History is an important subject, it tells us who we are, how we got here and helps us understand why.  The study of history helps to ensure that the struggles, pain and suffering endured in the past were not in vain. To me the past is important, and it should be appreciated for what it is. Besides this, educating oneself is always a positive thing, regardless of whether it leads directly into a particular career. Brian May, guitarist from the rock band Queen has a degree in astrophysics as well as a doctorate.  Such a level of education in this particular field can hardly been seen as a stepping stone to global stardom as part of one of the most successful bands  of all time! But, he clearly believes in education, and the need and satisfaction gained from learning.

There are far too many people who believe that a large wage packet is the answer to happiness, something the Conservatives have been brainwashing us with since the 1980s, with their tool of aspiration; ‘Anyone can be middle class’.

At the end of the day, I am proud of my 2.1 History  degree. I worked hard for it and learnt so much. In addition to learning about the past my studies have given me other skills, such as an understanding of and experience in research methodology; statistical compilation and analysis; critical thinking and analytical skills; and an independent viewpoint.

University in itself has given me important skills for life, unforgettable memories and an absolute brilliant experience. They can say what they want but they won’t take my degree away from me.


Rachael.