We like to think we live in a progressive society here in the UK, but even charities like us aren’t immune to Islamophobic comments.
And since November is Islamophobia Awareness Month, let’s annoy the trolls by having a giggle at some of them.
“They may turn into a mass murderer or a dictator” – Andrew
Depressingly, this is a common type of Islamophobia. But I wonder if Andrew is aware that it’s actually white supremacy that’s currently the top counterterrorism concern in many countries.
In fact, out of 134 mass shootings in the US since 1982, 6% were of Asian ethnicity – 54% were committed by white males. You’re actually statistically more likely to drown in a bathtub than to be killed in an act of Islamist extremist terrorism.
“Or they may end up here scrounging.” – John
Yes, people who come to this country may well be eligible to claim benefits… but it certainly doesn’t mean they’re scrounging. Over half of all families who receive state support aren’t immigrant families, but white British families.
“They’ll drop out, smoke weed, start a small tie-dye t-shirt company on Etsy and live in a van” – Paul
Would you rather see someone set up their own small business or watch their family starve to death, unable to escape their fate?
“Thousands of doctors and engineers crossing the channel in dinghies” – Robert
Really? Somebody get Suella Braverman on the phone – tell her to let these people in immediately!
You can’t be suggesting that it’s a bad thing to have more doctors and engineers, right? But think about those they leave behind; they’re leaving communities without much-needed doctors. If we can give them the healthy, nutritious food to keep them going until they have a new doctor, isn’t that something we should do?
“She [the beneficiary] looks happy enough to me” – Victoria
Does she, Victoria? Oh, we are glad! That was our aim, after all.
While we could show photos of these children looking less than happy, we choose to focus on the positives. Yes, she looks happy because she’s finally been given a tasty and nutritious meal – perhaps the first she’s had in months! And it’s all thanks to our wonderful donors.
“Ask their own [country] to finance them – they’ll be enforcing their religion on us!” – Marguerite
This just isn’t true, Marguerite. If they could source financing from their own government, they would do.
And the idea of “enforcing their religion” is just nonsense.
Time to Make a Difference
Since this year’s theme for Islamophobia Awareness Month is ‘Tackling Denial,’ it’s time to admit that there is still a problem with Islamophobia in the UK – and it’s time to change that.
