There is some good news following the riots on British streets. Most Britons are united against the minority of racist thugs in the country. Rioters are going to jail. There is also bad news. For too long the UK has tolerated those in positions of influence who try to divide its citizens. A few prominent political activists dress up in smart suits and preach sermons of division. They deflect criticism by claiming “free speech” and a “fair commentary” on the “woke agenda”, whatever that is.
The former UK prime minister Boris Johnson takes a slightly different tack. He’s enormously privileged, educated at Eton and Oxford and when criticised for offensive remarks he suggests it’s just a bit of humour. The insinuation is that you and I must be humourless not to understand the fun. But the former prime minister’s comments are no laughing matter.
In 2002, the respected Spectator magazine published Mr Johnson’s thoughts on Africa: "The continent may be a blot, but it is not a blot upon our conscience. The problem is not that we (the British) were once in charge, but that we are not in charge any more… The best fate for Africa would be if the old colonial powers, or their citizens, scrambled once again in her direction; on the understanding that this time they will not be asked to feel guilty.”
Guilty? Of what? The slave trade, perhaps? The brutal exploitation of a continent’s resources and labour? Mr Johnson does not say, but his mindset is that of those who spoke of “the white man’s burden”. What’s astonishing is that a well-regarded British magazine published in 2002 a commentary delivered in the mindset of 1902.
People can start by rejecting well-educated voices who see opportunities in division
Mr Johnson also wrote of then prime minister Tony Blair’s visit to Africa: “No doubt the AK47s will fall silent... and the tribal warriors will all break out in watermelon smiles to see the big white chief touch down in his big white British taxpayer-funded bird.”
There have been other examples of Mr Johnson’s comments in a similar supposedly “humorous” style criticised as deeply offensive, but he wasn’t shunned. After all, he became foreign secretary and then prime minister. Nowadays, he has a column in a popular tabloid newspaper. But unfortunately Mr Johnson and some others in politics and the media give a pseudo-intellectual gloss to resentment, division and discord. They influence some less educated and less well-off citizens to mourn the loss of a mis-remembered British empire.
At its heart, there is a sense of superiority towards people of colour and other minorities. Nigel Farage, leader of the Reform Party and now an MP, is frequently on television and radio. Like Mr Johnson, he also had a highly privileged upbringing. But his comments during the past few weeks have led some newspaper columnists and others to describe our street disturbances as “Farage riots.” He dislikes the term, but even back in the 2016 Brexit referendum campaign, Mr Farage played up the idea that long queues of non-European migrants were waiting to enter a failing Britain under the slogan “Breaking Point.”
More recently Mr Farage and his colleagues parrot a phrase from the far right that Britain has “two tier policing”. It suggests one tier of soft policing on people of colour; the other, a harsh policing on “ordinary” English folk. What Britain certainly does have is two-tier politics.
One tier is that of the vast majority of British politicians, Labour, Conservative, Liberal Democrat, Scottish Nationalist, and others. They are mostly tolerant, decent leaders who want to promote harmony in communities. But the second tier is made up of those politicians who see an opportunity to exploit divisions in society. At their worst they are verbal incendiarists who express surprise when their sparks cause a fire.
Elon Musk on X, the platform formerly known as Twitter, goes so far as to claim Britain and western Europe are on the edge of “civil war.” Mr Musk’s crystal ball may be faulty. But concerns that hate speech is tolerated on X have led to demands for new regulation. This is a difficult area.
It’s true that one spark behind the British riots was the promotion on social media of claims that the alleged killer of three young girls at a dance class in Southport was a Muslim. The fact is that the person charged with these horrible crimes is not Muslim. But social media proved a powerful way of spreading such inflammatory lies and disinformation – even though had the suspect been a Muslim, that should not be an excuse for riots.
There are also investigations as to whether malicious foreign actors are trying to de-stabilise British and other societies by creating or spreading damaging rumours. While these difficult areas are investigated, perhaps citizens need to take some responsibility too.
People can start by rejecting well-educated voices who see opportunities in division, and being suspicious of some of the siren voices on social media. Regulation may be possible in the long term, but that is dealing with the spark. A much more significant problem is those prominent public figures who add fuel the fire.
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MOUNTAINHEAD REVIEW
Starring: Ramy Youssef, Steve Carell, Jason Schwartzman
Director: Jesse Armstrong
Rating: 3.5/5
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Marital status: Separated with two young daughters
Education: Master's degree from American Univeristy of Cairo
Favourite book: That Is How They Defeat Despair by Salwa Aladian
Favourite Motto: Their happiness is your happiness
Goal: For Nefsy to become his legacy long after he is gon
MISSION: IMPOSSIBLE – FINAL RECKONING
Director: Christopher McQuarrie
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MATCH INFO
Uefa Champions League last 16, second leg
Liverpool (0) v Atletico Madrid (1)
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Kick-off: Thursday, March 12, midnight
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How much do leading UAE’s UK curriculum schools charge for Year 6?
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*Annual tuition fees covering the 2024/2025 academic year
The five pillars of Islam
Zayed Sustainability Prize
THE LIGHT
Director: Tom Tykwer
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Rating: 3/5
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INDIA V SOUTH AFRICA
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Dr Amal Khalid Alias revealed a recent case of a woman with daughters, who specifically wanted a boy.
A semen analysis of the father showed abnormal sperm so the couple required IVF.
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Key figures in the life of the fort
Sheikh Dhiyab bin Isa (ruled 1761-1793) Built Qasr Al Hosn as a watchtower to guard over the only freshwater well on Abu Dhabi island.
Sheikh Shakhbut bin Dhiyab (ruled 1793-1816) Expanded the tower into a small fort and transferred his ruling place of residence from Liwa Oasis to the fort on the island.
Sheikh Tahnoon bin Shakhbut (ruled 1818-1833) Expanded Qasr Al Hosn further as Abu Dhabi grew from a small village of palm huts to a town of more than 5,000 inhabitants.
Sheikh Khalifa bin Shakhbut (ruled 1833-1845) Repaired and fortified the fort.
Sheikh Saeed bin Tahnoon (ruled 1845-1855) Turned Qasr Al Hosn into a strong two-storied structure.
Sheikh Zayed bin Khalifa (ruled 1855-1909) Expanded Qasr Al Hosn further to reflect the emirate's increasing prominence.
Sheikh Shakhbut bin Sultan (ruled 1928-1966) Renovated and enlarged Qasr Al Hosn, adding a decorative arch and two new villas.
Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan (ruled 1966-2004) Moved the royal residence to Al Manhal palace and kept his diwan at Qasr Al Hosn.
Sources: Jayanti Maitra, www.adach.ae
The bio
Date of Birth: April 25, 1993
Place of Birth: Dubai, UAE
Marital Status: Single
School: Al Sufouh in Jumeirah, Dubai
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Job Title: Pilot, First Officer
Number of hours flying in a Boeing 777: 1,200
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Nicest destination: Milan, New Zealand, Seattle for shopping
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Favourite place to visit: Dubai, there’s no place like home
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Sand storm
- Particle size: Larger, heavier sand grains
- Visibility: Often dramatic with thick "walls" of sand
- Duration: Short-lived, typically localised
- Travel distance: Limited
- Source: Open desert areas with strong winds
Dust storm
- Particle size: Much finer, lightweight particles
- Visibility: Hazy skies but less intense
- Duration: Can linger for days
- Travel distance: Long-range, up to thousands of kilometres
- Source: Can be carried from distant regions
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The five pillars of Islam
1. Fasting
2. Prayer
3. Hajj
4. Shahada
5. Zakat
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hall of shame
SUNDERLAND 2002-03
No one has ended a Premier League season quite like Sunderland. They lost each of their final 15 games, taking no points after January. They ended up with 19 in total, sacking managers Peter Reid and Howard Wilkinson and losing 3-1 to Charlton when they scored three own goals in eight minutes.
SUNDERLAND 2005-06
Until Derby came along, Sunderland’s total of 15 points was the Premier League’s record low. They made it until May and their final home game before winning at the Stadium of Light while they lost a joint record 29 of their 38 league games.
HUDDERSFIELD 2018-19
Joined Derby as the only team to be relegated in March. No striker scored until January, while only two players got more assists than goalkeeper Jonas Lossl. The mid-season appointment Jan Siewert was to end his time as Huddersfield manager with a 5.3 per cent win rate.
ASTON VILLA 2015-16
Perhaps the most inexplicably bad season, considering they signed Idrissa Gueye and Adama Traore and still only got 17 points. Villa won their first league game, but none of the next 19. They ended an abominable campaign by taking one point from the last 39 available.
FULHAM 2018-19
Terrible in different ways. Fulham’s total of 26 points is not among the lowest ever but they contrived to get relegated after spending over £100 million (Dh457m) in the transfer market. Much of it went on defenders but they only kept two clean sheets in their first 33 games.
LA LIGA: Sporting Gijon, 13 points in 1997-98.
BUNDESLIGA: Tasmania Berlin, 10 points in 1965-66
