Tony Bennett

From www.SwimNews.com

Discrimination - A Positive Negative

01-Jan-2007, by Craig Lord

Shame to start the New Year on a low point but best start as soon as possible to call to account those apparently determined to undermine some of the better forces for good from the world of sport: a British local authority that counts Anita Lonsbrough, 1960 Olympic swim champion among its most famous locals, has been fiercely criticised for holding ethnic-minority only swimming sessions.

Wolverhampton City Council has, in its infinite wisdom, elected to hold black and Asian-only swim sessions and has employed specific lifeguards and teachers to back its policy of discrimination.

The council claims that the weekly sessions are aimed at women and children with "religious or cultural issues which would otherwise prevent them from taking part".

Not a good move if you don't have the same policy for all ethnic and religious groups. And that way lies madness, of course.

The hour-long, Thursday evening sessions at Wolverhampton's Central Baths have replaced an aqua-aerobics session that was previously open to all sections of a multi-cultural society.

The council's scheme receives backing from the British federation sponsor, Kellogg's, and its Swim Active programme. The federation has actively campaigned on anti-discrimination matters before, while Kellog's, which has funded the installation of special blinds around the pool, designed to protect swimmers' privacy, has no history of supporting discrimination.

Would Kellogg's contemplate, for example, different packaging on its cereal packets to pander to the many different religious and ethnic groups that presumably munch on its cornflakes each morning. Mmmm, rather more than merely doubtful.

Conservative MP for the area, Andrew Rosindell, called on the council to explain itself, telling local reporters: "This seems to be exactly the sort of thing that creates division and resentment rather than bringing people together. I'd like to know what the logic behind this is. It sounds like a pretty bad idea to me and just the sort of thing that councils should not be doing."

A Wolverhampton City Council spokesman said complaints about the scheme had been received by reception staff at the baths. She said: "It is one of the most ambitious schemes in the country and aims to tackle childhood obesity, engage the city's ethnic minority communities and work with children who fear water. An initial trial of eight weeks is providing an opportunity for women and children from ethnic minorities, who may not otherwise participate for cultural and religious reasons."

Best intentions perhaps. Worst outcome assured. Imagine, for instance, what would happen if a major municipal pool anywhere in Europe, in Australia, in North America, and just about anywhere else you care to mention, set aside evening sessions for white people only. It used to happen. We've moved on. Haven't we?

Time for Kellogg's and the British federation to remind the Midlands council that sport, including swimming, is for all, an environment free of segregation and discrimination - of any kind. Time to drop the Doublespeak of positive discrimination. Discrimination is negative. On that score all involved in this sorry state of affairs could learn much from those at the helm of Olympic sport, the IOC, FINA and nations such as the United States, whose development programmes for less developed nations have often been exemplary.

Time to remind all who wish to swim in the public enviroment, one build on the back of funding garnered from taxes paid by all, that people who cannot abide co-mingling with neighbours of a different race (or religion) should either build their own backyard pool and get on with it in the privacy of their own embarrassment or, as one British commentator put it "forgo their swimming practice and thus, if they are unlucky enough to fall into a river, or are brusquely pushed, should be left to drown quietly".

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Westcountryman

I can only imagine the outcry there would be if the BNP started demanding white-only swimming sessions. :evil:

America pulled itself apart over segregation, why are we now repeating their mistake?

__________________
Manus haec inimica tyrannis ense petit placidam sub libertate quietam - "This hand of mine, which is hostile to tyrants, seeks by the sword quiet peace under liberty."

rjt

There was a similar post on this forum before christmas about muslim only sessions at a sports centre in croydon. This madness may never end.

John Youles

Surely this is illegal ?

__________________
John Youles
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/ind-uk/ - the discussion list exclusive to UKIP members.

Bluemerle

This positive discrimination will backfire when people wake up.

mkpdavies

MOBO
Black police association
etc etc

Personally I don't care if they want to create such groups. What I do care about, is they can, but a white group can't.

No balance, prejudiced horseshit that will end in tears if not addresed soon.

__________________
http://brits4ronpaul.blogspot.com/
http://wokinglibertarians.blogspot.com/
http://lpuk.org

My ignore list

Labour, Blue Labour, Lib Dems

NoMoreEUSSR

I just voted "wrong" in the above poll.

And I'm far from white.

22ANDUK

Surely the best thing to do if you're white is to turn up anyway.

1) Are they going to ban you?
2) You could say you're an ethnic minority and make them 'harrass you' in asking which one.
3) Are they really not only going to stop you, but actually kick you out?

The publicity would be terrible for the pool.

The reason this happens though is because the British people LET it happen. I bet 99-100% wil moan and complain but do nothing.

Tony Bennett

22ANDUK wrote:

"Surely the best thing to do if you're white is to turn up anyway.

1) Are they going to ban you?
2) You could say you're an ethnic minority and make them 'harrass you' in asking which one.
3) Are they really not only going to stop you, but actually kick you out?

The publicity would be terrible for the pool".

REPLY:

This is excellent 'direct action' thinking and had cetainly already crossed my mind. I have friends in Wolverhampton and could pop along for a swim one Thursday night while I'm up with them.

Actually, I think this is 'direct racial discrimination' under the Racial Discrimination Act - 1975 I think it was - and the level of compensation could be high. If you can prove how 'hurt' and 'offended' you were, of course.

The ideal thing would be to turn up in a group, say two white, one 'mixed heritage' and one black and then see if they try and turn the two whites away!

Incidentally, when it suits, I often describe myself as 'Mixed - Asian and Other' on these ethnic forms you have to fill in. Half of my 'blood' is Central European - Bohemian, Czech, Austrian, Magyar, Slav etc. - and I think I'm right historically in saying that many of these groups were pushed westwards out of Asia by the Mongols and the Vandals etc. I may not be 50% Asian but, say, about 23.95%?

I might even have some Vandal blood as well come to think of it.

Anyone going swimming Thursday night in Wolverhampton in the near future?

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

andypandy

How do they define those that enter as asian or black, with litmus paper? Perhaps some other highly advanced form of racial estimating, maybe one's ability to rap, dance to hip-hop music, or even to the exent of the strong smell of curry on one's breath!

Some one should turn-up in a hijab and see how far it gets them!