The sharp increase in Scots who feel distanced from Muslims, as revealed in a survey conducted before the foiled attack on Glasgow Airport in June (The Herald, December 12), has produced remarkably similar responses from members of the Scottish establishment.
Communities Minister Stewart Maxwell has promised "leadership" to fight prejudice and Osama Saeed of the Muslim Council of Britain has called for "educating the wider public". Can the fact that 50% of Scots are uncomfortable with more Muslims coming to the country be ascribed wholly or mainly to racism or Islamophobia? Might it have something to do with certain Muslim leaders demanding more special rights or demands for ethical autonomy that are incompatible with the western design for living?
If Scots are indeed deviant in their attitude to a high-profile minority such as Muslims, our politicians should find the reasons before launching education programmes to correct such an attitude. Could I suggest that in the case of Mr Maxwell's party it involves broader consultations than the SNP has made on an issue of such sensitivity? The First Minister's reception at Bute House for Scottish Muslims was dominated by party supporters. Excluded were figures who are prepared to speak frankly to co-religionists about how to build bridges with other Scots.
Decision-makers cannot give leadership if this is the extent of their networking. The SNP's predecessors in power have, over the past 200 years, been influenced by religious lobbies, with often baleful outcomes. They pursued policies in the name of the general good but their content was often influenced by electoral considerations. Politicians must not be allowed to stifle debate on ethno-religious issues that can have huge effects on our quality of life. If it becomes unacceptable to offer constructive criticism of aspects of minority behaviour, then it leads to the balance of power switching inside that group to irresponsible elements. I am afraid that if politicians seek to limit searching criticism in this way, it is only a matter of time before they will be looking to stifle criticism of their own behaviour.
Finally, I was shaken by the insistence of Morag Alexander of the Equality and Human Rights Commission that it is necessary to "create a Scotland that is at ease with all aspects of diversity".
This is a recipe for anarchy and would produce huge discord between minorities as well as the much lectured-to Scottish majority. If politicians, members of quangos and the media took the pulse of Scottish communities, I am convinced they would see how complex the situation was and be less inclined to offer simplistic solutions in order to alter the figures for the next Scottish Social Attitudes Survey.
Professor Tom Gallagher, Department of Peace Studies, University of Bradford.
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