Proudly British.. and Muslim: Part Deux
Amir Khan ended up getting a silver yesterday, but his face was as prominent across the back pages of the British newspapers today as that of Kelly Holmes. I flicked through the different publications while getting my daily Guardian (which was sold out, in the end) - front page Kelly, back page Amir. Not bad for a 17 year-old from Bolton, one might say. Better still that this was a 17-year old British Muslim from Bolton.
British Muslims - and Muslims living in Britain - have never been given an easy ride since September 11, despite the fact that many abhor violence and are in no way supportive of terrorism, whatever the form. Say Muslim and mosque, and the first image that comes to the mind of many Brits is that of radical cleric Abu Hamza, and sadly not of more peaceful and yet prominent Muslims like Yusuf Islam. Amir's rise to the forefront of British amateur boxing, and the silver medal he brought home from Athens with him, could potentially prove to be a new front to the way the public views Muslims. Coupled with the fact that he is, reportedly, 'a devoute Muslim who never drinks', perhaps mosque-going Muslims in the UK can finally begin to rid themselves of the image that all they do at mosques is plot how to next bomb the country.
Also ironically how newspapers like The Sun and Daily Star overplay the so-called threats all Muslims pose to the country, and yet in the same breath want to embrace heros whose roots lie in the very people they want eradicated from the country. Their extreme views - which are read (and arguably, believed) by the working class, hurt racial relations more than they heal. But then again, responsible reporting isn't quite the hallmark of these publications.
In times when such media often cry out for the deportation of immigrants and cite them (collectively) as the source of the rise in crime, it is also worth noting that Britain's track & field golds had a distinct Carribean flavour to it; and the rest of Britain's gold haul (sailing, rowing, cycling and equestrian) were not in working-class related sports. At a time when pre-Olympic favourites like Tim Henman and Paula Radcliffe fell by the wayside, Team GB's heros consisted of a 34 year old black woman and a 17 year old Asian boy.
Good job, Amir; it's not just about the medal now. He could well be the face of change in racial relations within this country. While people now are more openly acception of those with African / Carribean backgrounds, Asians hailing from India and Pakistan and Muslims still have a hill, if not a mountain, to climb. It sounds optimistic, but if his rise has led to one more person understanding what being a British Muslim is really about, above and beyond the trash reported in the media, then it won't be a waste.
There seemed to be genuine surprise that Amir was proudly British, when in actual fact, what else was he? Now, to convince the rest of the country people like him are the rule, and not the exception.
British Muslims - and Muslims living in Britain - have never been given an easy ride since September 11, despite the fact that many abhor violence and are in no way supportive of terrorism, whatever the form. Say Muslim and mosque, and the first image that comes to the mind of many Brits is that of radical cleric Abu Hamza, and sadly not of more peaceful and yet prominent Muslims like Yusuf Islam. Amir's rise to the forefront of British amateur boxing, and the silver medal he brought home from Athens with him, could potentially prove to be a new front to the way the public views Muslims. Coupled with the fact that he is, reportedly, 'a devoute Muslim who never drinks', perhaps mosque-going Muslims in the UK can finally begin to rid themselves of the image that all they do at mosques is plot how to next bomb the country.
Also ironically how newspapers like The Sun and Daily Star overplay the so-called threats all Muslims pose to the country, and yet in the same breath want to embrace heros whose roots lie in the very people they want eradicated from the country. Their extreme views - which are read (and arguably, believed) by the working class, hurt racial relations more than they heal. But then again, responsible reporting isn't quite the hallmark of these publications.
In times when such media often cry out for the deportation of immigrants and cite them (collectively) as the source of the rise in crime, it is also worth noting that Britain's track & field golds had a distinct Carribean flavour to it; and the rest of Britain's gold haul (sailing, rowing, cycling and equestrian) were not in working-class related sports. At a time when pre-Olympic favourites like Tim Henman and Paula Radcliffe fell by the wayside, Team GB's heros consisted of a 34 year old black woman and a 17 year old Asian boy.
Good job, Amir; it's not just about the medal now. He could well be the face of change in racial relations within this country. While people now are more openly acception of those with African / Carribean backgrounds, Asians hailing from India and Pakistan and Muslims still have a hill, if not a mountain, to climb. It sounds optimistic, but if his rise has led to one more person understanding what being a British Muslim is really about, above and beyond the trash reported in the media, then it won't be a waste.
There seemed to be genuine surprise that Amir was proudly British, when in actual fact, what else was he? Now, to convince the rest of the country people like him are the rule, and not the exception.
posted by Idlan at 8/30/2004 04:24:00 pm
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