tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8986344565389634695.post7084823441622127767..comments2023-11-05T04:05:27.483-08:00Comments on Blood and Property: George Galloway: Bradford vs Bethnal Green (UPDATED again)Unknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger3125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8986344565389634695.post-57273011481013472402012-03-26T18:44:36.406-07:002012-03-26T18:44:36.406-07:00Thanks for the comment. I agree with a lot of what...Thanks for the comment. I agree with a lot of what you are saying and I think I can understand why you might want to vote for George Galloway. <br /><br />I thought I’d look at this comment: “The writer of this article should be ashamed of thinking so little of Pakistani Muslims that we somehow are uncapable of voting for someone based upon merit and that we are acustom or prone to being taken for fools.” <br /><br />The voting habits and motives of Muslim Asians were the subject of a lot scrutiny after the race riots in 2001 and the conclusions were not positive: <br /><br /><br />The Ritchie Report (http://www.oldhamir.org.uk/OIR%20Report.pdf) said: “There appears to be a clan or client based approach to politics and public life within the Pakistani and Bangladeshi communities which does not fit easily with traditional British processes and which has been exploited by white party leaders, to get votes, and Asian Community leaders, to secure influence.”<br /><br />The Cantle Report said something similar: “In some areas, the Asian community has drawn our attention to a situation where some local political activities, including the selection of candidates, owe more to familial and other inappropriate connections, than to the legitimate and pressing concerns of the local electorate.”<br /><br />And the Ouseley Report (http://www.bradford2020.com/pride/report.pdf) about Bradford said the same too, it just didn’t specify which communities it was talking about: “Political leadership has been weak in kowtowing to community leadership and operating within a "doing deals" culture to avoid "disturbances" and to "keep the peace". So-called "community leaders" are self-styled, in league with the establishment key people and maintain the status quo of control and segregation through fear, ignorance and threats. Community leaders tend to retain their power base by maintaining the segregated status quo even when unrepresentative.”<br /><br />I don’t know if you’d agree with these views. <br /><br />Anyway, I was writing about Galloway’s habit of making different promises to different sets of people, a habit made a lot easier when communities are split – which they appear to be in Bradford. If however he uses this bad habit to do a good thing, then it’ll be a good thing. <br /><br />Good luck with the revolution.Blood and Propertyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11938733379301047398noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8986344565389634695.post-80471131790228351762012-03-26T16:23:21.324-07:002012-03-26T16:23:21.324-07:00What you fail to mention is Bradford West is a Lab...What you fail to mention is Bradford West is a Labour stronghold with a 6000 solid majority. (So this is a two horse race, its Respect V Labour) And most importantly that the Labour candidate that Galloway is up against is a PAKISTANI, MIRPURI, MUSLIM from Bradford. So its not exactly possible for Galloway to use race or religion to win this election is it?<br /><br />The fact of the matter is that I would have been voting Labour had Galloway not entered the mix. I am voting Galloway, because unlike the Labour Candidate he is able to speak, has the experience, the contacts and the charisma to represent me and my community better than the other candidate.<br /><br />The writer of this article should be ashamed of thinking so little of Pakistani Muslims that we somehow are uncapable of voting for someone based upon merit and that we are acustom or prone to being taken for fools. <br /><br />I challenge you to Pop down to Bradford for yourself and see what's going on. There is a revolution happening. People are tired of the same old LAB/CON Mp's and Councillors who do NOTHING to help our failing city. We want change and we believe Galloway is the best man of the candidates we have, who can deliver. That, and the fact that the Labour Candidate can barely string a few sentences together in a coherent manner, are the ONLY reasons why Galloway looks likely to be riding into Westminster soon after delivering the biggest political earthquake Bradford has ever seen.<br /><br /><br />Just accept the fact that Galloway is a heavyweight of British Politics who is elected by the people because the people want him...and accept the fact that you will not be getting an interview for a job at the Guardian any time soon!Voterwithabrainhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08210635877033913480noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8986344565389634695.post-40029072196281066722012-03-26T16:12:12.803-07:002012-03-26T16:12:12.803-07:00What you fail to mention is Bradford West is a Lab...What you fail to mention is Bradford West is a Labour stronghold with a 6000 solid majority. And most importantly that the Labour candidate that Galloway is up against a PAKISTANI, MIRPURI, MUSLIM in Bradford. So its not exactly possible for him to use race or religion to win this election is it?<br /><br />The fact of the matter is that I would have been voting Labour had Galloway not entered the mix. I am voting Galloway, because unlike the Labour Candidate he is able to speak, has the experience, the contacts and the charisma to represent me and my community well.<br /><br />The writer of this article should be ashamed of thinking so little of Pakistani Muslims that we somehow are uncapable of voting for someone based upon merit and that we are acustom or prone to being taken for fools. Just accept the fact that GG is a heavyweight of British Politics who is elected because the people want him...and accept the fact that you will not be getting an interview for a job at the Guardian any time soon!Voterwithabrainhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08210635877033913480noreply@blogger.com