Racism in Guernsey

Do you judge a person by the colour of their skin or by where they come from?
 
What about the casual remarks about Latvian girls or the old pork and cheese? Nothing wrong with that is there? I mean, it’s not like we’re being serious.
 
Appreciate it or not, Guernsey is slowly becoming less of a monoculture.
 
We now see the occasional turban, sari, or hijab knocking around and a black face in the High Street is no longer cause for comment. 

We’re more likely to hear an Eastern European language in Town than Guernsey French. In fact, it's rare to hear Guernsey French at all these days but that’s another story.
 
Not everyone welcomes these changes. There are some that still rail against the English for coming over and buying up the Island but turn a blind eye to the Guernsey people who sold out for a profit in the first place.
 
We are all a bit racist. We might try not to be but it’s still there occasionally.
 
Then there’s some who are quite proud of the fact. Well, at least we know where they stand.
 
Does racism happen in our schools? Well, if the parents are racist, then the kids are going to start off that way too. Most schools deal with the problem effectively; some could be better.
 
Racism is basically not liking someone because their ancestors came from somewhere else. Well guess what? At some point in time, we all did and the best guess at the moment is East Africa.
 
Lack of integration is also another big problem tied in with racism but that also cuts both ways. Why would someone talk to you if you are being hostile to them?
 
I’m not a racist. It’s just that I am better than you. I belong here.
 
No you’re not and no you don’t.
 
We are all immigrants from some time or another. Our ancestors were treated well and stayed to produce generations of locals. They contributed to our society by way of repayment over those generations and we should continue to do so.
 
Immigration brings new talent to the Island. Let’s welcome that and get to know these people better. Maybe they’re not so bad after all.
 
If they do turn out to be horrible, then treat them the same as you treat other horrible people. At least you then have a valid excuse rather than just their strangeness.
 
If they turn out to be criminal then why can’t we lead them to the boat and wave them goodbye? And if we can, why can’t we do that for so called locals too?
 
Caw, but it makes you think, don’t it!