“Islamophobia”. That is the “new age” word which describes the writings, philosophy and behaviour of persons like Mr Harry Russell, who asks in his column – so aptly named Wild Coot – of last Monday, Culture At Risk?
And then goes on to launch a series of very disturbing and xenophobic attacks on the faith of Islam and Muslims.
This islamophopbic trend is becoming popular in the West especially among far-right politicians, white supremacists and media personnel, who see their chances of gaining ground by creating a boogeyman to play on the fears and prejudices of the wider population.
Mr Russell has used this “fertility rate” argument before in his columns, an argument found on YouTube and the likes of Fox News Network.
Nothing new in this type of prejudiced approach. While progressing at a rapid pace, Europe and America became the place to be to achieve material success.
That, plus the fact that Europeans decided that neither marriage nor children were important any more, and those who did found themselves impotent due to lifestyle and pollution, several European countries were in a dilemma.
Dwindling young population, rising elderly population, how will the National Insurance Scheme work? The solution? Open the doors to immigration. Millions of people throughout the world, of all races, cultures and religions have benefited from immigration.
What Mr Russell has said of Muslims increasing in the Western countries has been said about Latinos in America more than 20 years ago.
In an article titled The Browning Of America it was calculated that Latinos would supersede the white population of America.
The reason was the same given to Muslims: “fertility rate”. One wonders what the original inhabitants of Australia, the Aborigines, would say to that.
Furthermore, Mr Russell, here in Barbados not only Muslims have established their own schools, have a different dress code and are exempt from worship.
The truth, Mr Russell, is that you incite prejudice and xenophobia in a country like Barbados that has never seen such practices or behaviour before. You bring a new culture to our land, a culture of intolerance.
SULEIMAN BULBULIA
