Boris Johnson’s article in a national paper has created havoc. Maybe his intention was good to start with. Perhaps he was coming out against the Islamophobia about the burkha and other trivial issues. But to talk about letterbox and other things was not only inflammatory for less knowledgable and intolerant population but from my observation it was encouraging easy insults to a vulnerable group of people especially women.
Britain is predominantly a Christian country and by and large is evolving into a multicultural and mutlifaith nation. At the same time the minorities wearing a uniform of a different shade of skin and particularly Muslims with beards and burkhas and other easily identifiable apparel as well as Sikhs are infrequently insulted accused and attacked - mostly verbally.
Boris Johnson, a very intelligent and otherwise shrewed politician, is very much capable of using language to further his cause. I, for one, don’t believe that his innuendo of letterbox and other such terms were accidental. It’s a shame that what began as a stupid misuse of words has now turned into a political football of a national magnitude. Now not only in the Daily Telegraph but in other publications thousands of words are utilised to further the agenda of one group of politicians or others.
Britain today, amongst all other developed nations has a better record on race relations. More and more Muslims born and brought up in this country are progressing with education and suseqently confidence for a positive outlook. The inflammatory language of Boris Johnson has not helped that process. I fail to understand how he could make such blunders.
Suleman Ismail
Barnet
