Today they are being patronized or perhaps people are being patronizing towards them...which is better ?

Both situations are ultimately demeaning - is it just a case of satisfying the narcissism of the host community ?

If a Muslim perspective is wanted then only a Muslim can do this.
Why is this so difficult to accept?
Would you like to be treated like a Muslim in Britain today?
Somehow, I suspect you only want to get your name in print and your work seen and heard...what a blown up ego you have!!

It is quite surprising that people who produce work and who involve themselves within the realm of British Asian contexts can remain so taken aback by issues that seem so painfully obvious to others. The fact that Bancil’s response to a BBC researcher’s comment that British Asian stories were passé, was ‘I didn't realise that they were ever en vogue!’ shows a surprising level of ignorance regarding the current situation. Though sadly, Bancil is not alone in his recent realisation of this fact, perhaps it is the case that such issues are simply more apparent to the more cynical amongst us.

It does seem that the Muslim ‘issue’ is the latest fad in a string of fashionable and hot topics- be this on television, in the papers or in the arts in general. Of course none of this is new, television programmers will always buy into the latest craze or controversial issue in order to boost ratings, as do newspapers in order to make money and so, at the moment, the attention grabber is Muslim- themed stories. Within the sphere of minorities, prior to this was a feigned fascination with Black people, then Black women, South Asians, South Asian women and of course the occasional stirring up of debates within various religious factions from time to time, depending on whom the latest furore involved. These have however, all been rather contrived efforts to promote what are perceived to be minority issues but are in fact more mainstream than many realise.

It is interesting that Bancil complains of feeling sidelined from the mainstream debate as a non-Muslim Asian male, assuming he means in terms of his opinions and his non- Muslim stories being devalued as they are considered yesterday’s news, yet what is it exactly that Bancil and others like him are envious of? The attention that Muslims are getting at the moment is not with the intention of fulfilling a genuine interest in the issues and to explore what the situation actually is in this country. Rather, mainstream writers and programme makers i.e. generally white middle class men, are simply using political correctness, media trends and good money sense to latch onto issues involving various minority groups in order to exploit their opinions and perspectives and make money.

Whatever particular minority group is en vogue this season is essentially thrust into the limelight and given their 15 minutes of fame whilst these mainstream writers gain acclaim and appear to be politically correct and multicultural as they seem to embrace the latest form of exoticism. Yet, the mainstream interest in such issues is therefore temporary and they are dropped like a lead weight as soon as a newer and shinier issue comes along. Some may argue that this situation is a better one to be in than to be completely overlooked but how much better is it really to insult significant societal issues by addressing them with such a lack of seriousness and respect and instead merely use the particular minority group as the latest hot new trend.

Whether these currently Muslim- themed programmes and stories are fictional or ‘factual’, they should of course not be expected to educate the population in various cultures and faiths. Television companies and newspapers are businesses after all and so the expectation or defence of each sudden surge of specific promotion of such issues should not necessarily be in the name of easing cultural tensions and reducing barriers between communities in Britain. The only way for the tense situations to truly change in Britain is for people to learn about each other’s religions, cultural practices and traditions by mixing with each other and actually talking with and getting to know real people, not television characters or obscure people from news stories.

Therefore, although being shunned away from giving your perspective on current issues because as a person you’re not ‘on trend’ anymore as it were, is downright wrong on so many levels, to feel excluded from mainstream debate because you’re not the latest hot topic is really not something worth being envious of as that position is essentially temporary and categorically superficial and insulting.