Matthew Parris said immigrants should show courtesy to their ‘host country’ – 9 shocked reactions
Author and Times writer Sathnam Sanghera has highlighted a piece by his fellow Times columnist Matthew Parris and it’s gone viral on Twitter because, well, have a read for yourself.
This, from Matthew Parris, who I admire hugely, is disappointing. I’m forever being told, as a second generation immigrant, that I should be “more grateful”, when I’m just doing the same job as him, being critical of aspects of Britain. That is racism.https://t.co/asODJOGmXP pic.twitter.com/4STtUMQqwL
— Sathnam Sanghera (@Sathnam) July 17, 2019
I’m not sure that, in his offensive comments about the four Congresswomen of colour whom Donald Trump has been insulting in his tweets, the President was dabbling in racist politics.
I don’t like his attacks but I think they will strike a chord among millions who should not be called racists. It’s just futile to suppose that arrivals from another country and their children, immediately and automatically assume an identity as citizens that is indistinguishable from that of the population already there. They have all the same rights but will be seen, for a generation or two, as neither better nor worse but different.
We do still speak of ‘second generation immigrants’ and the expression has meaning. And, yes, there is such a thing as courtesy to a host country, even if it’s now theirs too. If in earlier centuries the many Irish and Italian (white) immigrants to the US had seemed to attack too fiercely and too early the beliefs and values of the country that has taken them or their parents in, they would have attracted irritation.
‘Why did they come there, then?’ Is a question that, like it or not, would be asked. I think I’d ask it too: or at least think it. It will be interesting to see opinion poling on this, in America and elsewhere.
It prompted a huge response on Twitter, as you might imagine, and we reckon these 9 pretty much sum it up.
1.
I absolutely adore Matthew Parris, but if people as clever as him are internalising this logic, I am properly fearful for where we are going. Matthew WAS BORN IN SOUTH AFRICA, and yet he, rightly, criticises aspects of this country every week. https://t.co/d56cgNnSdM
— Caitlin Moran (@caitlinmoran) July 17, 2019
2.
That’s intensely disappointing from him. I do try not to be tribal about politics anymore but this might be the latest in regular reminders that even liberal Tories are still Tories. And therefore basically weird.
— Robert Webb (@arobertwebb) July 17, 2019
3.
I’m a first generation immigrant. Am I allowed to complain about this country?
— Hadley Freeman (@HadleyFreeman) July 17, 2019
4.
It’s one thing to be told to get back where you came from in an isolated incident, it’s another for the entire world’s media to be amplifying the message, as result of a pea-brained President, in regular news bulletins. Don’t think I’ve ever been more depressed by the news.
— Sathnam Sanghera (@Sathnam) July 17, 2019
5.
“Go back to where you came from” is about as textbook racism as possible. Posting it publicly is about as textbook racial harassment as possible.
So those of us invested & born in a country should stay silent on our criticisms of our own govt because of our origins – really? https://t.co/6O4IoR2bLX
— Schona Jolly QC (@WomaninHavana) July 17, 2019
6.
An appalling item that gives the appearance of eloquence and intelligence to what is really just base prejudice.
— Aditya Chakrabortty (@chakrabortty) July 17, 2019
7.
Is this really where we are now, Matthew Parris? “Why did they come there then?” In my family’s case, they were fleeing literal genocide in a country destabilised by the British Empire. And they shouldn’t critique the place they arrive in? For shame. Via @sathnam pic.twitter.com/XnKxWWM0yh
— Musa Okwonga (@Okwonga) July 17, 2019
8.
It’s almost like this is not about coming from a different country but maybe something … else
— Hadley Freeman (@HadleyFreeman) July 17, 2019
9.
This is the most upsetting thing I’ve read written by Matthew Parris and earlier this year he wrote an article about what a piece of shit I am https://t.co/FXREXrAmAQ
— Nish Kumar (@MrNishKumar) July 17, 2019