Sarfraz Manzoor

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Bruce Springsteen. Credit Bryan Derballa for The New York Times

ReflexionesSocial,

The United States and Britain are united in having political leaders who have insulted and mocked immigrants for electoral purposes. President Trump’s anti-immigrant tirades are well known, but Prime Minister Boris Johnson of Britain has voiced similar sentiments, including comparing Muslim women who wear face veils to “bank robbers” and “letter boxes.”

A few days earlier, Tell MAMA, a group that monitors anti-Muslim activity, revealed that anti-Muslim incidents rose by 375 percent in the week after Mr. Johnson’s comments. For those of us who grew up in the ’80s, the current climate brings back painful memories of a Britain we had hoped was long gone.…  Seguir leyendo »

Britain’s Soccer Sex Abuse Scandal

EuropaUnión Europea,

Britain is shuddering from the revelation of yet another child sexual abuse scandal. What has shocked the nation even more profoundly this time is that it happened in soccer: the national game, a source of pride.

In November, a former football player named Andrew Woodward waived his right to anonymity to talk to The Guardian about his experience of being sexually abused as a young player by Barry Bennell, a former soccer coach, talent scout and pedophile. Mr. Bennell was sentenced to nine years in prison in 1998 after admitting to 23 charges of sexual offenses against six boys, ages 9 to 15.…  Seguir leyendo »

At Home in London, Not Britain

EuropaUnión EuropeaUE a debate,

Eight weeks ago, I was among those celebrating Sadiq Khan’s election as the new mayor of London. The victory felt symbolic: Mr. Khan, a state-school-educated son of a bus driver who immigrated from Pakistan, had been given the largest personal mandate of any politician in British history. I am the same age as Mr. Khan and I’m also a state-educated son of Pakistani Muslim immigrants, and so his win felt especially validating for me. London had sent a message that it was open, tolerant and welcoming. This city, where I have lived for almost 20 years, was really a place I could feel comfortable and call home.…  Seguir leyendo »

EuropaUnión Europea,

So it turns out that the 12 Muslims arrested two weeks ago – you know, the ones who, according to ­Gordon Brown, were planning a "very big terrorist plot" – were ­doing nothing of the sort. The ­arrests and subsequent release highlight how, in a time of heightened concern, anyone who is male and Muslim – and, even worse, happens to have ­Pakistani heritage – can get mistaken for a potential terrorist. It isn't just the police who have a problem telling the difference. The trouble is that it isn't obvious who is a benign, peace-loving Briton who happens to be Muslim, and who is a rage-filled Islamist intent on causing mayhem.…  Seguir leyendo »

ReflexionesPensamiento, Cultura y Ciencia,

When the first rumours began circulating that Bruce Springsteen's new album would be called Magic it led to some apprehension among his fans. In the past, Springsteen albums have had titles that sounded like his best songs: epic, elemental and evocative. Compared to Darkness on the Edge of Town or Devils & Dust, Magic seemed to conjure up not so much a runaway American dream as an easy-listening soft-rock radio station. Happily our fears were unfounded: Magic is the finest Springsteen album since Tunnel of Love, which was released 20 years ago.

I recall the visceral impact that listening to Tunnel of Love had on me at the age of 16; it inspired me to better understand myself and my place in the world.…  Seguir leyendo »

EuropaUnión Europea,

In 2006 the gloves came off in the fight to define what it means to be British. Whereas the dominant response to the London bombings was confusion over how anyone raised in this country could commit such atrocities, the veil debate detonated by Jack Straw and the teaching assistant Aisha Azmi was notable for its muscularity. Sentiments that might once have been considered too insensitive were openly expressed. "The right to be in a multicultural society," argued the prime minister in a speech last month, "was always implicitly balanced by a duty to integrate, to be part of Britain." Behind these remarks was an assumption that integration is a one-way street.…  Seguir leyendo »