A while ago I did a post at Pickled Politics on the burden of representation. Latest artistic product to apply this to is Channel 4 drama Britz which starts tonight. In a “White Teeth” kind of way it’s about 2 UK Muslim siblings that follow radically different paths. One chooses religion and the other joins MI5. Is this credible – particularly example two? Apparently the secret services have not had much in their ethnic minority recruitment drive. Any ideas why Muslims are not tempted by this cushy public sector number? Was just rung up by ITN asking the same question so thought I’d throw it out here.
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14 comments
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October 31, 2007 at 1:12 pm
Tim
That looks like a really interesting programme – will tune in and watch it. Also some interesting links from the site. Can’t think of any real reasons why recruitment of Asians to the UK secret services is low, although I did wonder whether security clearance may be more difficult to obtain for people whose families have only been in the UK for a generation – often searches are more difficult to do. Conversely I wonder how many ‘white’ europeans are employed in the SS in Asia and the Middle East.
October 31, 2007 at 1:16 pm
rupahuq
Would *you* want to be a spook? By the way I can thoroughly recommend “More 4″ news tonight too if you know worrImean.
October 31, 2007 at 1:25 pm
Tim
Well the SS seem to appeal to a lot of people! – not that I’ve ever watched Spooks! Will check ‘More 4 News’ out tonight.
October 31, 2007 at 1:45 pm
Sean
That’s an interesting one – I don’t think it’s my paranoia but I do seem to remember that at one time people of Irish descent were not welcome – possibly even barred, I think it was that formal- from taking up certain positions in the security and armed services as they weren’t perceived by the authorities as sufficiently loyal to the Crown. But in any case joining the secret services wouldn’t be the first choice of job for members of most migrant groups – it’s a type of employment that would be under the cultural radar I reckon.
October 31, 2007 at 2:24 pm
Tim
How times have changed! – no employer would be able to get away with that sort of discrimination now (not officially anyway!).
Are you suggesting that Asians arn’t (UK) patriotic enough to want to work for the SS? or perhaps they don’t pay well enough for educated Asians!
October 31, 2007 at 11:52 pm
leon
Watching it now, finding it a little boring tbh…
November 2, 2007 at 4:34 pm
rupahuq
Saw the first one but missed the start. Like you Leon found it a little plodding. Have found a link to More 4 News on Weds
http://www.channel4.com/news/articles/society/law_order/how+do+you+recruit+muslim+spies/987247
I pop up about 3 minutes in.
I missed yesterday’s Britz but have had it taped and am hoping to catch it over the weekend.
November 3, 2007 at 1:05 pm
Tim
We watched Britz last night – a really interesting and effective way of portraying the story (splitting it into two converging story lines). Very hard hitting and showed a very negative side to the police and to a certain extent MI5. Also showed some of the ‘Muslim’ charactors behaving in a rather un-islamic way.
November 3, 2007 at 8:53 pm
asikha
It was so cliched. It didn’t flow – there were major gaps and no build up to the two “extremes” and also a very bad portrayal of Isocs – I’ve been to a fair number of Isco talks and none of them endorse waging war against anyone – the talks are much more progressive and relevant to the students than those showed in the programme. And also very bad portrayal of the anti-terror charge that was made based on indian spices/herbs – which was bizarre.
Anyhoo, why would anyone want to join the MI5 anyway? It’s a bit freaky this spying-thing. I wouldn’t join MI5 as a matter of principles – I don’t think the state should spy on it’s people – I understand the security implications – in the UK we have too much of it anyway.
Also if I did they’ll prolly have me work on the ‘Asian sector’ ‘cos I that’ll be obviously fitting to who I am – rather than give me anything else ‘interesting’…
November 4, 2007 at 8:37 am
Tim
I agree about the way it flowed (or rather didn’t) – it was rather difficult to follow until part way through. And yes – the portrayal of the anti-terror charge was bizarre – could that sort of thing really happen?!
I think there is a place for surveillance – after all how else are terrorists going to be detected but I do think a lot of the methods shown are unacceptable – do the SS really operate like this?! Would the guy really have been recruited with known links to suspected terrorists? or did they not know about them at that point.
November 4, 2007 at 8:12 pm
asikha
what i meant to say was, it didn’t make sense up there, that in the UK we have too much spying – although i realise the need for them for protecting the welfare of the state.
the sister became a “terrorist” after he was recruited – and she was never a suspect to begin with – so no probs there i guess.
November 4, 2007 at 9:09 pm
Tim
What I was refering to was the fact that the brother lived in a community in which there were suspected terrorists – his sister’s best friend’s family in fact. This was apparently only discovered after he joined up.
November 5, 2007 at 9:23 am
rupahuq
Finally saw second part this weekend. Missed fiorsthalf hour of both. I found it rather heavy-going really. Also saw “Brick Lane” this week – review to follow, which I prefered of the two becuase of its comparative lightness of touch. Ok I know they are comparing apples and oranges but I did feel Britz was a bit erm humourless. The More4 News clip is edited. I actually said something like “Muslims come in all shapes and sizes” and that there could be many explanatoins for not joining the intelligence services – including the fact that they have not some not v,intelligent things like Forest Gate raid and DeMenezes shooting. Also said that in a bouyant economy there are lotsof choices available to jobseekers and Mi5 is not a natural career option for Muslims – hell we weren’t even meant to know it existed until recently.
November 19, 2007 at 3:53 pm
Tooth Fairy Gary
Well, suppose it would depend on the details of ones background and not just generalities. All things are possible, but maybe not likely.