[Acrylic-bob]

Thirty years ago Desmond Morris wrote a surprisingly successful book called "The Naked Ape". Some of you may remember it. It's subject was human beings, how we developed and why we behave in the way that we do. In his book Morris tackled the subject of Racism and posited the idea of humans being generally split into two groups, which he labelled the "in" group and the "out" group. Morris went on to explain that both were necessary to the way in which society worked.

The "out" group is always on the periphery of the "in" group and as such is the focus for the fears and resentments of the "in" group. The "out " group is always, according to the "in" group, about to take away houses, jobs, livlihoods etc. etc. They are suitable targets for anything that the "in" group cares to accuse them of, because generally they are small in number and easily cowed.

When the British ruled India, the "out" group for Indians was the British; we were pretty much universally hated because we had taken control of their country from them. When the British agreed to leave India the Hindu majority sought another scapegoat and found it in Indian Muslims (now known as Pakistanis) and the most horrific period of persecution and brutal slaughter followed and continues sporadically to this day. For Indian muslims the "out" group was Indian christians.

For Britain, on the other hand, the rise to political and economic greatness which followed the civil war and continued unabated until the second world war convinced the British that they were right to consider themselves the "in" group par exellance! The acquisition of an Empire fostered the notion that the British system was so equitable and reasonable that it was felt that God himself must be an Englishman.

This partly explains our antipathy and suspicion of the French as well as our immediate distrust of former colonials.

The idea that racism is a phenomenon peculiar to white western europeans is a complete and utter fallacy. Racism occurs in all societies where the "in" group feels insecure or threatened by an easily identified group. It is instinctive and does not generally respond to legislation for the simple reason that you cannot argue with instinct. The annals of history are awash with the tales of slaughter and persecution visited by the majority on the minority, often for the flimsiest of reasons.

Enoch Powell was right in concluding that the present difficulties with asian immigration would end in bloodshed. He has been proved right on more than one occaision, though not necessarily for the reasons which he ascribed, for it is demonstrably true that there is nothing intrinsically different in any human society. It is the dangerous folly of multiculturalism, which is so at odds with basic human nature, which is the tinder awaiting a suitable spark.