Generation gap

A report recently claimed that young Muslims, born and bred in the UK, are being more radicalised than the older generation, some of whom barely speak English. I think this makes sense; the experiences of the different generations are different.

The elders, especially those in their 70s, arrived in the UK when they were teenagers or older. They therefore still have memories of what life was like in Pakistan, or Mirpur, before large numbers of people started coming to the UK. And the memories they have are not all pleasant. Many elders recall the extreme poverty. Extreme poverty, as distinct from relative poverty, is where you do not have enough food to eat. It is where what you do have to eat is very basic. Many people recall the days when all they had to eat were corn chapattis and water. Meat was a luxury.

For people of that generation, arriving in the UK has been a life changer for which they thank their lucky stars. Here there were plenty of jobs and a good wage. And frankly, if you fall on hard times, the state looks after you anyway. What harm could a few racist taunts do compared to the hardships and struggles of existence left behind in the motherland, for which they still have an affection?

The experiences of the generation born here are different. They have not suffered extreme poverty. They do not know what it is like not to have enough to eat or to go bare foot to school. Their problems are problems of life here- poor educational attainment, ignorance, lack of job opportunities, drugs, crime and welfare dependency. It is this void in their lives which forms a breeding ground for extremism for a tiny minority, as it does for crime and anti-social behaviour in the wider community.