GUEST VOCALS
By Graham Campbell

THE existence of a very different national identity in Scotland and of a more progressive, left-of-centre political culture was again cited at the Seeking Asylum - A Scottish Perspective conference in Glasgow last week as a reason for a relatively lower level of racism and greater acceptance of asylum seekers than down south.

But the "Jock Tamson's bairns" myth, as perpetuated during the 1970s period of radicalised workers' struggles - during the resistance to Thatcher's 1980s neo-liberal structural adjustment up to the anti-poll tax movement, and the rise of socialists in the 1990s - needs not to be taken for granted. Throughout that time racism lived, breathed and thrived - from the casual racism of being called names in the streets to increasing physical racial attacks.

Rising more than 140% since 2002, racial attacks have got noticeably worse since 9/11 shone a light of suspicion on Scotland's Muslim communities - raising the spectre of terrorism. That multiplied after 7/7 and Glasgow Airport as asylum seekers were tagged with the potential terrorist label.

Glasgow had at least two young black men stabbed or slashed during the summer in racist incidents. Somali and south Asian women wearing headscarves have been insulted as "ninjas" and "suicide bombers" and assaulted by racist bigots. Some explain this by arguing that some folks lack an understanding of Islamic culture. I don't buy that.

Many Scots lack an understanding of their own culture and of the origins of its wealth. If they realised how much Africans, Asians and Caribbean people had contributed to the wealth of Scotland, perhaps they would have a lot more respect for them.

Glasgow is the only place I have lived where it is still acceptable for many whites to use expressions like the Chinkies for a Chinese takeaway or the Paki-shop for Asian-owned small business. Perhaps what amazes me more is the level of resigned acceptance of abuse by many victims of these slurs.

This is testimony to the low level of race-consciousness of both whites and non-whites in Scotland. Let's be clear, casual racism on an individual level, combined with political and media anti-asylum and anti-Muslim scapegoating, creates the background climate for the level of racist attacks to increase.