MovieChat Forums > Britz (2007) Discussion > For anyone watching this that does not l...

For anyone watching this that does not live in the UK.

posted 16 years ago by tinterwebtim
13 replies | jump to latest

Britain is not like it was portrayed here.

Yes, as the very over the top epilogue pointed out, our government have passed the most dodgy piece of legislation ever with their "Control orders" and the majority of the general public had no idea until the deal was done. Control orders = bad. We get it. We agree.

However, not every copper is white, not every copper is a ignorant racist moron. Some Muslims can go about their lives without being raided weekly by Special Branch.

Even the side of the story that focused on Sohail showed Britain as a racist police state persecuting Muslims, I was left wondering why he stayed with MI5 if he was as disillusioned with Britain as he was shown.

The side of the story for Nasima did not show enough about grooming to be a suicide bomber, she just seemed to accept the job as if she was being asked to accept some extra weekend work on the tills in Tesco.

I saw the trailers for this program and was looking forward to seeing it, however with the complete disregard for anything resembling accuracy I feel that I have lost 4 hours of my life on this over the top preachy attempt to make me sympathise with suicide bombers. I wish I could bill Channel 4 for my time.

Britain is by no means an idyllic paradise of cultural harmony, but we are trying and most of us know that not every Muslim is concealing half a tonne of semtex under their clothing.

You may shout at me for being naive, but the war on terror (which I do not support) is not aimed at Muslims. It is aimed at governments who support terrorist attacks. Sadly these governments are countries that are populated predominately by Muslims.

Channel 4 have really let themselves down with this one. The produced a 4 hour advert saying that suicide bombing is the only recourse for disillusioned Muslims. Now that they have lit the fuse, I hope they have forgotten to stand well back.

*When I was young, I wanted to be somebody. Now I realise I should have been more specific.*

[–] nickcameron-1 16 years ago

I would pretty much agree, but then Channel 4 decided to stop making intelligent accurate programs years ago. Now, they don't care, all they won't is controversy and as such attention.

[–] seanjones180 16 years ago

I can only assume that you aren't a british muslim. No one in their right mind would agree that the only recourse is suicide bombing but to deny that some people haven't felt that is naive. What were the motivations behind the July 7th bombings? Traffic regulations? As abhorrent as it is a very small proportion of young muslims do feel their religion is under attack. That they are being scrutinised for any glimpses of radicalisation. That the word Muslim is all to readily associated with terrorism. If that is wrong then something should be done to bind the comunities and I for one think that Dramas such as this have a part to play in understanding and hopefully eventually healing. We seem to be at a crossroads in this country and if we take the wrong path as we did on Bloody Sunday we'll still be watching our backs for another 20 years. Or we could all just stick our head in the sand and say "hey it's fine"

[–] nickcameron-1 16 years ago

Sean I think you have made far too many assumptions about my position. I fully agree with you that we should explore the motives that underpin the actions of suicide bombers. I also believe that the UK needs to do something to combat the alienation and resultant frustration many young Muslims feel living in this country, which is in no small part due to our current foreign policy and draconian terrorism laws. However, I don't believe Britz was an adequate or responsible exploration of this very important subject. I would love to see a decent thought provoking drama that approached this topic in a sensible and insightful fashion, but in the end Britz just struck me as simplistic, artificial, preachy and amateur. It felt like something produced by the Socialist Worker's Party or a sixteen year old after she has read the Communist Manifesto for the first time. This very important subject deserves a better drama.

[–] aarongallagher1 16 years ago

I would like to mention that as with Muslims being associated with Terrorism for many years Irish Catholics received the same association.

just a small comment and I do not mean to make a statement about the extent of the association and other mistreatment, just the association.

[–] tinterwebtim 16 years ago

You are not the only one to see this comparison. I remember all too well Irish Catholics being treated with similar fear and hatred in Britain 30 years ago as Muslims are today. The actions of the state are far more extreme now, but the underlying emotions of the general public are the same.

*When I was young, I wanted to be somebody. Now I realise I should have been more specific.*

[–] seanjones180 16 years ago

I agree with what you say to a point. But the actions of the state are not more extreme now. They were FAR more extreme then and the consequent miscarriages of justice piled high. Can you imagine soldiers opening fire on a Muslim march in say Bradford or Oldham? The state is still playing fast and loose with Muslim hearts and minds but sadly so are the Muslim leaders in this country. It was a shame that there were no marches in London by the Islam comunity condemning July 7th bombing as there was when the Danish cartoons were published. Which of those two events in your minds bought Islam into the most disrepute? There is a lot to sort out sadly and with the Muslims feeling isolated in th UK it will take some time. But it will have to be both side making an effort to the table.

[–] Sid-Blitzen 16 years ago

"Can you imagine soldiers opening fire on a Muslim march in say Bradford or Oldham?"

Yes, if Bradford or Oldham had a resident armed organisation bent upon fighting for separation from the UK. Since Bradford/Oldham lack such an organisation, the comarison with Derry 1972 doesn't apply.

[–] seanjones180 16 years ago

"resident armed organisation bent upon fighting for separation from the UK"
check
If you don't think alqaida supporters in the uk are armed then I'd have to disagree with you. Maybe not with guns (although considering how easy it is to purchase them these days I'd be surprised!)but they certainly have the means to cause devastation as they have already proved!
Besides the IRA weren't there in 72. That was the problem and why people are still rightly crying for justice and the truth to this day!
The comparison still stands.

[–] mmattagirl 15 years ago

Ask Damian Green what Britain is like!!!

[–] Ava36 15 years ago

You are very naive in your comments that the war on terror is aimed at governments who support terrorist attacks or that this drama aimed to suggest that suicide bombing was the only recourse for Muslims.

The war on terror is grounded in the fear fanatical Christians feel towards Muslims and the protection of the State of Israel so that the land can be occupied by Jews so that Jesus can show up. When you watch the media, especially here in the US, ignore the atrocities suffered by the Palestinians, Iraqis, Kashmiris and only highlight their acts of retaliation as aggressive attempts to "deprive" westerners of their freedom, it's no wonder you see Muslims angry. Then you take that one angry Muslim who has lost faith in the system and has experienced what Nasima endured, you have the ground work for someone who wants to do something about it. Allow that person to be influenced by some radical azzhole Muslims, and you've got a very dangerous person who will take out anyone.

Until the west - primarily the US and UK - are willing to see their own actions in how they fail to intervene to help Muslims - especially the Palestinians, only then can things change.

Plus the continual support of Saudi Arabia for it's petro-chemical dollars, only aggravates the situation as this is the very country that promotes, endorses and preaches a radical, exclusive interpretation of Islam.

Britz does an excellent job of presenting the issues for the public in order to explain why people become suicide bombers. It also points out to Muslims that there are alternatives to the situation - work from within, become part of MI5, work to change laws and be part of the solution, not the problem. If you missed that message, then you are no different from the foolish Muslim who watches this and decides to join and Al-Queda training camp. That's insult to Muslims as it suggests they don't have the brain to differentiate what is shown in a drama.

[–] Diver07 15 years ago

I agree somewhat with the original poster in that I feel this show was too preachy..especially at the end in showing all the percentages of Muslims that feel this way or that way...where were the Muslim marches in protest of the 7/7 bombings?? A lot could be done on both sides I believe that has not been done. I do support the war on terrorism (anyone who does not really has their head in the clouds and is not facing reality)however I do not, nor have I ever, supported the war in Iraq and do not think it is correct to categorize Iraq with the war on terrorism. And as far as the "dodgey laws" Britain has enacted...they are for our protection and so far have worked, if your not doing anything wrong you've nothing to worry about.

[–] may79 15 years ago

I'm an American and just watched this show last night. I found Britz to be a very compelling story and I enjoyed the performances of the two main actors. That said, I was turned off by the ending. Big time. I'm not saying I don't have sympathy for British muslims, but Nasima's story failed (in my view) to make a case for why a sensitive, intelligent woman with a bright future would resort to becoming a suicide bomber. The ending and the statistics presented just made Muslims look worse. Okay, let the stone throwing begin, but keep in mind that I never supported the Iraq war, have never voted Republican and hate the idea of the UK becoming a police state.

[–] Ava36 15 years ago

Then what is this war on terror if Iraq is not included in the list? Iraq is part of the war on terror. As Bush says, we're fighting the terrorists there so they don't come to the US.

Laws that are created to arrest people without a charge are laws of a police state. The Patriot Act in the US is a violation of our civil rights in the US. To claim the whole purpose of the war on terror is to protect people of their freedom is completly hypocritical when you create laws thare as "dodgey" as you claim. The Patriot Act was used to spy on people who also believed they had nothing to fear. Sometimes people are simply guilty because they are part of a group that is believed to be threatening.