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'The Dark Underbelly Of Britain'
The Bishop of Oxford, Rt Rev John Pritchard, has supported Muslims who want to broadcast an amplified call to prayer in his city. Dozens of residents disagree with the Bishop and those at Oxford's Central Mosque - it's fair to say that the issue has been strongly contentious.
As with any contentious issue in Britain, the nutters are out in force. The Bishop claims he has received death threats for his stance.
"I received extraordinary mail", he told The Telegraph. "One said, 'resign' six times in a large font. One called for me to be beheaded and another said: 'I wish I lived closer so I could spit on you.'"
"The dark underbelly of British society was coming out."
The dark underbelly. We'd disagree with that: Rather, a number of demented, possibly violent nutters targeted the Bishop - along with many other perfectly peaceful and normal people who feel strongly that his stance on the call to prayer threatens the cultural and historical fabric of the city.
The phrase "the dark underbelly"' suggests that this violent undercurrent is somehow integral to British society - something always there, ready to raise its ugly head when something new and alien shows up on the scene. This is offensive nonsense. Rev Pritchard is conflating those who protest against a proposal he supports with those who are looking for an excuse to cause trouble, and in doing so he tars the entire community - the entire country - with the same brush.
Imagine if an important public figure responded to terror attacks by Muslims or threats of atrocities issued by Muslims as "the dark underbelly of Islam coming out?"
He'd never work again. Why can't the entire British public be subject to the same respect?
