The document discusses the complexities of multiculturalism in the UK, emphasizing that embracing British values does not require ignoring diverse heritages. It highlights the need for accommodating various cultural identities while addressing inequalities, particularly regarding the Muslim community and their economic challenges. Additionally, it mentions a new exhibition aimed at engaging the public in urban regeneration discussions, bridging the gap between city planning and community involvement.

1. Analysis
Let s embrace our
dual identities
COMMUNITY COHESION Absorbing British values does not
mean ignoring our different heritages, says Alan Riddell
Local heritage: many Britons retain distinctive cultural ana
reiigious characteristics
Minorities and faith issues stir strong
emotions. The Archbishop of Canter-
bury's mistake in raising the issue of
how the (J K should accommodate the
needs of one of its larger minorities
was to mention Sharia law. with all the
fears it raises about executions, cut-
ting off hands, and lack of rights for
women. It's not surprising that politi-
cians were brisk to condemn him.
Questions involving the Muslim
community are complicated by the
tendency to use "Islam" and "terror-
ism"in thesame breath. An example of
such muddled thinking was the Royal
United Services Institute's warning
last month that "misplaced deference
to multiculturalism has failed to lay
down the line to immigrant communi-

2. ties", undermining the fight against
extremism (R&R, 29 February. pl6).
But while the treatment, real or per-
ceived, of parts of our Muslim commu-
nity may exacerbate problems in this
country, the origins of violent extrem-
ism are not domestic - and they cannot
be cured by "laying down the line".
Accommodating diverse cultures
and faiths will always be difficult: there
could be no meeting of minds between
the Hindu monks in Hertfordshire
who believed that the natural death of
their sacred eow should not have been
hastened, and the Royal Society for
the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals
who were equally adamant that the
animal should be put down humanely.
When minorities are small, it is easy
forthe majority to ignore iheir customs.
The Orthodox Jewish communities in
north London have been accepted for
years. But their plans to create an 11
mile symbolic boundary.or Eruv.incor-
porating the Jewish community in
Golders Green met a decade of resist-
ance from people who felt that shared
space was beingcolonised.even though
the visible impact was minimal.
But we cannot ignore the increasing
diversity of our population. There has
been a steady increase in immigration
over the last 20 years and recent im-

3. migrants tend to be younger and so
have more children than the resident
population. Coupled with natural pop-
ulation growth, the proportion of our
population with a relatively recent
overseas heritage will continue to rise.
And the number of ethnically-mixed
neighbourhoods will grow with it.
There are areas where minorities
will soon be majorities, such as Birm-
ingham and several London boroughs.
But the internal migration patterns of
our minority population are similar to
those of the majorityionc in five neigh-
bourhoods in England are projected to
be ethnically mixed by 2011.
Of course, most of our diverse pop-
ulation will absorb the broad values
of British society, and there will be
many more children from mixed race
relationships. But it would be a mis-
take to ignore different heritages. We
cannot choose whether or not to have
multiculturalism: it is there. We must
accept that many of us will combine a
sense of Britishness with other cul-
tural and religious identities.
This is not new. As a Scot,! failed
Norman Tebbit's suggested loyalty
test of which cricket team to support,
and was brought up in Britain under :i
separate legal system. But I have no

4. difficulty in viewing myself as both
British and Scottish. You can live
within a nation state for a long time
without losing a distinctive identity.
We can try tocreate symbols of Brit-
ish identity.but most national cullures
are based on romanticised myths rath-
er than tawdry reality. Cuiture minister
Margaret Hodge is wrong to favour
celebration of real historical events,
such as the 500th anniversary' ofthe ac-
cession of Henry VIII (just what was
he a symbol of?) over events sueh as
the Last Night of the Proms, which can
evolve to suit contemporary needs.
Many of our Muslim population are
among the poorest in the country, and
at present rates it could be 20 years be-
fore ethnic minority unemployment
falls to the national average. We would
do well to accommodate different cul-
tural identities and reflect their sensi-
tivities in our policies - but we must
also address inequalities urgently.
• Alan Riddell i.s a comulumt ami
former neighbourhood renewal di-
rector ofthe Department for Com-
munities and Loeat Government.
The art
of urban
renewal
REVIEWA new exhibition
offers Londoners the

5. chance to shape the city,
findsAdam Branson
City planning and fine art don't often
share a stage. But a new exhibition at
Somerset House on the Thames.com-
missioned by the mayor'sarchitecture
and public realm design watchdog,
enables them to do just that.
Unofficially marking quango De-
sign for London's (DfL's) first birth-
day, London Open City pulls together
short films, animation, and interactive
displays to look at urban regeneration
issues from a curator's perspective.
If the concept has a flaw it's that it is
trying to do too much. At worst, it's a
benign publicity stunt for DfL. But it's
also an informal consultation offering
visiton; a chance to give their opinions.
It's an educational exhibition attempt-
ing to get people thinking about the
importance of quality design. And it's a
gallery show that can be enjoyed pure-
ly aesthetically. It's broad brush, but
that's the point: Open City is trying to
appeal to as many tastes as possible.
The exhibition is a useful way to en-
gage the public - like a town hall meet-
ing on a scale suitable for a city of
nearly eight million. A giant map of
London dominates one room.display-

6. ing 42 sites that DfL has already desig-
nated regeneration priorities. Visitors
are encouraged to suggest further
areas for development by writing the
location of proposed sites on sheets of
paper, which are then hung on the
map.The result gives a powerful pic-
ture ofthe public's priorities: the more
bits of paper stuck on a particular bit
of the map, the scruffier the area.
It is as a form of public consultation
that Open City is most effective. Lon-
don's borough system can make it hard
to find out about regeneration plans in
neighbouring council areas. Open
London gives this vast city's popula-
tion a chance to debate its intricate
physical development as Londoners,
rather than as council tax payers.
• Open City takes place al Somerset
House. London until27April. Visit
www.somerselhouse. org. uk
14Marcri2008 i Regeneration 8 Renewal
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