3rd November 2005, 11:41 AM
Given that large chunks of the ethnically English population don't give a stuff about their own archaeology and history, how do you expect to engage those whose families have only recently arrived in this country? After all, if a 6 year old child whose grandparents emigrated to England and whose parents were born in England still describes himself as Indian, what is the relevance of English archaeology to this person's roots (ref. Eggy's colleague, pers comm)? They obviously consider themselves as separate from British culture so why would it's archaeology engage them?
WRT representation, should the number of people from minority groups reflect the total population of the country, or just that part of it that actually cares about English cultural heritage?
Can the interest that some show in English archaeology not be considered in the same light as the interest shown in Chinese Neolithic archaeology by some ethnically British people? That is, it is not directly relevant to their native culture but it intellectually stimulates them.
Finally, as if I had not rambled enough already, why would ethnic minorities want to engage with English archaeology and culture when we are constantly pounded with stories and news articles about why we should be ashamed to be English? It seems to me that there is such a huge movement out there denigrating everything English that there is no reason for anyone to want to subscribe to English culture be it represented by the archaeology, history or anything else.
Cheers,
Eggbasket
Gentleman Adventurer and Antique
"Ask not for whom the bell tolls, the ringing's in your head"
WRT representation, should the number of people from minority groups reflect the total population of the country, or just that part of it that actually cares about English cultural heritage?
Can the interest that some show in English archaeology not be considered in the same light as the interest shown in Chinese Neolithic archaeology by some ethnically British people? That is, it is not directly relevant to their native culture but it intellectually stimulates them.
Finally, as if I had not rambled enough already, why would ethnic minorities want to engage with English archaeology and culture when we are constantly pounded with stories and news articles about why we should be ashamed to be English? It seems to me that there is such a huge movement out there denigrating everything English that there is no reason for anyone to want to subscribe to English culture be it represented by the archaeology, history or anything else.
Cheers,
Eggbasket
Gentleman Adventurer and Antique
"Ask not for whom the bell tolls, the ringing's in your head"