ByMyReckoning

The following statement was made by 18 year old Lucy Buchanan, who is from Edinburgh, but attended £19,600-a-year St Peter's School in York, a product of British Public(private) school system.

She told fellow islanders on Channel4 Shipwrecked series;

"When I look out at what Britain is, it's just a complete mess."

"I don’t appreciate how people come into our country and take over our country. Britain’s really not Britain any more."

"My mind is completely open to different cultures, but I don’t think they should bring them to Britain."

"I don’t like fat people, I don’t really like really ugly people, I don’t like it when foreigners come into this country and they don’t take on British culture and British values."

"I’m for the British Empire and things. I’m for slavery, but that’s never going to come back."

When another contestant said she did not like racists, Buchanan replied: "I'm afraid you have one here."

Previously Buchanan had described the show as a "chance to meet people from all walks of life."

Her mother Nicola said: "Lucy is definitely not a racist. She's a well-mannered girl from a decent family.

"But she's only 18. She does have a big mouth and sometimes speaks without thinking. She says things she doesn't mean."

This statement is both predictable and laughable. She has been educated well enough to express her views clearly and with confidence. She's well on the way to becoming a despicable adult and her views probably reflect those of her parents and peers. I wonder if she'd mentioned the same words and substituted the words 'Jew' and 'holocaust' instead of 'black' and 'slavery', Channel4 and the print media would have been so complacent about her views?

Black people have to stand up and make an issue of this in the same manner that Asians have done when Shilpa Shetty was bullied in Channle4s current series of Celebrity Big Brother.

Effectively this young woman she's supposed to be the amongst the best educated and privileged young people in the country. In all probability that education and upbringing will guarantee her high social and economic status for the rest of her life unless she makes a complete cock-up of things. This is he kind of person who ends up in positions of authority or influence.

As usual right wing apologists have jumped to her defence claiming that er right to free speech is paramount. I'm all for free speech, but when that right is used to call for the removal of the human rights of fellow citizens, it amounts to little more than an abuse of said right and an abdication of the accompanying responsibility.
When broadcast to a family audience without warning or qualification, views such as those expressed by Ms Buchanan are not only harmful and offensive to black/African viewers in general, but also may encourage youngsters of other ethnic backgrounds to view such ideas as acceptable.

It should be noted that viewers are often warned when television programs feature obscene language, lewd behaviour or flashing lights. Such warnings were not provided in this case, although the program was filmed and edited several months before broadcast.

The UK is currently in the midst of preparations to celebrate the abolition of slavery, so I find it somewhat disturbing that a reality TV program whose purpose is simply to provide entertainment to the mass of young people should allow the airing of such views. The predictable Channel4 response of trying to "promote a healthy debate" will not wash.

Following the debacle in the Celebrity Big Brother, Channel4 has in my view provided sufficient reason to have its license revoked for an irresponsible and divisive programming policy. They have shown themselves willing to exploit the potential safety and security of ethnic minorities as well as jeopardise the good work being done by people of all races within the UK to maintain a peaceful, cohesive and inclusive society. Every public broadcaster has responsibilities which supersede the aim of making a profit. They have responsibilities to the wider society in which they operate. Channel4 have again shown that they neither understand these duties or care enough to learn from their previous mistakes.

Ofcom need to ensure that broadcasters are in no doubt of what their duties are.

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Channel4, Shipwrecked, Lucy Buchanan, racism, slavery, Ofcom