| I've lived in Acton 40 out of my 42 years. I've been to school here, and my daughter now goes to the same school. I find the level of anti-immigrants on the forum absolutely disgusting. Acton, I grant you has a very underwhelming High Street, where you mostly have, betting shops, pawn shops and takeaway shops, but you also have an oasis of shops ranging from the Middle-East to Eastern Europe - where you can buy the most delicious food. Yes, the population has changed, when I was 5 and started school, there were mostly kids from England, but also kids from families from China, India, Bangladesh, The Caribbean, Africa, Iraq, Iran, Pakistan, France, Ireland, The Seychelles, Wales, Scotland and Poland. My closest friend growing up was a different colour to me, and it didn't occur to me that we had any differences. Now, as my daughter grows up in Acton, her life is filled with much more interesting things than I had as a child. Long gone are the Nazi/Fascist slogans that used be painted on the sides of houses (Derwentwater Road - had the most obscene one), and the fact you couldn't buy any exotic food (pineapple especially). People talked to each other, I still see the some parents of my school friends, and I really like that they are still about. Foreigners had it tough then (the sound of Paki/Nigg-- thankfully long gone). Hard working people who set up corner shops, working all hours to give their children a better life than they got. And now, the new people (English and Foreign) here are desperately trying to do the same - just because they might not speak English does not make them any less a member of society. Personally I find a some of the Polish community very racist, but more from ignorance than blind hate. Those from the Somali community I have come into contact with are delightful. The press makes out that foreigners are on scrounge. Get off your bottom and go and meet your neighbour or visit the mosque, you'll be surprised what community minded people they are. We are Actonians - no matter where we originate from and if all you do is hate that leave Acton and move to Chiswick, then you'll really think Acton is a much more open, friendlier place! |