BOBBY FRICTION: GENERATION 7/7
ACTIVITIES
Guidance
Teachers may want to refer to information about handling controversial issues on the DfES's Teachernet website.
Before viewing
Discuss whether you agree or disagree with each of the following statements. Put a question mark by the statements that need the most discussion.
Download table in printable format [PDF, 40KB]
| Statement | Agree/Disagree/? |
There are different sides to every story |
|
| Everybody should have the right to practise their beliefs in public | |
| The media is largely responsible for our attitude towards Muslims | |
| Terrorism is not the solution to solving serious problems | |
| There is an increasing divide between Muslims and the rest of British society | |
| The London attacks were the result of British foreign policy | |
| Hostility towards Asians has increased since 7/7 | |
| The vast majority of young Muslims want to live in peace and earn their living like everyone else | |
| People feel more uneasy travelling on buses or trains in cities since 7/7 | |
| The 'War on Terror' can be fought and won |
Activities based on the clips
To view 4Learning video clips you will need Windows XP/2000 and Windows Media Player 9, 10 or 11. Unfortunately, the clips are not supported on Macintosh computers.
The video clips may contain a few seconds of extra material at the beginning and end. We have therefore included opening and closing descriptions to help identify the intended scene.
Clip one: Introduction to the programme by Bobby Friction 1:14 – 2:30
A few years ago, it was an ideal that the differences between races and religions might not really matter. We were aiming for an inclusive Britain. Make a list of the recent events that have challenged these ideals.
Clip two: Interview with Sughra Ahmed 18:30 – 18:55
Have a look at some recent newspaper articles (preferably different papers printed on the same day). Find some articles featuring Muslims. Do you agree with Sughra Ahmed's portrayal? Note the ways in which the papers differ in their reporting. What would the papers' readers think after reading the articles?
Clip three: Interview with young Sikh man at Festival of Vaisakhi 20:40 – 21:56
What do you think about the fact that many Sikhs are trying to distance themselves from the current situation? Why do they feel threatened since 7/7? Think of a time when the group of people you were with were attacked or bullied in some way. Cam you imagine a situation in which you or your friends were blamed for something you didn't do? How would you react?
Clip four: Interview with young men in snooker club 33:11 – 34:12
Listen to what Faizaan says about his daily experience on the train. Think of a time when you were treated badly by others. Perhaps someone stopped speaking to you or made fun of you. Have you ever felt different because of your hair, clothes or the group you were hanging around with? How did you feel? How did you deal with the situation?
Activities based on the song, Post 9/11 Blues
This controversial song, written and performed by Riz MC, caused a furore and got the biggest amount of feedback (mainly positive) that any song has had on Radio 1. The story was subsequently picked up by Channel 4 news. The video was then banned by MTV but has had over 50,000 youtube.com viewings.
In groups of three or four, look at the words of the song (below) and discuss these questions:
1. Do you agree with the controversy caused by the song?
2. Do you think it trivialises terror?
3. Do you think Riz is speaking from a Muslim perspective or talking about something that we can all relate to?
Post 9/11 Blues
written and performed by Riz MC
Download lyrics in printable format [PDF, 16KB]Post 9/11 Blues
written and performed by Riz MCVerse 1
What can I do? I got the post 9/11 blues.
On the telly nothin' but the post 9/11 news:
War, Iraq, suicide bombs –
Stop hogging the limelight and make some room for my songs!
Anyway it's all re-runs –
We need a new war, Bush! Go get Iran:
I heard they're talking 'bout your mum!
Change the channel, watch some telly for kids,
But what's this? 'Hi kids! Welcome to Fun-Fun-Fun-Fundamentalists.'
In the breaks, Nike's advertising bomb-proof kicks.
They're even showing Bin Laden's cave on Cribs!
So I picked up a respectable post 9/11 magazine
It told me 'bout the new post 9/11 categories:
Israeli fighters are soldiers, Irish are paramilitary,
And darkie ones are terrorists – how simple can it be?
But not me, my friends say, 'Riz is still one of us',
But if I haven't shaved, they won't sit with me on the bus.
Chorus
Everybody do the post 9/11 dance:
Look scared and shake your ass
While the bombs go blast.
Everybody shake your post 9/11 thong.
So the dossier was wrong:
Jack some oil, drop a bomb.
Sing a song, sing along:
Bush and Blair in a tree,
K-I-L-L-I-N-G.
Shave your beard if you're brown,
And you'd best salute the Crown,
Or they'll do you like Brazilians
And shoot your ass down.
Verse 2
Post 9/11, getting around can be expensive:
Cost you 12 dead Iraqis for a litre of unleaded.
And even Green Cross Code's all changed:
They just teach kids to duck around low-flying planes.
And on the tube, if you see a dude with a rucksack
And a beard, move carriages mate – fuck that!
They cancelled Xmas 'cos of Santa Claus's beard,
And his magic red sack got confiscated as a suspect package.
No need for Halloween, 9/11's more scary
Osama Bin Goblin eats kids and he's hairy.
Hear a knockin' on the door at early dawn in the dark?
It's MI6. They'll trick or treat you to a week in Belmarsh.
Forget Guy Fawkes: he's lame.
Gun powder plots don't really compare to planes.
So no bonfire, Halloween or Christmas: they're done.
We'll do it all on one day: merry 9/11!
Repeat chorus
Verse 3
Post 9/11 policy might seem harsh,
But it's the terrorists' fault we got ID cards,
And a congestion charge
That they're extending far,
And electronic tags on the chav children's arms.
'Course we need Belmarsh and fuck 28 days:
We should put the whole of Oldham in its own fuckin' cage.
Move Hounslow underground so nothing could go wrong
Luton's already moving, Bradford's already gone.
We're all suspects so, literally, be watching your back:
I farted and got arrested for a chemical attack.
Dropped some litter on the street and I caused a bomb scare,
But told police my name was John: they thought they caught the wrong brae!
But it's OK: post 9/11, I been getting paid
Playing terrorists on telly, getting songs made.
But will it get airplay, geeza?
Well, if BBC don't want it, I'll send it to Aljazeera!
After viewing
1. Have another look at the chart you completed at the beginning. Have you changed your mind about your reaction to any of the statements?
2. Do you feel, as Bobby wonders, that history repeats itself endlessly? Do you think we could be facing another Holocaust?
3. What can you do on a daily basis to prevent hatred and racism from taking hold in your community?
4. What sort of society do you want to live in and how can it be achieved?
