The Panorama programme which looked into the issue of segregation in Blackburn has not had the negative effect many might have thought.

In fact people have come out supporting the town.

Here are a few points I always find a little perplexing though.

No one discounts the fact that people live in different areas, and we could do with more of the children playing in the street together just like the ‘olden days’.

But we have to ask ourselves this question: Would this programme have been made if Muslims were not the subject matter?

In fact would most articles and programmes of this nature ever have been made if we were talking about another minority group – I think not.

We have a fascination with Muslims and I think this will continue for a number of years until we all learn to accept that fear is the cause of this unwarranted paranoia.

We also have the familiar commentators moaning about how segregation is causing ‘huge issues’ – yet these same folk are unlikely to mix with anyone from another religion.

I was talking to one friend this week who was adamant that segregation was a big problem. To which I asked, what do you do to help break down these supposed barriers? There is always an embarrassing silence.

People are quick to judge and want others to make changes yet think these changes are beyond them because, let’s be honest, it means they have to come out of their comfort zones and make time for others.

I read online comments from people who are constantly complaining about the town and how ‘Muslims are taking over’.

But I can guarantee you one thing, they are unlikely to meet me for a cup of chai anywhere. Just because we have the right to debate does not mean we must.

Blackburn is a great place to live. Yes, like most towns we have problems, and we have been the first to highlight these.

But this is mostly to do with folk who litter too much, the pointless bus lane outside the train station and the people who park outside mosques and Asian weddings without a care in the world.

We are ALL going through the same nonsense each day and now we get told that one segment of the community is actually getting an easier ride. If it was that easy I’d be the first in the queue.

But this goes deeper. As far back as I can remember I would talk to those from the larger cities who looked upon our towns as backward and a little alien.

I remember when I was kid, a cousin came to visit me from London and marvelled at the fact that we had a McDonald’s.

‘Yes’, I exclaimed, ‘you only travelled 226 miles pal.’ Decades later I sense things have not changed much at all.

But let me clarify something and this is the most important point one can ever make. In fact this is what you should tell your kids, your grandkids and any other person you meet.

If an Asian or white person beats you up, cuts you off at a roundabout, steals your spot at Asda or urinates on your lawn they did not do it because of the colour of their skin or their religion – they did it because they are idiots.

Let’s leave it there shall we?