In an invasion, the invaders barge over to the country of choice with the intent of utterly taking it over. There is a war, and if the invaders win, they impose their laws, customs, religions, language etc on the remaining unmassacred people indigenous to the country invaded. Or, to put it another way, the losers. The defeated. “I’ve got a bigger army than you so what I say goes”.

In immigration, individual people and families make the choice to up sticks and move their lives, in a peaceful fashion, to the country of their choice. There should not therefore be any aspect of wishing to change the country you have chosen to move to. You are moving in, not taking over.

For the most part, this does happen in a peaceful fashion. Most immigrants work hard, pay taxes, raise their families and start to identify as “British” to whatever extent. And most indigenous Brits I know can’t say much other than “cheers!” and the contents of the takeaway menus in a non-European language. Women still wear miniskirts. Men still shave. Restaurants remain open during Ramadan. Whatever.

BUT, there is a small core of people who believe the world should rearrange itself around them. Who perhaps accept the failings of the country they have left, and the positives of the country they have come to, but want to create Me, me, me-ville. Who get upset, for instance, because emergency personnel aren’t fluent in half a dozen foreign languages.

I don’t want “the bastards out”, but I would really like that noisy selfish minority to shut up and acknowledge that there must be give, as well as take, between them and their hosts.

I think you and I are DEFINITELY on the same wavelength Mary.

Happy St. George’s day!!! For some wonky reason, I always thought you were from Australia…I have no idea why:)

I tagged u on the Bad Girls Guide.

HEH Me? An aussie? maybe it’s the humour? mind you – don’t Americans always get the brits and the aussies mixed up?

It’s time the “politically correct people” stop being that and start being the “common sense people.”

Sadly Mark, common sense is being bred out of the human race slowly but surely – there’s no escaping it.

One of Canada’s biggest strengths is our multiculturalism. Almost everyone in Canada or their parents, grandparents, were immigrants. i see it as a strength.

Too bad Quebec can’t get that through their thick skulls though,

It’s a strength if they can bond despite their cultural differences – that is something that unfortunately this country seems unable to do K. From the way you and Jay talk it sounds as though Canada has managed to forge it’s own identity – I think the difference is that your country is a LOT bigger and it’s population has grown together, our population is bunched together a great deal closer and yet they still have not managed to find a common ground.
A lot of the English are becoming more and more resentful of immigrants coming into the country because the government seem to have the dice loaded in their favour as opposed to people who have been contributing to the nation their whole lives, then you also have people like my ex’s mum who come here, never work and still refuse to learn the language. These people tend to congregate into a single area so you end up with nicknames like ‘little beirut’ or ‘little india’ and the situation gets worse until you end up with political parties like the BNP and riots (see oldham race riots)

I would love to see a TRUE multi-cultural society, but England is not one, instead we are a home to several different cultures and none of them seem to mix. All that’s happened is the community/ society that I remember from my childhood has disintegrated completely as we are forced to try and accept other ways of life.

We are a mongrel nation – invaded by Romans, Celts, Angles, Viking tribes etc…..

But we are also an invading nation, re the British Empire – how many Brits bothered to learn Punjabi or other Indian languages, African languages, Aborigine or even Native American Indian languages, when they we’re made part of the Empire? I could go on etc….

It’s not multiculturalism that’s the problem – it’s social laziness and the media driven commercial “I want it now” society that the world is producing. I blame the internet! Burn it, burn it down!

Then again you could be right, lets get the bastards out, grab your pitch forks and flaming torches.

PS No more curries or trips to Puccini’s

NOooooooooooooooooooo!
You do have a fair point there though Stef. But my gripe is with the country in the last 25 years or so, not the last millenia. I know bigotry, racism and all the other isms have been around for a long time, but I remember a time of community spirit, I remember being able to play out with my friends without worrying about having my things stolen – I also remember having a healthy respect for authority figures, maybe I’m getting old and maybe the view I have of these things is obscured by a rosey mist, but i can’t help looking back and thinking – things were different in my day..