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2006-12-08 16:06:38
adam1503
Member
+85|6662|Manchester, UK
Tony Blair recently made a speech saying that "tolerance is what makes Britain Britain" and warned "we must be ready to defend this attitude"

The article: http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/6219626.stm

He also said this:

Tony Blair wrote:

If you come here lawfully, we welcome you. If you are permitted to stay here permanently, you become an equal member of our community and become one of us.

The right to be different, the duty to integrate: that is what being British means.
Do immigrants have a duty to intergrate into the society they move into, or should that society adjust to accomodate them?

Discuss.
2006-12-08 20:56:53
Turquoise
O Canada
+1,596|6679|North Carolina
Integration and assimilation should be understood prerequisites for citizenship in any country.  Personally, I don't think America stresses this enough.
2006-12-09 01:33:16
adam1503
Member
+85|6662|Manchester, UK
Should it be the immigrants who integrate, or the British citizens?  It sound like Blairs comment (" The right to be different, the duty to integrate: that is what being British means.") could be said to either British citizens or those who want to become part of our society.  We/they have a right to be different, but we/they should give up that right for the good of the community.  That is what his comment says to me.

By the way, I know I only mentioned British society here, but i know that the issues are relevant to many other countries.
2006-12-09 03:32:04
oug
Calmer than you are.
+380|6793|Πάϊ

Adam1503 wrote:

Do immigrants have a duty to intergrate into the society they move into, or should that society adjust to accomodate them?
Essentially both these things happen at the same time whether we want to or not. It is impossible for immigrants not to aquire certain characteristics from the country they move to and vice versa.
ƒ³
2006-12-09 07:22:51
UON
Junglist Massive
+223|6927
Yeah, British people are really welcoming and accepting of other cultures.  Apart from the skinheads, toffs, most old people, most people in rural areas, politicians, and people who carry rivalries in from their country of origin.  In fact, probably most of the population.  Basically, tolerance is a minority trait in Britain, and actually the people who make a point to emphasise their 'Britishness' the most tend to be the least tolerant. 

But whatever, let's just blame the Muslims for moving to areas where they are least likely to suffer racist violence.

 

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