Racism Or Justified Irritation?

by Englishman 7 Replies latest jw friends

• 

  Englishman

  Are all men of equal value? It seems obvious to me that they are equal, and that is true regardless of the colour of a persons skin.

  But what about a situation where a country has a high immigrant population, and these immigrants cause discomfort to the indigenous people with their culture, is it then a racist act to complain about them?

  In Birmingham, England, Moslems have erected a huge mosque. Great no problem you may say, live and let live etc etc. Except that a huge sign outside welcomes you to the Saddam Hussein Mosque . Now, correct me if I’m mistaken, but isn’t that the sort of thing that causes tension between communities?

  This week there has been a number of race riots in Bradford, Yorkshire, between British and Asian protagonists. On Monday, an elderly Indian lady was being interviewed on the BBC news, and she said that Britain was much more tolerant of Asians when she first arrived in the country back in the 50’s. What stopped anyone taking her seriously was that she made these comments through an interpreter. After living in England for over 40 years she still had not taken the trouble to learn the language! That is not at all unusual either.

  Of course, ex-pat Brits aren’t much better when they emigrate to warmer climes. Take a visit to the Costa Brava sometime and see how many have bothered to learn to speak Spanish, not many I can tell you.

  It seems to me that if you are going to be adopted by another country you must, in return, adopt their culture and language too. When in Rome……

  Englishman.

  ..... fanaticism masquerading beneath a cloak of reasoned logic.
• 

  TR

  Englishman,

  I completely agree:

  It seems to me that if you are going to be adopted by another country you must, in return, adopt their culture and language too. When in Rome……

  The U.S. has a huge problem with Mexicans coming over the border. I don't have a problem with immigrants coming here LEGALLY. My best friend just got married to a Mexican woman, she's a doctor and she speaks English.(GOD is she HOT!) There is a huge burden on the taxpayers for these illegal aliens. This is why I agree with the idea of the national gaurd patrolling the border to keep them out.

  TR

  "I have sworn upon the altar of God, eternal hostility against every
  form of tyranny over the mind of man." --Thomas Jefferson*
• 

  bigboi

  Englishman:

  I think it's a little of both actually. However, I do feel most anglos are too quick to point out that ppl should learn the language and cultures of the place to which they've immigrated. I think that's true to a certain extent. Some ppl were forced to immigrate to another country or in the case of the little Indian lady you mentioned, she may have moved there because of a family siuation. Besides did't the British subjugate India for a couple of hundred yrs. I wonder how many of the English learned to speak Native East Indian languages during that time. Probably not many. So why hold these ppl to a different standard. Just because ppl relocate to a different area of the world doesn't mean they have to give up their culture, heritage or language. I guess they feel the same as European explorers felt all those yrs ago when they resettled in different areas of the world. Really though, how many of those cats bothered to learn the native languages or give up there culture?

  ONE....

  bigboi

  "it ain't what ya do. it's how you do it" quote from the song "True Honeybunz" by Bahamadia
• 

  Roamingfeline

  yeah, that's one big gripe I have about the USA. They'll take all the immigrants who come over illegally and wine/dine them in a fine fashion, giving them every benefit that they won't give to their own poor. Try to get someone into the country legally, and they throw every roadblock you can think of in your way! I think they WANT a country full of uneducated people, instead of those who are educated and actually work for a living!

  RCat
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  Seeker

  I think they WANT a country full of uneducated people, instead of those who are educated and actually work for a living!

  Of course they want illegal aliens in this country. Who else will do the grunt work for illegal wages, no benefits, no unions? They are the perfect group to do the work Americans don't want to do themselves, at a wage no American can live on. For those who hire them, it's the perfect solution: Cheap labor who can't complain about the conditions. Capitalism in its purest form.
• 

  bigboi

  Rcat:

  I think they WANT a country full of uneducated people, instead of those who are educated and actually work for a living!

  Rcat most of those ppl do indeed work. As a matter of fact they do jobs that no natural-born American citizen would do and most of the time they do it for wages that are even below the minimum wage. Still alot of those ppl do it for thier children to get opptunities that their class would never get in their native countries. The "burdens" that TR mentions are no burden to a country that pays tens of millions of dollars for a single wartime jet airplane and subsidizes multinational corporations with huge tax breaks.

  Uneducated ppl do work. They work a whole lot harder than most educated ppl. Yet, most manual labor is looked down upon nowadays so your comment really doesn't surprise me. I'll ask a question: Who's more important, a doctor or a garbage man?

  ONE....

  bigboi

  "it ain't what ya do. it's how you do it" quote from the song "True Honeybunz" by Bahamadia
• 

  Englishman

  Bigboi,

  Besides did't the British subjugate India for a couple of hundred yrs. I wonder how many of the English learned to speak Native East Indian languages during that time. Probably not many. So why hold these ppl to a different standard.

  Absolutely, I agree, that is why I mentioned UK ex-pats in Spain who only speak English. I dont think that they should have residence papers until they can speak passable Spanish. Its most likely the money they have that is the deciding factor.

  Seems to me that it is an insult to the host country not to trouble to speak their language. I have hopes of one day settling in a Portuguese area - 'cos they're our oldest allies and they love us Brits!- but I can already say CERVEJAS POR FAVOR.

  Englishman.

  ..... fanaticism masquerading beneath a cloak of reasoned logic.
• 

  bigboi

  Englishman:

  I agree too that at least an effort should be made to learn some of the language and cultures of the country to which you've immigrated. i just don't like those ppl who use the ppl who don't or can't as an excuse to down all immigrants. Hell, is there anyone alive on this planet whose ppl didn't live in another place sometime in history? I doubt it. Hey, those muslims have got some major balls though,huh? Saddam Hussein? LOL!!!!! I wouldn't fuck with them Englishman. LOL!!!!!!!!

  ONE.....

  bigboi

  "it ain't what ya do. it's how you do it" quote from the song "True Honeybunz" by Bahamadia