ISIS on the offensive in Iraq

[rory_20_uk]

In the UK from my experience as long as people speak English then things are OK. The less accent the better as a rule - but especially in cities there is a large percentage with an accent so it makes little difference. Note that a large percentage of persons who are born in the UK are second class citizens (at best).

Where do these people live who suggested Canada or Australia, and who warned off against Europe? Were most in Europe and hence disillusioned that everything wasn't perfect, and that if only they'd gone further everything would have been oh so perfect?

People who think the problem is the other lot and not themselves. Well, that's a shock! I'm amazed that the host countries aren't thrilled to have such a positive bunch; and finally - why have they not left if it is so horrible?

[Sarmatian]

In the UK from my experience as long as people speak English then things are OK. The less accent the better as a rule - but especially in cities there is a large percentage with an accent so it makes little difference. Note that a large percentage of persons who are born in the UK are second class citizens (at best).

Where do these people live who suggested Canada or Australia, and who warned off against Europe? Were most in Europe and hence disillusioned that everything wasn't perfect, and that if only they'd gone further everything would have been oh so perfect?

People who think the problem is the other lot and not themselves. Well, that's a shock! I'm amazed that the host countries aren't thrilled to have such a positive bunch; and finally - why have they not left if it is so horrible?

I only repeat what I've been told. And that's the experience of Serbs, and other people from former Yugoslavia, which makes the problem only more evident. A Serb in England would go to work, preferably from 9 to 5, go have a few beers in the evening and go see a footy match on weekends. On Sunday, as most Brits, he'd worship sleeping longer. If it weren't for the accent, it would be quite hard to notice him in any way.

I can only imagine how much harder would it be for someone much different cultural background and physical appearance, like an Arab.

Countries in Europe tend to be still nationalistic. People won't assimilate if they don't feel at home. That's the difference between a European country and an immigrant country, like Canada, Australia and US.

[rory_20_uk]

I only repeat what I've been told. And that's the experience of Serbs, and other people from former Yugoslavia, which makes the problem only more evident. A Serb in England would go to work, preferably from 9 to 5, go have a few beers in the evening and go see a footy match on weekends. On Sunday, as most Brits, he'd worship sleeping longer. If it weren't for the accent, it would be quite hard to notice him in any way.

I can only imagine how much harder would it be for someone much different cultural background and physical appearance, like an Arab.

Countries in Europe tend to be still nationalistic. People won't assimilate if they don't feel at home. That's the difference between a European country and an immigrant country, like Canada, Australia and US.

If that's what people do, then as as soon as the accent goes you're part of the mix - if you think of your adopted home as "home" then that's great. If you pop over and support foreign sports teams, speak primarily in in a different language and wach foreign TV it is hardly home, is it?

More nationalistic than the USA??!?!?

I understand that Serbia has done more than most to try to... "purify" its racial mix, but the UK is and has been for thousands of years a mongrel of different persons from all over Europe; for considerably less time others have also come over: waves of invaders have come over since the Celts wiped out the preceeding tribes, then Romans, the Saxons, the Vikings, Normans and as a rule every time there was unrest on the mainland another wave of disporia poured over.

Generally these persons integrated over time and their culture was merged with what was already there.

The more similar cultures are the better - and I am sure that Westerners popping into Saudi Arabia / Pakistan / Indonesia have a hellish time "fitting in" with such things as Apostate laws making an idle comment a 15 year jail term; Japan is just as bad in a different way with their own quaint racist term for all outsiders. "Wogs" a British term for all persons not part of Blighty is of course banned years ago whereas "Gaijin" is still a catch all for the uncultured (as what culture is there beyond Japan?) borderline thugs who are on their shores.

Very recently two things have happened at the same time:

1) The amount of persons from abroad has increased.
2) The people didn't really want to be here - just have the benefits of being so - hence didn't integrate culturally.

It is the failure to / to want to integrate culturally that is causing 99% of the problems.

[HoreTore]

It is the failure to / to want to integrate culturally that is causing 99% of the problems.

Hurr durr:

People who think the problem is the other lot and not themselves. Well, that's a shock!

[Husar]

If you want to know how much Europeans hate foreigners, just look at all the votes anti-EU parties are getting lately. Europeans don't even want to live together with other Europeans, much less with blacks, browns or yellow, who are just colors and not humans anyway.

[Montmorency]

What's actually interesting is that "white" is by definition the most colorful form of visible light. So calling black people "coloreds" is an oxymoron.

Makes more sense to call them "void" or "pit" or "archdemon" or something, if you're gonna hate on them.

(I haven't followed this thread. )

[Fragony]

People vote anti EU because the EU is a meddlesome bitch.

Ever hear anyone complain about the Chinese? Exactly, discussion over. People from islamic countries just happen to lead every chart when it comes to everything negative.

[HoreTore]

Ever hear anyone complain about the Chinese?

Uh..... Yes?

[Pannonian]

People vote anti EU because the EU is a meddlesome bitch.

Ever hear anyone complain about the Chinese? Exactly, discussion over.

Chinese in the US used to have a similar status to Spartan helots, including the bit where it's fair game to hunt them.

[Pannonian]

I understand that Serbia has done more than most to try to... "purify" its racial mix, but the UK is and has been for thousands of years a mongrel of different persons from all over Europe; for considerably less time others have also come over: waves of invaders have come over since the Celts wiped out the preceeding tribes, then Romans, the Saxons, the Vikings, Normans and as a rule every time there was unrest on the mainland another wave of disporia poured over.

"English" is an amalgam of Germanic, Norse and French languages, often with 3 sets of words for the same thing, and 3 sets of linguistic rules, with later attempts to rationalise this bunch into a single language and with each set of linguistic artefacts supposedly meaning something subtly different, whereas historically they were all describing exactly the same things. AFAIK since the imperial period the Indian subcontinent has also contributed a fair chunk of linguistic heritage as well.