Why are we the only country that...?

Question

...is willing to compromise its own traditions and cultures in favour of everyone elses?!

I'm a firm believer of "When in Rome" and yet we seem to be the only country that I know of that has compromised its cultures and traditions to such an extent that we have completely lost our identity.

I object to this.

If I visit another country I have to adhere to their rules, laws, traditions and culture or face the consequences. Why doesn't the same thing apply in the UK?!

If people wish to reside in this country and want to be considered as equals does it not follow that they should adhere to our way of dress, our traditions and our culture? Since when have we been able to go to another country and dictate their way of life?

Political correctness hasn't succeeded in integrating the different cultures in the UK, it has only succeeded in segregating people and I, for one, am sick to the back teeth of it.

Either people want to be a part of this country or they don't.

What is remotely racist about wanting to preserve some semblance of English cultures and traditions?

I wouldn't expect to go to Spain and ban them from holding bull fights - I may not agree with bull fighting but I accept that it is a part of their heritage. If I don't like it I don't have to go to Spain do I?!

It makes me laugh when people jump to the conclusion that I am racist, when I have friends of every creed and colour - but that is not the issue that I am talking about.

It just makes me mad that people come to this country and expect US to conform to THEIR beliefs and traditions - and that is anything BUT a democracy in my book. When it comes to the fact that people are so politically correct that you cannot fly a Union Jack or St Georges Cross in this country without fear of reprisals it is PC going too far.

The world has gone mad I tell you.

And thus Pandora's box is well and truly opened!

Like me or loathe me I am entitled to my opinion just as much as the next person.

I love the fact that certain people are assuming that I'm all for a pure Aryan race. How little you know. My Grandfather is Polish and my maternal descendants are Italian, none of which, however came to this country and dictated how anyone should live. They didn't leap up and down over nursery rhymes, blackboards, flags, etc etc. they just got their heads down and worked hard and tried to live a decent, honest life without creating a fuss. They integrated into our society and were equals - they did not deliberately try and keep a foot in both camps, i.e English when it suits and not when it doesn't.

Oh good grief. What I am TRYING to say (obviously not very coherently for SOME people) is that when is all this PC nonsense going to end? What happens when we have to close all the pubs because someone finds alcohol offensive? Or "Her Madge" is kicked out of Buckingham Palace because we are forced to disband the monarchy? (not a bad idea some may argue!) Or we ban cricket? Or football? Perhaps fish & chips may cause offence to someone? What happens when our architecture is deemed not multi-cultural enough and we have to tear down our stately homes? Perhaps we should drive on the opposite side of the road so as not to confuse our immigrants? Lets just eradicate our whole history and start afresh shall we?

Lets ban Christmas, New Year and anything and everything else that may cause someone, ANYONE any offence. Lets rename our country and our language to make it more palatable to everyone anywhere in the cosmiverse.

Just where do we draw the line?

Answer 1

Well no other country would put up with what we do and it's disgusting, AND getting worse every day. There will be a revolution very soon if this carries on. I read in the paper that a woman working for a certain airline was dissmissed for wearing a cross, I ask you. Why should she not celebrate christianity in her own country?. I hope she sues the **** off them. And if I want to celebrate CHRISTMAS, and put up my CHRISTMAS TREE, and my TINSEL, MISTLTOE, HOLLY. Eat my CHRISTMAS PUD, open my CHRISTMAS PRESENTS, and sing my CHRISTMAS CAROLS, THEN I .........WILL.

Answer 2

I don't think we are the only country, but I guess that is not really the point.

There are some things which constitute part of the essential nature of the country, and which are hard won reforms. For instance universal adult suffrage is a relatively recent development, toleration of non-conformists has a slightly longer history ... and yet there are still some minor restrictions on Catholics.

One problem is that the UK doesn't have a written constitution, so there is no formal separation between the 'core values' embodied in law and what one might call 'tactical laws' ie the ones that just deal with particular problems. However badly drafted constitutions (like the recent EU attempt) are a millstone.

There is nothing particularly racist about your point of view. I don't think that the views of Ulster Presbyterians are particularly inline with British values, nor are those of violent football fans.

I'd challenge you to describe what 'our way of dress' is in a way that doesn't rule out people who have lived here for generations (royalty for instance) but I do think there are values which characterise UK society which should not be compromised.

I agree that PC language often simply creates taboos rather than clear thinking and open debate. In fact it tends to side with medieval, dogmatic thinking. One of the things that the British culture has fought over centuries to create is free speech and rational questioning of behaviour. This seems to me to be a core value.

There have always been lots of different cultures in the UK, so I don't think it is a matter of some people coming here and introducing the issue. Yes, people come here with different cultures, but the problem of integrating different cultures with different aspirations has been with us since before the Romans.

However in times past I suspect there was more plain speaking. People said what they meant in plain, straightforward terms. By people asserting their own interests and then clearly stating their own interests to each other it was easier to get to the heart of the matter. When language is muddied by flabby thinking then people often don't really communicate at all.

I don't think we've lost our identity. I think we are just afraid to say clearly what we want, and how we want our society to be.

Answer 3

We have the same crap in Canada. If someone wants to immigrate , that's great, and they can & should keep their own customs etc. & if they wish to share them with others, great. What bothers me, is the fact that kids cannot have Christmas concerts at school, & it's pc to say Happy Holidays instead of Merry Christmas. I believe they should bring Christ back. And on Jewish Holidays, if the Rabbi and some of the Jewish people want to put on a concert at the school, great. The same for Muslims and any religious group or ethnic group and share the cultures instead of taking this approch. I feel this would help break down prejudices through educating each other. I lived in Toronto for awhile and that was one of the great things about the city. Sat. night you could go to the Italian , or Potugese, West Indian or one of many other neighborhoods and enjoy the culture, and without exception , I found that when they realized you were there to enjoy and not critique, the ppl would do everything possible to help you. On rereading this I feel now I should buy the world a Coke & teachthem all to sing, etc. Seriously there's more to enjoy, than to dislike about other cultures. BUT, HAVING SAID THAT , WE HERE IN CANADA, SAME AS THE UK & US HAVE OUR TRADITIONS AND CUSTOMS ALSO, and as we want to respect yours , we must demand that ours are respected also. I would expect, that Germany France & others are having problems also. I'm atheist by the way, so if you don't think I'm at least on the right track, than do your religion proud and HATE those so& so s that dare to be different . It's nice being an atheist, I can love everyone equally, I don't have any religious nuts telling me about the evils of others.

Answer 4

The problem with your perspective is that a free society allows for cultural differences while at the same time preserving those specific to the country. Why can't we acknowledge both?

What consequences do you face if you visit another country and do not follow their customs? I've traveled the world and have never encountered such a problem.

Cultural diversity is a good thing--especially when you consider that the vast majority of Americans descended from foreign blood. The only true American natives are American Indians. Should we all follow their cultural customs?

Answer 5

I am 100% behind you, I feel that you are in no way racist and are infact sharing the view of many people INCLUDING many immigrants. I feel that many of those who choose our country as their new home do make the effort to integrate into our society and generally do so very successfully.
This country along with many others has had to come a long and difficult path to achieve the democracy and FREE SPEECH which we all enjoy today. The problem is that there are a minority of people who feel that it is proper to abuse this right and to use it to spread hate and encourage ill will among the population. an example would be the Sheikh Abu Hamza al-Masri who has openly supported terrorism.
National dress is also very important to many cultures. I am a Scotsman and as such am extremely proud to wear my kilt and defend peoples right to wear their national dress at appropriate times. I would not wear it to a nightclub due to the nature of the Skean Dubh and could be used to cause fear and alarm. Should teachers wear a kilt? I think not and as such the wearing of a veil by teachers should not be allowed. Muslim women wearing veils is acceptable in many locations, however, places such as schools are not. Where next? Hospitals?

Answer 6

I agree with you. Immigrants can keep their traditions and beliefs, I would never ask anyone to change them for that is against was our forefathers (here in the US) fought for. I do however find it disturbing that we are wearing away our traditional christian beliefs and ideals to keep from offending people of other religions, etc. Democracy is the rule of the majority and the last time I looked, the majority of us are Christian in heritage and ideals, and thus those should be the ideals upheld in this country. We need to stop bending to keep from offending the minority. Just for example, most Americans celebrate Christmas but we can't call it Christmas in government buildings, schools, and now even stores are getting away from it. The majority celebrate it so thus there is no good reason to keep it out of those places. And before you start on the separation of church and state bs, read the constitution, it doesn't say the separation of church and state it simply states that congress shall pass no laws prohibiting another religion (I am paraphrasing here).

Answer 7

I agree
But u should blame the government not the people that come over here from other countries.The govt shud put in immigration quotas and ensure only thise who can contribute to society is allowed in .This was actually done in the 60,s with the Asians and West Indians from the former colonies ..when they came overthey came mainly to work and did contribute via taxes.
The "new " immigrants just come here take and send it back home..and do'nt actually contribute to society.
THere are over half a million Eastern Europeans over here if they all paid taxes and NI contributions I'm sure the country would not be in the fecking state it's in now.
The so called melting pot does not exist as all the different races,religions live in there own areas.We all put on this happy face but deep down....
Oh and like u I'm not a racist but a realist,I see what I see...

Answer 8

We don't so much "compromise our own traditions" as incorporate into them those of others. Take Thanksgiving - as American as it gets right? That idea was taken right from Jews and their holiday of Sukkot, which happens in October.

The melting pot idea means we take from those who come to us.

Of course, we have a culture, and a political culture also. Part of the socialization process is teaching about who has come before.

With the large number of Spanish speakers now in the US there is a danger of a sub culture not in English becoming long lasting. If, however, the kids learn English, we'll absorb them like all the rest.

Answer 9

What a short sighted little girl you are. So are you telling me you want to get rid of Mc Donalds, MTV, The Simpsons, Hollywood movies and US music. You are simply racist. You are simply running down certain cultures for their attitudes in Britain while ignoring the biggest cultural influence on your country - the US!!!
But hey they are mostly white and they speak english (sort of) so that's OK.

The fact is that every culture takes and uses parts of other cultures. The is no such thing as a pre culture in Western society.

Answer 10

I think the issue is part of the push to deny the existence of objective good and evil, which is motivated by the desire to "feel good about ourselves".

If you abide by non-judgmental relativism, you can set your standards however you want, do whatever you want, and always succeed, and feel fullfilled as a "good person". If on the other hand, you believe in an objective system, you have to be humble, recognizing and correcting your failings.

It seems ironic to me that in this system of relativism the only moral is tolerance with absolute intolerance towards intolerance.

I think the solution lies in equal protection under the law, and recognition of objective standards of good and how to reasonably promote good. In a nation, the laws are basically the objective standards that most people agree are true.

Answer 11

My answer is that I am a uk citizen, and my culture is completely different to UK culture. I find that if I want an easy ride, anywhere, I have to fit in with the community that Im in at that moment.

My culture is "sharing". I find people divisive. The culture that I live in no matter where I am tends to be hierarchical, competitive and predjudiced. In that situation my values are not esteemed.

Where this answer applies to you is, that society is comprised of many different cultures,

From village, to county, to english, welsh, irish etc being all UK. feminist, gay, hetero, the list of subcultures goes on and on.

From my perspective, where there is justice and fairness, there will be no jealousy or envy of other peoples, and that would be for me, a sharing society. In such a society no one would starve.

Nationalism that we know is rather like supporters of a football team, People take great enjoyment out of the "fight" of it all. For me the main problem is as human animals our group size is 150 people and not the UKs 60 million, where people can count their close friends on there fingers.

Thousands of years ago there once existed on earth a large sharing circular civilisation, the only known one. and it existed here in the UK. and parts of France. But all these "come overs" shifted us over to the left of the country, even out into the sea, to populate Ireland and further on in time , over to the USA.

Best wishes Green womble