i know I'm going to be slaughtered for this one but here goes?

Question

if you are going to live in another country...would you,try to learn that language..dress in an appropriate manner to fit in with the chosen country...make friends with the other nationalities in that chosen country and finally become a member of society in that country .....or try to make that country like the one you have just left.......

i know some of you are going to say im a biggot and racist...but im still allowed free speach....for the time being anyway.....but,why does the average brit have 2 children.. whereas the average non brit has 4 children. ive no complaint with foreigners who mix in with the rest..but why would you live work expect to stay here and have no intention of speaking english, and finaly im not the one with the bombs so im not the bad person

ok i will give in to the how may kids as long as the state doesnt have to pay benifits......and to my american indian friend, im sorry for what my ancesters did to your country....but foreigners are ruining mine as well so you should be sticking up for me........one final thought ,does this annoy you.you walk in a shop..the assistant is on the phone talking in a foreigh language ,doesnt even stop speaking just takes your cash and mabe gives you a nod ...has this hapened to you before or is it just me

Answer 1

My dad came here from a different country (he was displaced by would you believe it, the British government essentially) and the first thing he did was learn English and the customs. He did the same when he lived in Russia and Israel too. If I was to live abroad i would have the courtesty to learn to speak the language, and learn the culture, If all i wanted was a little england, then why go in the first place?

Answer 2

Well, I am of Indian descent (my family came over here in the late 1800's - it's a very long story), I also consider myself to be a liberal-minded person, and I thoroughly agree with your point. I don't think it's racist to believe that people who come to live here should integrate into our society - ; in my opinion it is common sense. In the Netherlands, all immigrants have to follow a Dutch language course as well as being given a course overview of 'Dutch society'. I think we should do the same here.

One thing I do know, being a Brit who has lived in several different countries, is that when people are away from from their homeland, they often seek out the familiar, eg someone who speaks our language or is from the same place. There's a form of security in it. I always made an effort to fit into the culture of whichever country I was living in at the time though, learn the language, study the history and customs - it's a real mind-opening experience.

As for the bombing, well, the terrorists are in a tiny minority, thank God. The vast majority of immigrants (of whatever origin) want to get on with their lives and have no idea how to make a bomb or any intention of doing do! It's ridiculous the way many people seem to blame every single problem in Britain on immigrants. That, to me, shows sheer ignorance and a basic unwillingness to consider facts or take any responsibility.

I don't believe that foreigners should be expected to lose their cultural identity or not speak their own language here; however, I strongly believe that they should try to learn English, and that everyone should make the effort to integrate.

Answer 3

I'M a "bleeding heart liberal", as one person put it, but I do NOT think that immigrants shouldn't learn the country's main language! In the States, HUGE exceptions are made, mostly for Spanish speakers. Yes, it was just a fluke that the Spanish didn't conquer the New World faster than England, but the fact remains that anyone who doesn't learn English (in the States or UK) remains quite limited...and so do their kids (I used to teach them!).

The thing that fascinates me is that certain cultures (Slavic, such as Russian and Polish) already know English when they arrive (usually better than most Americans!), yet others (such as Southeast Asian and Hispanic) keep speaking their own language, for the most part, and expect the government and businesses to provide services in their language. Why do some immigrants make the effort and others don't? What would they do if English-speakers STOPPED catering to them? THEY'D LEARN ENGLISH!

Besides, with the influx of immigrants, just how MANY languages is the government supposed to accommodate? I know of one local high school, that offered translators in at least TEN different languages and were hiring more! That's insane.

As someone put it, "When in Rome"....if you go overseas, no matter WHAT language you speak, you'll have a MUCH better time of it if you learn the language, and I have just as much disdain for Americans or Brits who live in foreign countries and don't bother to learn the language, as I do for those who come to the US or England and do the same.

It's just a bad idea, and doesn't help anyone!

ADDENDUM: WHY do so many people ASSUME, automatically that Liberals are "loony" , stupidly "PC" and will mindlessly adopt the position that immigrants don't need to learn the language of their adopted country? Why don't you Liberal-bashers try READING about their actual beliefs??! I could make tons of assumptions about Cons, but I don't. You sure are giving me lots of ammo, to just that, though!

Answer 4

Personally, yes, I would learn the language. No, I would not dress in a manner any differenbt to I do now unless it was the law in the other country (in the Uk there are no clothing laws) and I would make friends with whoever I pleased whether they be nationalsd of that country or otherwise.
Why should people coming from other countries and cultures to the UK be expected to give up their way of life if they are not breaking any laws? I do agree that they should work to support themselves and also learn the language.
If you are so interested in keeping this countries traditions, then perhaps you should go back to living like a pagan savage as this is what the british people lived like before the Romans came and introduced us to a new way of life and education.
The world is changing all the time and we should embrace new ways of life. Not all immigrants are bombers. Most just want a better life for them and their families and do make every effort to fit in.

Answer 5

there's nothing wrong with wondering about anything , we all do . the sad part about bigotry is missing out on the beauty of other cultures , i think people miss soo much just because they put a halt " like the gestapo " on getting to know individuals because they don't meet our expectations . but i think what people seem to forget is some foreigners are leaving behind greedy tyrant governments who didn't care to feed or educate their own people let alone teach a second language and culture . they ran away so their children could be safe , not to change us . I'm a homegrown white boy who wish people would stop complaining and help these poor desperate people . for christ sake , or at least stop complaining .

Answer 6

Good question.
Motive. Why make any effort to fit in if your primary motive is to flee the country you are leaving.
There are no pre-determined financial benefits offered to those who do make the effort to learn and integrate with the culture of this country, but, arguably worse still, there are absolutely no penalties or denials for those who don't.

Perhaps we can see how well thought out the immigration policies have been.

I completely agree that it's well overdue time something is done about this for the benefit of all here.

Answer 7

You have a good point. I get patients in the hospital who do not speak a word of english. I don't think it is fair that I am expected to provide the same care I do to someone who speaks english. Not because they speak another language but because I don't know what they are saying or complaining about. We have to use translation lines we call in to. I agree that if you came to America you should at least be responsible enough to learn to communicate with those of us who speak english. As far as dress and other friendships I am not bothered by. Communication however is a HUGE problem for me. I hate standing in the line at the grocery store and hearing a group behind speaking another language. I can't help but feel like they are talking about me- which would be fine if I knew what they were saying. I have refused Spanish classes at work because I do not think it is my responsiblity to learn their language. They moved here, I think it is there responsiblity to learn mine.

Answer 8

When I go to a Muslim country which I do for business I always cover up clothes wise, respect their rules (i.e. I never ask to see them on prayer day - Friday - even though they would see me if I pushed) I also speak the second language of the country I visit (french) as I do not speak arabic.

Regarding children, family is everything to them - I do not have children and my business associates just do not understand this at all - it is alien to them. They would simply not understand how a woman would have a child and then afew months later dump them off at a nursery with a stranger - I have to say I struggle with that one - why bother! You will find crime in many muslim countries (stabbings, shooting, drugs etc) is almost non existent. In comparison the UK is a dangerous place.

That sais, I do agree with you, when coming to a new country you must integrate not separate and many immigrants simply do not want to do this - they are not here to do that - they are here for our NHS, benefits and work. Sadly, the bombers you refer to are more often than not UK citizens - they are the scum of the earth of course. Our problems started the minute we got into bed with America - before then, we didn't have this problem. Blame Tony Blair for that.

Answer 9

Well maybe you WILL be slaughtered for that question, but it's a good one.

Brits/Europeans are slowly beginning to wake up to the consequences of allowing a people to immigrate who have no intention of becoming a part of their host's society. They have EVERY intent on actually taking OVER that society and implementing Sharia law, in the end. This is their OWN stated goal.

Many of the countries in Europe are now having to deal with this, but in some cases it may actually be too late. It's going the same way in Canada, Australia, and the USA.

What USED to be a radical fringe element of Islam has now become the mainstream. It is no longer fringe. This is accomplished by a planned, concerted effort by the Islamists to infiltrate mosques all over the world. They come in suits and ties, with slick literature even (!) and they preach their hatred, and the "Islamic duty to Jihad" which means to subdue the earth and all its inhabitants under the rule of Islam, and Sharia law. They are charismatic speakers, they have their speeches down pat, and they inflame the young men in the mosques who then follow them, no questions asked. The older men do nothing, and the moderate muslims (which are now the minority) do nothing. This is how the Islamists are moving throughout every mosque they travel to, all over the world - and their aim is to do this in EVERY mosque, in every Muslim community in the world.

It is fine to immigrate people into a country when they come in order to become contributing members of that society, and full citizens who want to work to continue that society and make it even better.

But again, it is NOT fine when that immigrant population does NOT have the intent to become productive members of the society to which they are immigrating. When their goal is to REPLACE that society with their own, and institute their own RELIGIOUS laws as the law of the land, then the immigration has to come to a screeching halt, AND those immigrants already there need to be deported back to their country of origin. Either that, or lose your society. That's what it comes down to, and sadly, this is what so many European countries are now realising.

Answer 10

i agree completely I don't have a problem with immigrants that actually give something to this country, but people that come here and expect a free ride and like you say not learn English etc is wrong. I want my TWO children to grow up in a multi cultural society but I also what them to go to have good schools and good hospitals not bankrupt ones