Do you think Britains "multicultural society" is a blessing or a curse?

Question

I was in Tesco on Tuesday; as I walked down the aisle I realised that myself and my wife were the only two people around speaking english. When we came to the Jams we found a little old lady trying to get someone to help her reach some honey off the top shelf, I offered my help and the lady said she had been trying to get some help for about fifteen minutes but that the people she approached did not understand english, she then started rambling on (sorry but you probably know how older people have a knack for talking) about how the country had gone to pot and how her older brother would turn in his grave if he knew what he had fought for. At the time I was polite and listened but dismissed what I had heard. Since then I have been unable to shake what I heard and am viewing society in a new way and I have to say I am becoming more and more disenchanted with the multicultural model. After research, I'm sorry to say, I am starting to see where groups like the BNP are coming from.

My apologies for the length of the question but I wanted to give you all some background so I didn't just get answerers calling me "racist" and the like.

I know I'm not supposed to turn this into a forum but I just wanted to say to Dance D that you missed the question entirely, this is not an attack on immigration so there is no need to take such a defensive stance. However if we have several (in London over 100 nationalities) cultures none of them willing to learn the native tongue this is not multiculturalism at all, it is segregation and domination.

Answer 1

I think it is a curse. It is getting to the point where I fell like a foreigner in my oen country> I keep on having to repeat myself as no one understands MY accent

Answer 2

Citizens here are so disgusted with illegal aliens who come here and try to establish a gang culture or drug culture in their city. I think most of the citizens would like for other cultures to come to the US and assimilate, you know, be a part of, not apart from. My Mom is an immigrant but she spoke English before she came here and had seen every American movie shown in Japan. Her greatest dream was to become an American, and her first photo proved it, she wore a cowboy hat! I have a good friend from Russia going through citizenship and she wants to be a part of this culture mpre than anything. She is a medical professional and volunteers every chance she gets to assist others' medical needs. It depends on the person. But how do we know what person we want when the borders are porous and we have no voice in choosing our citizens? I mean why would we choose some jerk too lazy and rude to assist an elderly lady with a jar of honey or jam? Do we need more drug lords and gang members? I guess I am rambling on like the little old lady but I see this every day in my city too.

Answer 3

You're not referring to the multiculturalism of the UK as having both Germanic and Celtic cultures, right? There's nothing immigrants maintaining certain aspects of their culture that do not contradict the laws of their new home, and do not try to force their culture on others. They should, for the most part, try to adopt the customs of the country they immigrated to, and learn the language of that nation.

Answer 4

You mean Britanistan's multicultural society? Don't worry, in 100 years it's going to be a monocultural islamic society.

Answer 5

This question is top notch and needed to be asked so thanks for doing just that.

It seems today more and more that our very Island Race essence is in the process of being Star Trek-ised.

Previous warring nations bought together by a supposed intellectually superior race assuring us that they know what is good for us and the only possible way to avert an apocalyptic disaster is to join hands - integrate - go forward together as one living in harmony for the better good...
When this idealised multicultural model born out of post war euphoria coupled with the need to make amends took seed and sprouted in the sixties it looked as though 'things were going to be ok' but of course they most definitely are not.
What with today's worldwide tensions fears and troubles that very same idealised multicultural model seems ridiculous in the extreme.
Let's not forget that during wars 'aliens' as non native inhabitants were/are called - were interned in nothing short of prison camps, honest good upright citizens or not. So why on earth do we have (potential) enemies of the state roaming free now.
I for one have become very cynical about where all of this will take us but I have this gut feeling that soon it is going to fall about our ears.

Answer 6

I am an American. I can understand your dilemma. On the one hand your country has been outstanding in helping other nations when they were in trouble, you have taken in people from all over the world & given them refuge. It must be most disheartining to feel their lack of thankfulness. Perhaps, your country, as well as mine, should back off of being so darn quick to put our culture in harms way, as we have done too often. Maybe its time to be a bit more selfish in how much help we are willing to give to others who do not thank us for it; in fact they try to kill us for doing such acts of kindness! I'm all for saying, stay home, we will send you a care package!

Answer 7

Multiculturalism is a "mixed bag." Sometimes it is difficult to integrate other cultures into mainstream society. Multiculturalism isn't bad, what is bad is when people REFUSE to integrate. It also puts a strain on our educational systems. Personally, I find it absolutely ridiculous and can't understand how somebody could choose live in a country for 20+ years and never bother to learn to speak the local language! That is like living in a bubble.

On the other hand, life is a lot more interesting with multiculturalism ... in San Francisco, for example, you can find restaurants from almost every culture in the world and there are often many fun and enriching cultural activities in which to participate.

When people immigrate from other countries and bring something positive and useful to their new land, it is what makes the country great. When they fail to contribute and only take and make demands, it weakens the society.

Answer 8

Ahh, finally, I had to make a new ID just to answer this question because I found it so interesting. (I forgot both my old password and ID :) ) Now to the delightful question at hand of which I can hardly stop my hands from shaking with glee. (No, not really) Ignoring my stupid rambling however, multiculturism can be both a blessing and curse I believe depending on your point of view. So since the pro-side usually starts in debates I'll write first why multiculturism is a good thing. 1) I have friends which, had their families not moved here, I'd never have the pleasure of knowing. 2) Multculturism, promotes better relations with the minority group’s home country 3) It promotes peace and tolerance throughout the world. (Oh God, that sounds stupid even in my own head) 4)It makes it much easier for more people of a given culture to move to the given country. (But is that really a benefit, ahhh! I supposed to be supporting multiculturism in this part, not undermining it! Stupid, stupid.) O.K., let no one say I did not try to promote multiculturism. Now for why I don’t like it. Now, for the record, I AM NOT A RACIST. However when I get into a heated debate with a young Middle Eastern breaded fellow which results (this was before the terrorist attacks so the other passengers weren’t panicking or jumping out the second deck windows of the bus) in him screaming and foaming at the mouth (it was only a little bit of foam) when I'm only 2 minutes from my home about how terrible the crusades were at me, I’m afraid to admit it, but my tolerance sort of ebbs. (And as a side note, I frankly don't see why I should beat my chest and pray for forgiveness for something some of my ancestors did 1000 years ago and which the individual in question did not personally suffer from. I have plenty of my own sins that I need to deal with first so I’ll deal with my ancestors problems when I get there, thank you) While I admit the idea of that fellow's head decorating a pole next to the London bridge does sound amusing (and his head would probably be next to some of the more annoying members of my family) I know that is not a plausible solution to this situation. Multiculturism, at least for me, means I always have to watch what I say, even 2 minutes away from my own home and on this very blog! And frankly I don’t like it, I think I should be able be to express my opinions in my own country without always having to watch my tongue for fear of offending someone and then being stereotyped as a racist for the rest of my life. Sometimes I wish I was a different ethnicity (honestly), that way I could say what I feel without fear of being likened to a Nazi. It’s not fair either. I’m Welsh and until the early 1900’s most of my family still spoke Welsh. Back then it was encouraged (rather forcefully) that you speak only English and my family like good Englishmen learned English and forgot Welsh. Now I feel like a man caught with his pants down, because I don’t know a word of Welsh and now speaking only English in England isn’t enough anymore to communicate with everybody. All my family’s sacrifices seem for naught and that’s upsetting. In conclusion, And (&*)^ my brother, he said he’d be home at 10 and now he’s saying he’s staying out longer and I washed all the dishes today and then his dog got into the trash can and then I had to pick up his s*&%. (The dog’s, not my brother’s) Sorry about that. In conclusion, England is called England for a reason. It is where the English live and where English is spoken. France is called France for a reason. It is where the French live and where French is spoken. Get at what I’m going at here? If the people living in England are not English or don’t speak English, why then still call it England because it’s not really England anymore is it? (More like, Engistan and ohh no, the dog is now under the desk, please do not hit the power cord Malcolm, I’ve spent too much time on this.) So to answer your question sir,  (It took me long enough didn’t it?) the good comes with the bad, and whether something is a curse or a blessing depends on your point of view.

P.S. I like the Old Brits, they’re very different than my generation but I like them all the same. Tough folk.

Oh and one other thing. Is it just me or are most of these people from across the pond and talking about America or what?

Answer 9

it has been a curse for a long time

anyone that wants to come and live in our country should learn english and have to pass a test before we start doling out welfare benefits and access to our health system.
other countries already do it - why shouldnt we ?
this is why our country is targetted by so many immigrants - the benefit system is wide open to abuse, and i am afraid to say, thats what they're doing.
they are also living close together creating their tight little communities - ghettoes - where enforcing authorities cannot infiltrate to extradite the criminal elements

oh Enoch Powell, how they laughed at you

Answer 10

God is the same yesterday, today and forever he changeth not. So yes it is still for the world we live in but Just because he said that does not mean he will curse this election. No matter what happiness in this election God is coming back soon and the things that a written in Revelations have to be fulfilled and that is why the world is in the mess its in. So remember to pray and keep the faith. God will never let his people down. Bless you and yours. Sweet Kacey.

Answer 11

It's going to catch up to you in the future, just look at the mess in what use to be Yugoslavia, USA today, and other countries. For being too politically correct and passive, your rendering yourselves extinct. Look at history, Rome doesn't exist and latin is an extinct language.