MUNICH, Germany — Prime Minister David Cameron, in a speech attended by world leaders, on Saturday criticized his country’s longstanding policy of multiculturalism, saying it was an outright failure and partly to blame for fostering Islamist extremism.
He said the U.K. needs a stronger national identity to prevent people turning to extremism.
"If we are to defeat this threat, I believe it's time to turn the page on the failed policies of the past," he told an international conference in Munich. -end snip
I think his angle is the 'us and them', instead of 'we're all one' can lead to trouble.
Can't say I disagree with him, look at the trouble France has had with having alienated Muslim communities on its soil. Granted, it's a much larger scope than just that issue, but I think he's on to something.
It's also a better approach than Bush's "go out; live your lives and buy stuff" to defeat the ter'rist.
Wole Soyinka said something to this effect in 2010, that allowing "too much" religious and cultural freedom while a nice concept just allows extremists to breed in places like England.
I don't know, I think it's things like this that can alienate the very people they want to integrate into their society.
__________________
“Where the longleaf pines are whispering
to him who loved them so.
Where the faint murmurs now dwindling
echo o’er tide and shore."
-A Grave Epitaph in Santa Rosa County, Florida; I wish I could remember the man's name.
I don't think he's talking about limiting religious and cultural aspects, which would indeed work to alienate, just working towards encouraging a one-community type of environment.
France's problem has nothing to do with their society saying "we're all one". Hell, they've had presidential candidates who wanted to deport all immigrants, in recent memory.
Terrorism is hugely about identity. If the British or French or Americans say "this is what it means to be X", it really is only going to drive a wedge between them and their immigrant communities.
People tend to think this is one of the main reasons Muslim communities in Europe are so much more radical than those in North America. The melting pot of American society, where individualism, rather than some national identity, is cherished, people feel like they can belong and want to belong. In a situation where one has to be a certain "way" to belong to society, you are essentially saying that people from other cultures have to make a choice between the two. This is what leads to Muslim youth feeling alienated from a nation. They are told flatly that they aren't French or British, whereas they can cross the ocean and be an American or Canadian with little pressure to conform to any national ideal.
maybe I'm reading too much into it, but I still think it is dangerous
I really don't think his angle was/is "you've got to make a choice between us or them", I think that's what he's directly trying to do away with. I could be wrong, but the 'us and them' in how it is with many Muslims communities in Europe.
IMO, he's saying "you can be Muslim, yet still be part of this culture too", the former doesn't have to negate the later; they can go hand-in-hand. As you noted, that's how it is in the US.
Maybe you are and/or maybe I'm not reading enough into what he's saying/implying.
Most people here I think feel that "When in Rome" applies.
"Coming to England? How about learning English." etc
Same as if you went to Mexico you would learn Spanish, or Italian of going to Rome.. Especially of you're to live there.
Also Islam can f*** right off with every other religion as far as Im concerned, and I can see this English Defence League's point, there.
'Cause thats no racial issue per say: Just freedom of religion.
Hope they are sincere/responsible though, and not just another bunch of thugs like the National Front turned out like.
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Feb 16th, 2011 07:32 PM
