Multiculturalism under pressure

Quote

“If there were only one religion in England there would be danger of despotism, if there were two, they would cut each other's throats, but there are thirty, and they live in peace and happiness.”  Voltaire

News
Ethnic and religious tensions have been surfacing in Britain in the past few weeks. Media stories about the sentencing of two gang leaders for grooming teenage girls for sex focused on their ethnicity.  The discussion included differences in values between ethnic groups, and was exacerbated when some journalists started to blur race, ethnicity and religion.   

Then this week, Baroness Warsi, Britain’s first woman Muslim cabinet member, stated that Islamophobia is becoming more and more culturally acceptable in Britain, and the Home Office banned Terry Jones, the US preacher who threatened to burn Korans, from coming to Britain to address a far right rally. 

Britain has been following a multicultural path for some decades; the idea is that ethnic diversity is not only to be welcomed but also reflected in national law and social policy.  While toleration and respect between people of different ethnic groups in Britain has improved greatly over this period, the fundamental dilemma remains: how to maintain freedom of conscience and religion for all, but still insist that people of all backgrounds abide by a common set of laws, even if those are shaped primarily by the majority culture.

While an economy is growing and there are jobs for all, ethnic differences are more likely to be swept under the carpet; but when unemployment is rising and the economic future is gloomy, then tensions are more likely to re-emerge.  

Angela Merkel made the controversial statement last October that multiculturalism in Germany is dead.  Whether or not Britain goes the same way depends on whether we can hold to the path that ensures both personal liberty and cultural integration at the same time.

Read on...

Professor Julian Rivers, who studied in Germany as well as Britain, wrote a Cambridge paper about Multiculturalism in late 2001.  To read his more in-depth analysis of the issues, click here,   

Walk the talk

In the history of most nations there are stories of immigrants who, individually or collectively, ended up being a great blessing to their adopted country. Why not research the story of one of them and celebrate his or her contribution to the life of your nation?

The last word
From the Bible, Leviticus 19:33-34 “When a foreigner lives with you in your land, do not mistreat him.

The foreigner living with you must be treated as one of your native-born.”