Hillarysworld

Sanders · Diamond

"The rising tides of xenophobia" (Boston.com 10/25/10)

Jen the Michigander · SuperModerator

I think that in order to be successful, multiculturalism has to work both ways. The majority population needs to shed its prejudices, yet at the same time immigrants moving into Western nations should learn the language and adapt to the culture of their new homeland, not the other way around. And I have no tolerance whatsoever for immigrants who move into this country or any other, only to seethe with hatred toward the majority population and commit acts of violence or terrorism. If you hate America (or Germany or France or the UK), then go somewhere else!

Sanders · Diamond

Jen the Michigander wrote:
I think that in order to be successful, multiculturalism has to work both ways. The majority population needs to shed its prejudices, yet at the same time immigrants moving into Western nations should learn the language and adapt to the culture of their new homeland, not the other way around. And I have no tolerance whatsoever for immigrants who move into this country or any other, only to seethe with hatred toward the majority population and commit acts of violence or terrorism. If you hate America (or Germany or France or the UK), then go somewhere else!

Agree with you. It makes no sense that people come and dont want to learn English; dont want to adapt in any way to the cutlure of their new homeland.

I will keep some reserve on religion and food in that - it is way too personal to go from vegetarian to meat eater. Cannot force religion on another peron, can expect and insist on religious tolerance. On the aspect of religion that is community integration and being a good neighbor, one can integrate to a great extent, but the part of religion that is how one gets themselves centered.. I feel is really between them and their quiet time or wherever it is that they want to pray. Why come/go to another country to live and stay there if you cannot tolerate others in that society?

-- Edited by Sanders on Tuesday 26th of October 2010 11:09:45 AM

Jen the Michigander · SuperModerator

Food is definitely a keeper. Our culture here in the US is so much richer because every immigrant group has introduced the rest of us to their food. Plus, the Native Americans enriched the poor diets of Renaissance era Europeans.

Religion is OK for the most part, unless we're talking about barbaric practices done in the name of religion such as honor killings, child marriage, and female genital mutiliation. Of course, this goes for Americans who export their religious practices to other lands-- after all, the Jonestown massacre was perpetrated on foreign soil by a U.S. cult leader.

Sanders · Diamond

Jen, I agree.
I'd go a step further. Those barbaric practices are the way powerful people misuse religion.

Religion at its core is about bringing inner peace in the face of the unexplainables. Towards that, religions proscribe morals - a sense of right and wrong is what people are expected to "get" more so than the stories. A sense of community so people do not feel lost and lonely in their sadder times is what religion also promotes.. but that is a side product and not an essential component of a religion.

All else about religion is artificial and unnecessary in its truest value to human heart. No offense.. I have great friends in practically all religions. College roomates from all over the world - one was a Parsi, one a Zorastrian from Malaysia, one a Sikh, one a Catholic, one a Nigerian Protestant. We had one thing in common... a great laugh and the tiniest of kitchen and fridge with food habits from around the world - and one me having to keep the food, spoons, forks separate. We got along great. We had a community in the house...

Community is of shared experiences where we are willing to take each other as who they are without imposing our dogmas on OTHERS. That goes for every person regardless of what faith they practice.

And, there is no justifying barbaric action from anyone... of any faith. Dehumanizing people by clothing them in veil/burkah or making the backyard of a church a horror ground.. promoting violence of various kinds... all are equally unreligious.... because they go against the fundamental purpose of religion.. to bring inner peace to the human soul.