General Chat

That lady who upset BrianW probbaly didn't even realise that in British society it is quite acceptable for a man to sit next to a woman on a bus.

When they are in their family groups or in their place of worship or clubs, they can follow the rules. And they are free to do that in UK as we are a liberal and tolerant society.

But if they want to join in, shop in public, be seen in public and ride on public transport, they should adhere to what we call "normal" British behaviour.

And, if they think Western culture is decadent, they have two choices. 1. Try to change the culture democratically - I think they would find they might get a lot of support from westerners. 2. Leave - there are several Muslim countries round the world and they could find one that suited their life style.

The second and third generation ethnic groups are very much part of the British culture, lots of them are British!

If you think about the influx of 'Blacks' after WW11, they were not welcomed, they suffered race hate and unlawful, segregation. They were encouraged to come to the UK, to fill job (menial) vacancies, due to the loss of men in the war.

The focus has shifted from the black minority groups, to Asian, next, maybe it will be Somalian?

If anyone felt a white, British person, felt uncomfortable in a given situation, then how do you think the person from a different country felt?

If we don't mix with other cultures, religions, ethnicities (on a regular basis) then how can we/they begin to understand each other?

Some people, have ‘one’ experience’ and base that on the rest of the ‘race’, ‘culture’, ‘religion’

Aawww don't feel offended by the fact that the woman changed seats on the underground, Brian W :-)
Bear in mind that she is probably not used to being in such close proximity to a man who is not a husband, father, brother or son, it would not be a part of her culture.
The UK (supposedly) tolerates all races and religions, but it's probable that woman is from a country and society which does not, therefore she would feel uncomfortable with a man so close to her. Difficult, but don't take it personally.
When I lived in Saudi I experienced life in a society where men and women are segregated to such a degree it is something we, in the west, can barely comprehend :-)

Karen

P.S. And that's why there will never be integration, as you pointed out.

Brian W. I agree with you and can relate to your comments. A few weeks ago OH and I were in the City at the Post Office, alongside us in the next queue were five women standing in a group, all in full Burka. OH said he said he was just going outside for something. I was left standing with these women, they starting to talk to each other (not in English) and it occurred to me when I looked at them standing there; I did not know if they were actually women, from the look of their footwear, they could have easily been men. I am not usually intimidated, but I can honestly say I felt very uncomfortable standing alone, and must have looked it as OH later asked me if I was OK. Not for the first time I realised I was the only white person in the post office.

Integration happens over the generations, it seems. But at huge human cost.

Religions and races like to keep themselves pure. I have a record of a marriage in my family between a Wesleyan Methodist and a Primitive Methodist 150 years ago. Terrible tensions between families. And 50 years ago, many Protestant families were not happy if a Roman Catholic crossed their threshhold.

Still today, if a Jew, a West Indian, a Muslim, a Sikh, a Hindu marries the "wrong" person, huge tensions can erupt between the families.

BrianW made me chuckle about that woman thinking he was interested in her (even though he could not even catch a glimpse of her ankles). There are many Christian churches in this world where men sit on one side and women sit on other. I made the huge mistake in India of sitting on wrong side and was ushered swiftly to the men's side :-D

Multi-cultural to me is respecting lots of cultures, communicating in a free and friendly way with people of very different backgrounds to yourself.

I agree Brian, sadly, the use of the term multi cultural society means just that a society that is multi cultural not an integrated society. Tha rather than the implication that the UK is a society that tolerates all races and religions.

I went imto a bank the other day and one of the cashiers was a lady wearing a headscarf and I found myself feeling intimidated and hoping that I did not get served by her.
On an underground a year or so ago the only seat available was next to a lady wearing a burka who had two children with her. As soon as I sat down she exchanged places with her son. What did she think I was going to do to her? I felt insulted at the implication that I was unfit to sit next to her.
I can't see any sort of integration taking place - ever !

Gins the awful truth is that these comments are serious.

About being 'satire'?

If that's the case, I dont find it funny!

Maybe it's a 'front'?

Gins, did you click on the second link?

OMG OMG OMG

The woman on far right of the photo, she is covered to the neck, how on earth is she or any of them 'sl#tish' And even is they were, what right has man got to rape anyone

Maybe we should all wear those nice blue dresses with the pink flowers, maybe then there would be no rape anywhere in world......yeah right

Have you seen the idiot with beard............now he looks 'normal' :-0 :-|

I have just read the link. If we are not careful this country is going to end up in a black hole. The law is the law full stop. A vigilante is someone who is not law enforcement officer taking the law into their own hands and investigating crimes (as they see them), punishing offenders (as they see them) THEY are committing crimes while alleging they are doing the job of the police. Any action taken by a "vigilante" must be both reasonable and legal - they can't go around beating people up for example.

They are not an authorised legal force - so if they attack someone they are guilty of assault and can be charged. There's no such thing as "vigilante justice" "Justice" is only legally administered if it is done within the law...otherwise they are just a bunch of criminals and should be dealt with within the law.

Gins, there is one saving grace on that site, an anti who says exactly what he thinks about their lunatic ravings :-D

I read the following about rape, now please do not access the link if you cannot handle really ignorant/hateful/spiteful/disgusting rants re women deserve it.

http://www.landoverbaptist.net/showthread.php?t=81719

Then check this: lolol

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Landover_Baptist_Church

You lot have just had me giggling!

Very much needed after the threads on that site, that I read earlier :-0

Anybody with guns are dangerous,(Exception being the Armed Forces)**M**.

Not just idiots, ignorant!

One the threads questioned that someone could obtain a Doctorate from 'Cambridge' taken from an author's book blurb. Their arguement was that there is no University in Cambridge, MA, the closest geographically being Harvard.

Hadn't they heard of the university town of Cambridge, England? Doh!

Bloody hell, just read some links on that site! It deserves a thread proving that there are dedicated idiots!

Some of their views beggar belief. TBH I'd rather deal with some idiots Muslims in the UK than that load of evil Baptists in the States.

Gins,
No I didn't get it from that site - it was from a colleague.

Just took a look at the site though ..... Bizarre !!! Not just the comments, but the emoticon's as well !!!


:-S

Extremist Christians with guns are just as scary as any other extremists.

Quite worrying isnt it

It does reiterate that there are none muslim extremists or maybe they call themselves 'vigilantes' :-0