[ange7]

Originally Posted by angus58

The alternative is a society where immigrants assimilate, and adapt to the UK culture, hopefully enriching it and being enriched by ours. Since this is an English speaking nation, learning the language should be a priority since it facilitates integration, sharing of ideas and concepts. Sharing a common language is the single most unifying factor since it enables us to communicate.

Embracing and understanding their cultures is what immigrants ask us to do, so surely it is not unreasonable to request them to have the courtesy to embrace ours, and to request that they respect our religions, heritage and history, as we are now required by law to do of theirs. There is no requirement I am aware of for any immigrant to deny their own culture, customs or language unless they are in contravention of the laws of the UK.

Over the centuries England has welcomed immigrants from all over the world, and our rich cultural heritage is a testament to the input of many other cultures. What I find difficult to understand is why multiculturalism has been interpreted by some to mean living as separate communities within society. That is what causes divisions, misunderstandings and suspicions.

Agree with that accept these lines...
"There is no requirement I am aware of for any immigrant to deny their own culture" ... correct... under current multicultural policies .... but under forced integration that isn't so true.
"multiculturalism has been interpreted by some to mean living as separate communities within society."
That immigrants become ghettoizing isn't the fault of multiculturalism. It happens when immigrants feel more safe living among them selves rather than more broadly through out a city. There are also economic consideration... newer arrivals to a city aren't going to have their pick of areas to live. This isn't anyones definition of "multiculturalism". There are streets in Sydney where you'd think you were in Hong Kong or Rome... they are wonderful. But 20 years ago when immigrant from asia and Europe were being hammered these areas were ghettoize and not pretty. Today now that those immigrant have been accept and are now an important part of Sydney culture those street are seen as "cosmopolitan" etc. Racism, intolerance, stupidity and fear are the problem.... not multiculturalism.
"Embracing and understanding their cultures is what immigrants ask us to do, so surely it is not unreasonable to request them to have the courtesy to embrace ours"
This is tricky here because I'm wondering if your talking assimilation or do you mean that some immigrants don't embrace the UK. What aspects of UK culture do you feel that immigrants aren't embracing but ought to. And is it a minority? eg extremist Imams hehe. ... but that isn't the case on the whole is it?