I rarely find myself bothered by what religion anyone professes, what colour, sex, gender and so on they are and so on ad nauseum. It's the trivia that gets to me - why is everyone so 'interested' in what doesn't matter, frankly shouldn't matter if we aim to be individual and free?
On 5 Apr, 01:11, Slip Disc <[email protected]> wrote: > I have problems with the lifeboat analogy. I don't like the idea of > living in a Fortress Europe (or Fortress America for you transatlantic > cousins). I believe it would be better and more profitable for all > concerned to work on giving people who, overwhelmingly motivated by > poverty and lack of opportunity, set out on the journey to the "golden > West", reasons to stay at home. This, of course, would entail those of > us in the rich countries restructuring the way we look at - and act in > - the world. <<<<<<<Franman > > Well it would be great if these people could get their own countries > in order instead of running off to somewhere else and demanding > service and recognition. It seems the only time rich countries get > involved in another country is when there is something to be gained > from the intervention. Meanwhile and usually the government from the > originating country is corrupt and oppressive leaving little for the > advancement of the people. Therefore it is understandable that there > are those that want to escape. The problem, as you identify, is the > failure of the immigration party to integrate with abandon, to accept > the fundamental values. So considering all that you might rethink the > lifeboat analogy because that's all countries are becoming for > immigrants who care not about assimilation, a life boat. Then there > is the problem of numbers and as I posted links to demonstrate how > numbers can influence "fundamental values", it is easy to see how a > country can lose its own identity by losing out to overpowering > immigrant influence. I can tell you that where I live it is getting > to be that English is nearing the point of being the second language. > The city caters to the immigrant culture because the city has > officially reached the proportion of "minority majority" and so I feel > like I'm the one who has to assimilate. California, New Mexico and > Texas have all become Minority Majority > States.http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Majority-minority_state What this does > is demonstrate how Germany if left to the unchecked levels of > immigration will someday lose its valued heritage. When I visit > Germany I want to meet Germans not Muslims or Hispanics or any other > culture. So the bottom line is that the lifeboat can only hold so > many! > > I went to a Chinese restaurant last month and heard this hideous music > which was designed to appeal to the customer base. I immediately > asked to speak to the owner who arrived shortly. I explained that > when I come to a Chinese restaurant that is decorated with authentic > Chinese art and furniture I expect to hear Chinese music. He > explained that he wanted to make the customers happy. After another > volley of explanation about Chinese ambiance and restaurant appeal he > began to understand and every time I go there he has Chinese music > playing which completes my dining experience. Basically it would not > make sense to play Chinese music at a Rodeo, which really makes the > point, and it goes on to Italian, German, Mexican or any other > cultural dining venue. > > All this talk about food! Everyone from Minds Eye (active members > only) is invited to dinner, my treat. Let me know if and when you can > make it. > > Slip > > On Apr 3, 5:02 am, frantheman <[email protected]> wrote: > > > On 2 Apr., 03:30, Slip Disc <[email protected]> wrote: > > > > Simply, there is only so much room on a life boat and then some but > > > sooner or later some must be left to drown or the whole boat will go > > > under. > > > I have problems with the lifeboat analogy. I don't like the idea of > > living in a Fortress Europe (or Fortress America for you transatlantic > > cousins). I believe it would be better and more profitable for all > > concerned to work on giving people who, overwhelmingly motivated by > > poverty and lack of opportunity, set out on the journey to the "golden > > West", reasons to stay at home. This, of course, would entail those of > > us in the rich countries restructuring the way we look at - and act in > > - the world. > > > At the same time, I do not believe it is unreasonable to require from > > those who want to immigrate into our societies a genuine commitment to > > our fundamental values and a real intention to integrate - which does > > not mean giving up one's own identity. I see a problem here with many > > forms and interpretations of Islam, where the requirements of a > > divinely-given law (Sharia) do not allow for the acceptance of a > > secular, pluralistic societal order. The challenge is for sincere, > > moderate Islamic thinkers to develop Islamic viewpoints which > > positively embrace the secular, pluralist vision of society. > > > I would also suggest that the same arguments would also apply fo many > > (mostly fundamentalist) Christians. And we need to be more consistent > > about our commitment to secularity. Obama's inauguration was bracketed > > by prayers and blessing from two Christian clergymen - something > > fundamentally incompatible with a secular society. And it is peculiar > > that many western nations have major problems (correctly, in my view) > > with young Muslim women attending school so swathed in clothing that > > you can only see their eyes, while having no problems with Catholic > > nuns and priests wearing religious dress as teachers. > > > Francis --~--~---------~--~----~------------~-------~--~----~ You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups ""Minds Eye"" group. To post to this group, send email to [email protected] To unsubscribe from this group, send email to [email protected] For more options, visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/Minds-Eye?hl=en -~----------~----~----~----~------~----~------~--~---
