ok, we have all heard the mantra. Its almost religious now, reaching feven pitch. You will even read it in The Revival Magazine, since our editor seems to be big on the idea. The mantra I am speaking of is one of integration - "Muslims, you gotta integrate, get with the times. "If you're not a part of the solution, your a part of the problem." seems to be the idea.
But what this ignores is the other side of the argument - does Britain at large want to integrate with us, or is it simply a hollow chant allowing extremist views to be propagated into the mainstream?
So how do we test this? What are the things that are important in a British society? apart from the usual "follow the law", there are others such as peaceful protests and taking part in society to shape our future together and be part and parcel of a just society.
On the issue of protest, Islam4UK/Anjem Choudhary showed how atleast some forms of peaceful protest are totally abhorrent to british society, even if they are within the letter of the law. (To be fair, this also repulsed many Muslims - not me though as I see it as far better to use words than forcing people down darker alleys)
On the issue of justice, Muslims seem to be getting the raw end of the law, with eg protesters against the Israeli offensive in Gaza last year being treated as and terrorists and convicted under related offenses, while non Muslims seem to not get the same sort of justice - even a guy caught with the largest haul of explosives since WW2 got only 6 months in prison under explosive charges while many Gaza protesters have been given 2.5 years.
Then there is shaping our future. Otherwise known as politics. Many non Muslims Britons find it abhorrent that Muslims follow the Qur'an and sunnah and that most muslims these guiding principles to be non-negotiable.
You get the loony wing such as the EDL proitesting against "Shariah Law" and you get the non loony wing quietly uneasy about it. In short neither side is comfortable with the idea that Muslims accept the Qur'an and sunnah and that their politics will(should) also be influenced by it.
So, is integration really possible? Does Britain even want integration or is that a false dawn?
(What happened to the old idea that Britain was a Multicultural society with respect between people? That seems a more healthy approach)
Comments
Not until it buys me a drink and a movie first
Britain = all the non-muslims?
There are two separate issues:
1. There are people who will not want you to be present, full stop. This is actual racism.
2. Another group of people who do not mind you beinf present and may actually want you to be here, but then want you to be like them. Get badgered into eg go drinking with them, because its how they have fun and they want you to have fun with them, like them. Be a part of one community - but instead of a middle ground where you respect different beliefs and customs, you need to accept their culture, their priorities.
So a two pronged assault and the latter may be mroe dangerous because humans a social creature and fitting in can be a very important need.
"For too long, we have been a passively tolerant society, saying to our citizens 'as long as you obey the law, we will leave you alone'" - David Cameron, UK Prime Minister. 13 May 2015.
Human beings. That's what we all are. And everyone has their hates and likes. People who don't like other people due to colour and other pathetic things that don't mean anything have their reasons or maybe they don't. They are racist. But although they are racist, does that make them a bad person? Maybe this question doesn't actually make sense, because I know that it makes them a bad person. But it's not their fault is it to hate/dislike? We can't force them to like a certain group of people because we see it as a bad trait?
But that obviously is not a reason to kick someone out of the country and I am not defending racists. But maybe they're just scared/have fears and have their own way of expressing it i.e.upsetting other people?
Maybe this whole paragraph is badly phrased.
Drinking isn't something all non-Muslims do. I know that was an example you used.
Racism and prejudice re imo not irredeemable qualities. Everyone has their issues - some will be pejudiced and may even have some reason for other than fear and ignorance.
"For too long, we have been a passively tolerant society, saying to our citizens 'as long as you obey the law, we will leave you alone'" - David Cameron, UK Prime Minister. 13 May 2015.