God has created diverse human beings to live in this tiny global village of one family. Creation by its very nature is diverse with different species, different communities, different cultures and languages. These differences represent the beauty and wonder but diversity is sometimes not fully appreciated, resulting in all sorts of clashes. The British society and Establishment must learn to respect and accommodate others, as if in a family.
Multiculturalism is not about integration but about cultural plurality. It is not about separation but about respect and the deepening awareness of Unity in Diversity. Each culture will maintain its own intrinsic value and at the same time would be expected to contribute to the benefit of the whole society. Multiculturalism can accommodate diversity of all kinds – cultural, philosophical and religious – so that we can create a world without conflict and strife. Britain can assume the role of accommodation and concern for all peoples, for our planet and indeed for our survival. Multi-Culturalism is even more important and crucial after 9/11 and 7/7. Muslim youths are also likely to feel alienated by a focus on shared Brutishness, rather than multicultural diversity. Rather than promoting a single British “us” teaching should acknowledge that “us” can be diverse and plural. Children should be encouraged to explore differences in appearance, history and religion to reduce social and educational fears.
Multiculturalism is not about integration but about cultural plurality. It is not about separation but about respect and the deepening awareness of Unity in Diversity. Each culture will maintain its own intrinsic value and at the same time would be expected to contribute to the benefit of the whole society.
The spirit of crusade is still alive in West. Now Muslim community is part and parcel of Western society, contributing for its prosperity, obeying Western laws and paying all sorts of direct and indirect taxes. What do you expect from them? People like you must learn to respect and tolerate those who are different. The demand for Masajid, state funded Muslim schools, halal food, sharia laws, time off for Friday afternoon prayers in the Masjid, two official religious holidays per year and Muslim cemeteries are not against the law of the land.
People are people, regardless of where they were born, what colour their skin is, or whatever religion. All deserve respect. Tolerance in Europe is an illusion. The problem isn't immigrants not adapting to Western culture, it's Europeans showing much disrespect and scorn to those who are of any immigrant background. even if an immigrant was well versed in European languages, knew the customs etc. would they still get employment? No. Would Europeans treat them as a decent human? No. So why would they want to assimilate into a culture that is constantly tearing them down?
Human rights are protected for minority communities in a country. The customs of the majority do not get special protection. Why? Because they are the customs of the majority, which already tend to be dominant if not dominating. It is precisely because of the tendency of majority cultural norms to be dominating that international human rights laws protect minority communities from them. I see human rights violations along two lines here: (1) the handshaking ritual is clearly a form of ritualized (silent) nationalist oath, enacted in a daily way at school, something that religious people do not have to engage in as they are able to show support for the nation otherwise and it is usually read as a violation of their religious right to hold God above everything, even the state; and (2) the right to the physical integrity of one's personal body cannot be violated by the state or the majority community without significant cause, e.g., a violent act, which might allow a state to put a citizen in prison. Children being forced to have physical contact with an adult against their will and the customs of their community, or even just in general -- even in a handshaking ritual -- can have emotionally damaging effects on children That the handshaking is expressed and explained as a nationalist ritual is significant. There is no such thing as an insignificant ritual of forced physical obedience.
What do you expect from a so called civilised Europeans? Native Europeans must learn to respect and tolerate those who are different. A Muslim is a citizen of this tiny global village. The whole world belongs to Muslims. Muslims are now part and parcel of the western society. The number of Muslims is on the increase because of immigration, high birth rate and conversion. There will never be an end to immigration because of low birth rate and ageing population. Muslim community needs Masajid, state funded Muslim schools with Muslim teachers, halal meat, sharia laws, time off for Friday afternoon prayers in the Masjid, two official religious holidays per year and Muslim cemeteries, otherwise, the future generations would be lost in western jungle.
Those who criticize and demonize Islam and Muslims often are those people who have no friends among Muslim communities, are often ignorant of the ABC of the religion or know about the diversity among its 1.7 billion followers who live in 60 countries.
Simply put, to judge Islam - the second largest religion on the planet - by the statements of idiotic terrorist movements and the deplorable actions of a tiny section among the Muslims is exactly as if Muslims look at Christianity through the eyes of Hitler's holocaust against Jews and IRA terrorism in UK, Judaism by the large-scale Israeli oppression against the Palestinians or look at Buddhism and Hinduism through the prism of the killing of thousands of Muslims by Buddhists and Hindus in Burma, Sri Lanka and India.
All religions preach peace and living in harmony. It is the followers who use or misuse the teachings for their political, social and cultural purposes. So my advice to you anti-Islam individuals is; Go and talk to a person with Muslim background, visit a Muslim family, take a trip to a mosque in your local area and you will see the folly of your remarks. Muslim communities live in the west are here to stay and we are not going anywhere so please get used to it.
Prejudice against Islam in the West developed due to historic rivalry of Christianity against Islam. The defeat of Christians by the Muslims in Crusades was a big shock for the Christian world. These deep wounds are still so fresh in the Christian world today that the parents, media, politicians and teachers feel it a duty to nurture the feelings of prejudice against Islam in the hearts and minds of their young generations. According to Runnymede Trust, Britain has become “an institutionally Islamophobic” society in which Muslims are demonised. Hostility towards Muslims is still a major problem and is not being taken seriously enough by race relations bodies. According to Dr. Richard Stone, there is now renewed talk of a clash of civilizations, a new global cold war, and mounting concern that the already fragile foothold gained by Muslim communities in Britain is threatened by ignorance and intolerance. According to John Gieve of the Home office, Islamic extremism might be a “symptom of disaffection”. The same disaffection previously surfaced during the riots that shook Oldham and Bradford in 2001.
Children must be educated according to the needs and demands of their parents. There must be a positive co-relation between home and school, otherwise, child will suffer academically, socially and emotionally. Muslim children must be educated in Muslim schools with Muslim teachers. Muslim children must develop their cultural. linguistic and spiritual identity before they are exposed to wider world, otherwise, they would be lost in western jungle.
Why mix up two issues. Giving swimming lessons is one issue which no Muslim would have any objection. The other issue is about mix gender swimming or children even of same gender taking shower NAKED together is not permissible in Islam. How can a country like Switzerland champion of human rights and freedom of religion not show any religious sensibility? Where does Swiss law state that children should have shower together NAKED? Does Swiss hospitals bathrooms/shower rooms are without doors so that patients of same gender or opposite gender can just walk in while someone is already having a shower? I am sure NOT. Muslim children with swimming trunks can have shower as a separate group – an arrangement that can easily be made. Children above 10 years should not have swimming lessons in mixed gender. If schools can make special need arrangement for disable person, similarly they should do for Muslim children if Switzerland is sincere in its human rights efforts.
Muslims would not like to send their boys even to ‘boys only’ swimming event, because after the swimming lessons all boys are showering together naked. The government of Switzerland has made an effort to teach all children to swim to prevent children from drowning and teaching them at a young age will give them a life long survival tool. Instead of trying to get their kids out of swimming, parents and the schools could try to come up with a solution like private lessons to make up the school requirements. As a paediatrician, I fully support teaching both girls and boys how to swim as it can save their life. If Swiss Muslims are having problems than they should definitely come up with a solution like providing/renting/building pool environments that are not mixed gender and with proper privacy in the locker rooms. The thing is that even one drowning because of privacy issues/modesty issues/religious issues of 10 year olds is inexcusable. The state should continue its policy of teaching children to swim, but they should also be open to different cultural approaches. On the other hand Muslims should not just pull their kids out of swimming, but should offer alternatives, so they aren’t guilty of negligence.
You surely don't love this man the way he loves his daughters,they are his flesh and blood and will always choose the best for them.you don't even know when he gets married and gives birth to them.he didn't seek your advise before getting married.if he chooses this for his daughters in line with his faith so be it,I see no reason why this is even a topic for debate.
You guys are so racist and bigoted,this is xenophobia. You claim to live in a society that guarantees freedom of religion and Association but this your latest move betrays that. You are pure hypocrites.so because they don't want their female daughters to have mixed swimming classes with your sons they should be sent back isn't it?? And they shouldn't be allowed to open their schools is that ?? You are the worst type of hypocratic and xenophobic animals I have ever known.God destroy you mother fuckers!!!
When the British go to south Africa did they integrate,you isolated your settlements,schools,roads,hospitals and even the legal system was a dual one.you did the same thing in India,you looked down on Chinese,you ridicule them,you equally hate and ridicule the Arabs and Moslems.
IA