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Slowly Integrating...Or What?
by Alex Birch
Multicultural governments in Europe all share one fundamental belief: that immigrants coming to Europe slowly and over time will increase their integration with their host culture and society. Of course, with evidence at hand today, we know that time span is sometimes longer than what we at first expected. In places like Britain, France and Sweden we've simply failed at large to create peaceful multiculturalism.
I don't know what it's like to be an immigrant, which is why I stay in close contact with all my immigrant friends to learn more about how they think and live. So I was baffled when my Iraqi friend suddenly decided to stop picking up Swedish girls with me:
Friend: A blonde chick just moved into our dorm. And she's well-equipped.
Me: I'm already busy on other ends, you make your moves compadre.
Friend: Nah, I'm going to try the Arab girl I met last weekend.
Me: How about doing both?
Friend: No, this one is obviously Swedish.
Me: When did that ever stop you?
Friend: I don't feel comfortable around Swedish women. I don't understand them.
Me *slightly baffled*: Okaaay. You've been living here almost all your life.
Friend: But I'm an Iraqi. I want Arab girls you know, I don't want to pick up Swedish girls anymore. I just feel at this point that my heritage matters more to me and I don't feel Swedish. I'm not a Swede, I'm an immigrant, and I want an Arab girl.
I didn't really try to talk him over, it wasn't my place to do so. Instead I was remembered of what European multiculturalists often seem to forget: people don't just abandon their heritage just because they move to a new place. Even if they learn the language, find a job and even end up in a diverse relationship, they'll have things inside that are alien. Reconciling these differences in societies that require agreement on fundamental values in order to exist at all, is one of the greatest challenges (or dooms, depending on how you see it) facing the West this century.
From now on I'll work on ladies without my Iraqi sidekick.
Uh...hello?
No one is really touching upon the fact that your objective should be the protection of your (Swedish, in this case) women at all costs. How you sit there and listen to him disrespect Swedish ladies is beyond me. And in your own country. Think about it and then grow a set and put him in his place.
we are subjegating everything
I guess your iraqi friend belongs to a 1st wave of immigrants (=his parents live in Iraq), that's why he still feels alien to his current environment. I'm residing in Saudi Britain and must say it seems to me that all those nice Arabian girls i see in Primark or H&M stores have found their place succesfully. Stop putting so much emphasis on these so called differences like we're in 19th age, there is no diferrences anymore. Gosh, there's even a x-factor clone called "Afghan Star". These people are trying to be like us, it basically means that we are superior to them. Your friend is intimidated by the swedish just because he's ugly like the most of sandal-wearers are.
No, he's a 2nd wave
No, he's basically a 2nd wave immigrant.
You just replaced a simplistic moral statement with an even more simplistic one. Lots of Iraqi people, especially women, are quite beautiful.
True
People from the former Persian area (and surrounding areas) can be stunning. I just can't connect with them though, but then again they don't tend to gravitate toward my sort of social circle or its values.
A problem when I'm discussing multiculturalism with people is when they insist it "works". It seems a problem in political discourse is that different people have a different definition of "works" in this context. It seems that for most people, if there aren't race riots every week and their individual desires are not interrupted, then it "works". It's difficult to argue with someone who doesn't personally suffer the immediate effects of it. I don't either, but I like to think outside my individual interests when it comes to these things.
Paining everyone with a broad brush
Just because one person is traditional doesn't mean anything, how many children of christian parents respect their parents heritage? How many of the most vociferous atheists couldn't give a fuck about Christianity they were raised in?
How many christian people of ages past recognize their great great grandchildren, or would they be horrified?
You have to realize how radically things can change in a small space of historical time. For instance look at technology, the evolution of airplane and military weapon systems, you assume people are these rigid eternal beings, while superficially people may look like they are not changing, consider the enormous difference in kinds of behaviour and attitudes of the religious young vs their parents and racism of today vs the racism of past generations, like night and day alex.
Things change, human minds are just not good at seeing them.