True...

...yes, maybe cultural and religious differences mean that multi-culturalism simply will not work, cannot work even. Perhaps we need to sit down and realise that there ARE fundamental differences of culture, opinion, belief and that, contrary to what I said originally, we should strive towards that understanding and appreciation, rather than trying to throw everyone together in the one basket, so to speak...?

No-one sits down and tells a mongoose and rattlesnake that they need to live in peace and harmony after all!

But yes, you make a valid point. The issue about people having too adapt to an existing culture is a valid one, I certainly wouldn't dream of living abroad unless I could speak the language and try to fit in as much as possible as an example-how far do you take it I wonder, the Australian one ("fit in or clear off") is clear and simple, should we have the same attitude here or are we, as a country, unable, unwilling, whatever, to do so-and hence the problems?

Of course, it could be argued that the Native Australians might have said to all the current population-many of them migrants-to "fit in and clear off" and, of course, they haven't and you get the case, common in so many areas of the world, where the indiginous population are margamalised-much like Norfolk is now I guess!

Posted By: Martin Peters, Feb 22, 10:18:46