07-01-2011, 01:23 AM
I think there may be soome misunderstanding of multiculuris. As I have understood it, it encapsulated the idea that Sikhs, Muslims, Italians, and others might each choose the community with which they identified, and be a part of that, maintaining their own customs, beliefs and so forth, amongst the host community, and sharing with all, the benefits of the common wealth. It was well expressed by the saying "Be a Jew in your own tent, be a man outside". In the UK, and large areas of Europe, there is now an acceptance that this concept, easily trotted out by the political elite for years, has failed, whether because it was simply flawed, or because it had been dreamed up when the host community was vastly superior numerically to to those who chose not to identify wholly with it. It is only one way of recognising diversity. The Muslim community, like the Irish before them, has a particular problem: one the one hand, a determination to hang on to amazing UnEnglish names (like mine), on the other, the knowledge that it is form their community, not from little old white English ladies in Bognor, that the enthusiasts are drawn, for the most part, who go to Pakistan with a view to returning and going straight to Paradise by way of blowing up some part of Kensal Green or Beachy Head.
In time, this particular set of fruit-cakes will fade away; but there will always be more, with some other, futile, hugely important Cause to take their place........ Now, who got the place-name references?