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Originally Posted by Parikha
What it has enabled us to do however is to have migrants from all over the world, from every religion and race, without the major problems you are experiencing in the UK.
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I have issues with the term "major problems". There are problems with racial integration in the UK. What is grabbing the headlines (for obvious reasons) is the Islamist minority. This - in part - has been fueled by the UK govt treating people like Al Bakhri with kid-gloves when they preach hatred, out of the fear of being accused of being racist. This is mirrored in the attitudes of city councils who would ban the word "Christmas" being used for school holidays.
However, while there are problems, they are hugely, hugely overblown by the media. That doesnt mean I'm complacent, but simply judge that the overwhelming majority of British Muslims live according to the laws of British society.
What problems that do exist, come from two main sources imho.
Firstly, "Britishness" come attached with lots and lots of negative baggage. We are still defining (and may never achieve this) a true sense of Britishness. A sense of "Scottishness" exists - and England suffers from the negative, national front/hooligan image of "Englishness". The old sense of being British was founded on the Empire, WWII, and the monarchy. Such things are almost irrelevant to the bulk of British people nowadays. There is a vacum of identity. Is it any surprise that immigrant groups - particularly Muslims - have no really attractive sense of identity to over-ride their own, native ones?
The majority of British Muslims arrive from Bangladesh and Pakistan - former colonies. Particulary in terms of Pakistanis - there is still resentment at (rightly) at the treatment of their former status.
Secondly, British Muslims are disproportionately in the lower socio-economic bands. The same socio-economic bands that produces groups like the BNP. Islam then becomes a cure for social ills. It has been said that several of the 7/7 bombers do not fit this picture. The case often quoted is one of them who is reported to be a teacher. He was not. He was a special educational needs assistant, who are not paid well. Muslims have generally been less successful than Hindus for example - possibly because many lack the devotion to secular education that Hindus possess.
These problems are compounded by a perception of Western double-standards and oppression of Muslims, fed by a minority of radical clerics.
It's these problems that lie at the root of racial problems in the UK, along with the percentage of Pakistanis who have such a strong connection to their homeland. (A connection constantly reinforced by marriage to people from Pakistan).