An Asian councillor in Wolverhampton has ensured that their winter lights spell out 'Merry Christmas' this year, rather than the P.C. 'Welcome'. He is a Christian Indian who thinks that celebrating Christmas is not offensive to any other culture.

Look, heres how i see it.....

Immigrants come to our country cause theirs is so bad, if they dont like the way we do things, then leave. Why bring the culture with them that theyre trying to escape from.... to have their own breed of that same religion/culture?

Does anyone here think that if I go and build a Church in Kabul that the locals are going to stop preying to mecca because I might get offended.... HELL NO. I'd be lucky to get out of dodge in one piece.

Are we too tolerant? I think so. Does being intolerant have to mean not having a heart? No.

Now, I got no drama with immigrants on the whole, I just get really miffed when I have to change my life because these "guests" might not like something I do.

BAH

I have no problem with people of different ethnic, and cultural backgrounds coming to the U.S.--(aside from the Native Americans) everyone in this countries ancestors came from somewhere else. I think it is great they try to keep thier traditions and cultural alive IN THIER HOMES!!!! But it does seem to me that the purpose for coming was to enjoy the freedoms we have in this country, so you should make some effort to assimalate to our culture and language. I don't agree with public schools being taught in Spanish or any language other than English--the language of this country is English learn it. If I just VISIT a foreign country I try to learn enough of thier langauge to get along. I would not dream of demanding that I be spoken to in English, or that everything be done as it is in the U.S. Therefore it seems to me to be reasonable to expect immigrants to this country to learn the langauge and do the things necessary to get along in this country. If I visit the UK I cannot demand that everyone drive on the other side of the road, because I am used to looking to the left to cross a street. Just look both ways. As the saying goes GO WITH THE FLOW!!!!

he is quite correct!

i however has slight difference of opinion with Mark

Mark, i am not an immigrant, i am in UK for experience and returning to India, end 2006/beginning 2007. so please do not think i am personally offended or anything like that - i just differ in opinion!

many immigrants come because they are persecuted in their countries! some of them look for greener pastures, but want (sometimes immaturely ) to retain their own culture - that should not be objected.

however they cannot impose their culture in the new societies!

in pakistan - you cannot even speak about that!!

In India, however - you are free to celebrate your festivities in anyway you like - no one will be offended - however others will celebrate theirs as well!! they won't consider whether you are offended or not!
yes - I think for political correctness and to keep the vote banks going, western societies are too tolerant compared to Islamic societies. India, being secular is very tolerant and i predict the western societies and India will suffer the consequences - like France in recent days!

Political correctness is a cop out.
It is used by those who cannot accept reality.
How can you correct a problem when you cannot even address it properly.
I have no problem when new immigrants come to a country holding onto traditions from their old world, the problem arises when they try and influence or change our culture and traditions
I am a firm believer in "when in Rome, do as the Romans do!!!"

that's correct

I spent have spent some time in Nepal--and like India they are remarkably tollerant regarding beliefs--I think in recent years this has come back to bite them--as there is a growing MAOist insurgency going on and the King has suspended parliment and pretty much gone back to an absolute monarchy, which as usual leaves most of the population in the middle--just trying to make it from day to day.

erm ..........
Maoist insurgency probably not due to tolerance, esp religious.

it stems from deprivation, lack of general infrastructure - and anger arising from these!
there is also foreign influence and money to create the unrest!

India too suffers from these Maoist groups!!

I think different cultures can add to a society but that does not mean that I want England to not be English. It is a largely secular, but officially Church of England, country. The language is English. Most people are fairly tolerant (but sadly there is a violent element which is very unpleasant).

I agree with some of the others. For example, when I go abroad, I try to learn the language. I try to respect the customs.

I think you can keep your own heritage and culture, without forcing them on others or overwhelming the 'host' nation. I worry that in England we acknowledge the cultures of our ethnic minorities but do not always remember our own.

There are parts of the city where the local people look alike, speak alike, dress alike - but not like me. It feels uncomfortable, sometimes, to be an outsider in one's own city.
On the other hand, we get the privilege of seeing other cultures close up, without having to travel very far.

I don't mind people retaining their culture - it would be wrong to stop them. Birmingham's mosques and temples add to the architectural beauty. But I don't want it to be at the expense of my culture. I want to feel safe and at home in my own town, not like an outsider.

I think that when people come here, they and their families choose to come; choose to stay. I don't think that they should then try to change things. Society automatically changes when the ethnic mix changes, but I don't think that they should open their own schools and request their own laws. Some, as we have seen, are openly hostile to western culture. I cannot understand why they choose to live in a country that they hate.

The thing is though - they are not 'they', they are 'we', because many of them are actually English. How can you say 'when in Rome do as the Romans do', when there are very different types of Romans?

Also, when the English emigrate, many of them turn their area of the 'new country' into little England and never learn a word of the host nation's language.

The differant types of romans still do what Romans do! Obey the laws and traditions
There is a catch word in Australia
Multiculturalism
What this seems to mean is
You can be Australian when ever it suits you, but when things go rough you can claim ethinic discrimation or wave the flag of any minority group that is in Vogue at the moment