Integration key to successful immigration: Blair (conform or don't come here)

Yahoo/AFP ^

[hipaatwo]

Immigrants have a duty to integrate into British society, Prime Minister Tony Blair said as he warned that those who propound intolerance and extremism would not be made welcome.

In a keynote speech delivered at his Downing Street office, Blair admitted that Britain's much-vaunted multi-cultural model had come in for intense scrutiny since last year's bomb attacks on London's public transport network.

The attacks, which killed 52 commuters, were carried out by four Islamic extremist suicide bombers, three of them Britons of Pakistani origin and the fourth a naturalised Britain from the Caribbean.

It prompted a wide-ranging debate about how far Britain's ethnic communities were integrated. In recent months, the question has centred on the right to wear religious symbols in public, particularly the full-face Muslim veil.

Blair -- who has said the veil is a "mark of separation" -- said Britain was "better placed than most" to have a sensible debate on the issue but it had to be prepared to stand up and fight for the tolerance which was its hallmark.

"We are a nation comfortable with the open world of today," he said, urging people to celebrate, rather than dilute, religious diversity.

"London is perhaps the most popular capital city in the world today, partly because it is hospitable to so many different nationalities, mixing, working, conversing with each other.

"But we protect this attitude by defending it. Our tolerance is part of what makes Britain, Britain.

"So conform to it, or don't come here. We don't want the hate-mongers, whatever their race, religion or creed.

[hipaatwo]

Video of speech here:

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/politics/6219626.stm

[hipaatwo]

Ping!

[albie]

(conform or don't come here)

...it's at least a start! That would work for me right now!

[himno hero]

which also means drop the veils and headwraps for starters.

now theres an idea headwraps for starters...

[freeangel]

It's too bad our politicians don't have the guts to stand up and say this.

[johnthebaptistmoore]

I believe that U.S. politicians will eventually be saying the same things over here. Unfortunately, it may take having some more "9/11's" happen first before they do wake up to the ongoing War on Terror.

[BW2221]

I agree. Through political correctness, multicultural can destroy our national identity - mush as it has done in Britain.

[BW2221]

"It's too bad our politicians don't have the guts to stand up and say this."

It took a long time for anyone in Great Britain to say it. It's almost like trying to plug a hole the size of a semi with your innger.

On another current thread, there's a story about a town in England that has banned garbagemen from wearing Santa hats.

[johnthebaptistmoore]

Political correctness continues to destroy the entire world in a whole variety of ways. Successfully reversing all political correctness until it's completely eliminated as well as successfully reversing everything else closely associated with political correctness until they are also completely eliminated, including the "dumbing down" of people, needs to really happen as soon as possible. This should be a major issue for all conservatives to truly work on resolving because political correctness keeps on getting worse every day.