Vanishing England

Townhall.com ^ | Cal Thomas

[Kaslin]

"There'll Always Be an England" - popular World War II song

BELFAST, NORTHERN IRELAND - Perhaps there will not always be an England. An exodus unprecedented in modern times, coupled with a record influx of foreigners, is threatening to erode the character of the land of William Shakespeare and overpowering monarchs, a land that served as the cradle for much of American thought, law and culture.

The figures, making headlines in London newspapers, tell only part of the story. Between June 2005 and June 2006 nearly 200,000 British citizens chose to leave the country for a new life elsewhere. During the same period, at least 574,000 immigrants came to Britain. This number does not include the people who broke the law to get there, or the thousands unknown to the government. Britain's Office of National Statistics reports that middle-class Britons are beginning to move out of towns in southern England that have become home to large numbers of immigrants, thereby altering the character of neighborhoods that have remained unchanged for generations.

Britons give many reasons for leaving, but their stories share one commonality: life in Britain has become unbearable for them. They fear lawlessness and the threat of more terrorism from a growing Muslim population and the loss of a sense of Britishness, exacerbated by the growing refusal of public schools to teach the history and culture of the nation to the next generation. What it means to be British has been watered down in a plague of political correctness that has swept the country faster than hoof-and-mouth disease. Officials say they do not wish to "offend" others.

Hundreds of thousands of asylum seekers are about to be granted "amnesty" to stay in Britain. The government's approach is similar to that pursued by President Bush, who failed to win congressional approval for his amnesty plan. In Britain it appears likely to succeed. Migrants will be granted immediate access to many benefits, including top priority for council housing. Taxpayers will foot the bill.

The Shadow Home Secretary, David Davis, called the policy a "stealth amnesty." Again, in a comment reminiscent of the debate in America, Sir Andrew Green, chairman of Migrationwatch UK, said: "This is yet another example of the Alice in Wonderland world of human rights. If you break British law for long enough, you acquire rights not penalties."

British media have carried stories about an Italian immigrant who murdered a schoolteacher and was sentenced to life in prison. He is about to be released after serving just 12 years. The government wants to deport him to Italy, but a combination of British human rights legislation and European Union law are making it impossible to do so. This does not bode well for deporting Islamic terrorists who call for the overthrow of the government and incite young people to acts of violence.

Abraham Lincoln said no nation can exist half slave and half free. Neither can a nation be sustained if it allows conditions that result in mass emigration, while importing huge numbers of foreigners who come from backgrounds that do not practice assimilation or tolerance of other beliefs. When one factors in the high number of abortions (one in five pregnancies are aborted in England and Wales), the high birth rates of immigrants (15 times those of white Britons), it doesn't take a population expert to predict that the days of the England we have known may be numbered. The problem for Britain and the United States isn't just the change in demographics. It is the reluctance of both countries to inculcate the beliefs, history and, yes, religious ideals, which made our nations so successful that others wanted to come and be a part of them. The difference between many of the current immigrants and those of the past is that the previous ones wanted to become fully American or fully British. The current ones, in too many cases, would destroy what makes our countries unique. And the "leaders" of Britain and America refuse to stop it.

The greater tragedy is that the people of Britain have little say in any of this, so they are taking the road of last resort. They are leaving.

[Vanders9]

There is a sense whereby if you say “we are in decline” long enough it tends to come true.
Cultures that are thriving dont tend to doubt themselves.

[uksupport1]

Thanks for the reply. I will try and obtain a copy of Steyn’s book.

Cheers,

UK

[uksupport1]

Hi Alkhin,

The UK is the most euro-sceptic country in Europe. The calls for a referendum on the new EU treaty (in which the UK has already secured unique opt-outs) are very loud. Its interesting: most Europeans (on the continent) now class themselves as European first and their nationality second. This is certainly not the case in the UK.

[uksupport1]

I can assure you as a Brit that no school books or dietary habits have been changed in the UK as a result of our very small Muslim population. The UK government is encouraging the Union Jack to fly from all public buildings all year round (remember those bogus stories about flags offending Muslims? More tabloid rubbish)

[savannah eagle]

the high birth rates of immigrants (15 times those of white Britons)

___________

What is the correct number here? Because this isn’t.

Mrs VS

___________

Hard to believe unless the men are bringing all their wives with them.

[uksupport1]

Quote: ‘Arbooz, you are so right. You can’t fly the Union Jack on your house because it’s offensive to Muslims. You can’t eat at your desk during Ramadan. St. George is offensive because he killed Muslims centuries ago. Don’t teach Winston Churchill in school because some Muslims deny the Holocaust!! Here it’s foot baths in airports and colleges, no alcohol in taxis, separate classes for boys and girls in public schools, prayer breaks on company time.’ Living in the UK I can assure you that none of those things that you have listed are true in Britain. The UK governemnt encourages flag flying more than ever at the moment. Most Brits don’t even know waht Ramadan is, never mind not eating during it. And having gone through the UK education system: Winston Churchill, in my experience, was never taught in my history classes as everyone knew about him anyway. If changes have been made, then will have been to refresh the curriculum (not pander to a small minority).

[chit*chat]

And yet, if you believe the media and the alarmists, half the population are unwashed immigrants. Which is it?

Sound the alarm! Why give the non-assimilating immigrants a toe-hold?

[fortunecookie]

Not the Prince's idea. This is a work by the senior British composer Sir John Tavener. Tavener happens to be a devout convert to Russian Orthodoxy (which doesn't, of course, protect him from political naivete). Throughout his long career he's reflected in his music an interest in mysticism as it is pursued by many different religions - this being Sufi in the case of Islam. This interest, as well as a dabbling with Orthodoxy, is shared by Charles, which explains the connection.

Wow, thanks, I didn't know this. Russian Orthodox music is so beautiful, I don't know if that will influence his work in any way, just an aside.

[fortunecookie]

The man seems like he can be a bit dense at times.

He does at that. Maybe just sheltered. It seems almost like PC-ness is creeping in, imho.

See post #115, padre35. It does shed some light. Thanks again, Winniesboy! The musical could actually be quite good once finished. I just can't see Islamist-types not objecting to it in some way.