Anti-Muslim Dutch politicians in hiding after death threats

Paaskynen wrote:

Not quite: look up the difference between assimilate and integrate.

there is no difference in meaning in the context these two words were used above. Pedant.

in your opinion.

Steve 41oo wrote:

Paaskynen wrote:

Not quite: look up the difference between assimilate and integrate.

there is no difference in meaning in the context these two words were used above. Pedant.

I beg to differ. (and do kindly refrain from namecalling, please)

To integrate means to adapt to a society while retaining as much as possible of your own culture, i.e. to follow the rules and laws and speak the language of an adopted country but not necessarily follow every local custom or belief.
To assimilate means to totally immerse in the adopted society, i.e. not-to retain any vestige of your original culture.
We can claim that immigrants have a duty to integrate, i.e. adapt to the host culture to such an extent that they can function in society, but we cannot demand of immigrants that they assimilate, i.e. give up their language and culture entrirely, as that would be a breach of human rights.

Paaskynen wrote:

Steve 41oo wrote:

Paaskynen wrote:

Not quite: look up the difference between assimilate and integrate.

there is no difference in meaning in the context these two words were used above. Pedant.

I beg to differ. (and do kindly refrain from namecalling, please)

To integrate means to adapt to a society while retaining as much as possible of your own culture, i.e. to follow the rules and laws and speak the language of an adopted country but not necessarily follow every local custom or belief.
To assimilate means to totally immerse in the adopted society, i.e. not-to retain any vestige of your original culture.
We can claim that immigrants have a duty to integrate, i.e. adapt to the host culture to such an extent that they can function in society, but we cannot demand of immigrants that they assimilate, i.e. give up their language and culture entrirely, as that would be a breach of human rights.

no-one is demanding that immigrants "give up their language and culture entirely". I hate to use the Americanism "straw man" but thats a good example.

Straw man is NOT an Americanism....it is long recognized manner of referring to a logical fallacy in argument...

maybe "straw man" is not an Americanism, but recognized is

I'm not xenophobic. Certainly I dont like Islamists, but I'm not Islamophobic either. Because as Martin Amis said recently, there is nothing irrational about fearing people who are actively trying to kill you.

Steve 41oo wrote:

maybe "straw man" is not an Americanism, but recognized is

I'm not xenophobic. Certainly I dont like Islamists, but I'm not Islamophobic either. Because as Martin Amis said recently, there is nothing irrational about fearing people who are actively trying to kill you.

It's the only talent those goat herders have got.

Human rights activist Ayaan Hirsi
● Islamic faith schools must close ● Sharia law could happen here ● Multiculturalism has failed ● Islam is the new fascism
Ali issues a stark warning about the growing threat of Muslim extremism in Britain

You'll get your free copy from Saturday (Monday) onwards as a room service.

And I have copy 01/02/07 for you.

That's what Mrs. "alter wanted ... and I forgot to ask

More snow than I thought...7.5 cm.
Here - from noon onwards - even a bit more. In L. and G. just 4 cm.

7,5 cm

Copied/pasted from today's (07.02.07) Evening Standard (West End Final, page 19)

Wilso wrote:

Steve 41oo wrote:

maybe "straw man" is not an Americanism, but recognized is

I'm not xenophobic. Certainly I dont like Islamists, but I'm not Islamophobic either. Because as Martin Amis said recently, there is nothing irrational about fearing people who are actively trying to kill you.

It's the only talent those goat herders have got.

It would seem that way at times. But its not the man, its the ideas that make him do bad. If those ideas are political, we have no reservations about condemning them. But if its religion that inspires wrong doing it seems criticism is automatically deemed to be grossly insensitive and unfair at best or prompted by latent racism at worst. Why?