My two cents on the integration debate
It really pisses me off that the PC-police is trying to shut down the debate by declaring everything sunshine and roses and saying integration (as is) has worked oh so well.
Because that is not reality.
Going lalalala, 'aren't we a great multi-culti society' and proceeding to do nothing is about the worst we could do. Because it is ignoring the current issues. But it is easier, isn't it. This way no one has to do anything and no one is to blame. I also do not give a flying booger about your bootstrap stories.
This is a two sided problem and BOTH sides have to want and put in effort.
The government has to offer help, be it language courses etc, BUT the immigrant side also has to want.
I have been living abroad for over six years now. I know how easy it is to fall into a pattern of only interacting with people from your own culture and/or speak your language.
But here's the rub: Not being able to communicate in the society you are living in is dangerous. Ever thought about having to go to a hospital and dying because you were too lazy to learn the language? Being denied help at the police station because they do not understand you? Do you want to live in poverty, have your children not get a good education because you chose to let them not learn the local language? How fucking dumb are you?
While in a perfect society the gov. should provide translators, they are not always there and all of that could be avoided if you just goddamn sat down and learned the basics of the language of the country you are staying in.
The second part is: When in Rome...
No one is asking you to give up your cultural heritage, but you also cannot go on living as if you are not in a foreign country. Both sides have to adapt. And while the law should accommodate some things, the country's customs and laws were they first and you moved there. Keep them. And believe me, some of them make me headdesk, and I am sure anyone feels the same way about customs and laws we are not used to. Deal with it.
Because that is not reality.
Going lalalala, 'aren't we a great multi-culti society' and proceeding to do nothing is about the worst we could do. Because it is ignoring the current issues. But it is easier, isn't it. This way no one has to do anything and no one is to blame. I also do not give a flying booger about your bootstrap stories.
This is a two sided problem and BOTH sides have to want and put in effort.
The government has to offer help, be it language courses etc, BUT the immigrant side also has to want.
I have been living abroad for over six years now. I know how easy it is to fall into a pattern of only interacting with people from your own culture and/or speak your language.
But here's the rub: Not being able to communicate in the society you are living in is dangerous. Ever thought about having to go to a hospital and dying because you were too lazy to learn the language? Being denied help at the police station because they do not understand you? Do you want to live in poverty, have your children not get a good education because you chose to let them not learn the local language? How fucking dumb are you?
While in a perfect society the gov. should provide translators, they are not always there and all of that could be avoided if you just goddamn sat down and learned the basics of the language of the country you are staying in.
The second part is: When in Rome...
No one is asking you to give up your cultural heritage, but you also cannot go on living as if you are not in a foreign country. Both sides have to adapt. And while the law should accommodate some things, the country's customs and laws were they first and you moved there. Keep them. And believe me, some of them make me headdesk, and I am sure anyone feels the same way about customs and laws we are not used to. Deal with it.