Quiter so.
“Muslims values are British values”
Er… I must disagree. Many Muslim values (or, more accurately, foibles and idiosyncrasies) are not British values at all and the UK is by no means improved generally by a hefty Muslim presence.
To begin with, it is no longer the case that for the majority of Britons a religion invades and dominates almost every aspect of their lives. It may have been so four or five centuries ago but things have moved on. Even those who do count themselves as practicing a religion simply accommodate their beliefs around their everyday lives. It is not a British habit, for example, for a large chunk of the male population to disappear to church on Friday afternoon. Most of them are at work (or down the pub at “lunch”) at that time.
We are constantly being told that “the majority of Muslims are peace loving…” etc. This may well be true. But that is a long stretch from the suggestion that British and Muslim values are the same. In particular, I know of no widespread accepted British “values” which (among other things):
- subjugates women and lowers them to the status of child-bearing chattels;
- believes in separation by gender for no good reason;
- practices the mutilation of young women and girls;
- views domestic dogs as the devil incarnate;
- prescribes ritual slaughter as the only acceptable way to obtain meat;
- prohibits the consumption of alcohol;
- allows a man to take up to four “wives”
- prescribes a month of fasting which, in summer months, borders on the seriously dangerous
None of these things can be compatible with British values. When Muslims first began to arrive in the UK in sizeable numbers it should have been made quite clear to them that their customs and practices were not compatible with normal British life. Instead they were told that they could pursue their religion (and in particular the habits that go with it) in an unfettered manner.
There is no reason why the UK government should seek to “engage” (whatever that might mean) with followers of Islam. Their religion can be practised in the comfort of their own homes in a manner which allows them to conduct a normal UK life. No accommodation by government is necessary.
Some of Lady Warsi’s remarks beggar belief:
“…the government fails to accurately gauge sentiment within the British Muslim community, a community that since the Charlie Hebdo murders has been in shock and is fearful.” And “…not a single major government speech has reflected the concerns, worries and, yes, fear within the British Muslim community.”
Oh dear. How sad. Never mind. Their shock and fear is irrelevant compared to that suffered by the people in Paris who were cut down whilst going about their daily business. Lady Warsi goes on to suggest suggests that “We will all fight extremism better if we all feel like we are in the same team.” To feel like you are in the same team when you join a well established club you have to wear the same shirt but most importantly adopt the habits and values of your teammates without expcting them to change theirs. That won’t happen in the UK whilst Muslim womenfolk kept at home, discouraged from speaking English whilst their men insist on going for two hours of prayer every Friday afternoon and whilst newagents in Slough refuse to unconditionally condemn wholesale random slayings in a major European city centre.