don't believe it!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[indian]

Every so often i'll read in the papers or hear in the news about how Leicester is a good example of a city where different cultures can live together.

THIS IS NOT TRUE.

Just because their are a number of people from different cultures living in the same place and not killing each other it doesn't mean they're happy.

The white people are moving into areas where there are no other minorities, the hindus and sikhs don't look kindly on the muslims, nobodies keen on the influx of somalians and bosnians. There's tension simmering beneath the surface and yet polititions always use us as an example where cultures have blended together every time a clash occurs between different races/religions in other parts of the country.

OK, rant over, but seriosly, do you believe people from other cultures can live together?

[Madge.B]

I would like to think so if not what hope is there?

[sasserina]

I live in Leicester and I dont think anyone is happy full stop...no matter what culture they are...I think I am the only person in Leics who smiles...everyone else seems depressed or suicidal...Maybe its just the city !!!

[silly moo]

I am sure that they can if they want to, pity more people don''t want to isn't it?

[oxeyedaisy]

people can live together..if everyone stops putting people in groups and everyone is equal..having a different religion should not be a problem as long as its not forced onto other groups with different beliefs..a lot of people in all races have chips on their shoulders and believe they are being mistreated because of their race..its all about mixing and getting along not keeping themselves in their own little groups..and before anyone thinks i am racist i can tell you i am not my other half is west indian descent..and has a professional job..our daughter has many qualifications and owned her own home age 19 through sheer hard work..and she is working in a proffesional job and also doing a degree in her spare time..neither my husband or daughter think of themselves as different to anyone else.they dont think of themselves as ethnic minoritys they are just human beings working for what they want..to achieve..i have been to leicester several times in fact my daughter lives just outside of it..and i allways think its a clean civilised place..and the people allways say thank you in shops..if their are any problems i havnt noticed them..

[jenstar]

I used to live in Leicester and it was a nice place... until the CCTV cameras started going up. Quite apart from the civil liberties implications, they do send out a message that everyone is a suspect and nobody can trusted. That is not a recipe for interracial harmony.

[OBonio]

Very doubtful. Humans have always been tribal. It's an instinct bred into us from day one. I agree that it sucks, and thankfully a lot of us can control these instincts in today's multi-cultural society. There will always be the 'few that spoil it for others' that can't control this instinct. But also, I fear, if people deem that things are swinging too much in favour of a 'rival group' this primal instinct will kick in in spite of how well we think we have it under control.

[GuavaHalf]

I think different races can live together but different religions never can in my opinion.

The world would be a better place without religion at all.

[indian]

i agree completely with oxeyedaisy, people think of themselves as being in a certain group and that every ones out to get them, but you can't say anything nowadays without being accused of being racist. I'm indian and sometimes when someone of another race talks to me i can see they're watching what they say so as not to offend me.

[joules99]

oxeyedaisy ref quote "people can live together..if everyone stops putting people in groups and everyone is equal..having a different religion should not be a problem as long as its not forced onto other groups with different beliefs."
What the hell planet are your from exactly, this has never happended in the history of the human race and I am fairly sure it NEVER will, that's life and it ain't about to change, mixed society, mixed culture, I don't think so, the immigrants over the years have basically taken over whole ares of our cities, put up their mosques and not only have they made it quite clear they are not willing to intergrate into our society, but they have forced changes in our laws to allow them to carry on with their traditions, I hardly think this is mixing in; thank god I loive in the countryside in a virtually completely white town, but I have a feeling this will change over the next few years, can't wait... I feel sorry for the English people living in our cities I honestly do.

[indian]

Woah joules99 i feel abit insulted as an asian. i can understand about all the mosques and people not integrating into the british culture because that ****** me off as well, but we're not all like that.

[joules99]

i know what your saying but dont be offended, i am seeing my traditions and culture wiped out before my very eyes with nothing i can do about it, i think i should be the one offended, but being white and english that is not an option it seems, if i am offended i must be a racist,surely; maybe they might lock me up for incitement to racial hatred...

[lifelearner]

this is a really interesting debate with 2 (i feel ) intelligent and open minded people of opposing views Joules and India. I can understand Joules, you feeling as though your country of origin is changing faster than you would like, perhaps not in a direction that you like, but when you mention "my traditions and culture being wiped out before my very eyes" what exactly are you referring to. I am not being derrogatory but what culture and tradition is disappearing? I will dare to assume that you refer to a very English mindset of ' if you live in my country you will talk like me, walk like me and think like i do'- pls correct me.

Now on the other side of coin when i visit where my mother is from, Trinidad, a very small island where the whites are in the minority, they clearly keep to themselves ( not everyone!). But there is a big difference in the way they dress to the natives, the way they talk, and even their wealth is greater than the natives of the island. However when I visit Trinidad, I do not hear natives mentioning a dislike but rather an APPRECIATION of their DIFFERENCE. Perhaps we can all learn something here.

I also feel that from a young age we should all be 'forced' to learn about different cultures and religions- education is the only way to diminish ignorance, rather than relying on media's and peer's interpretations of the facts- that is too dangerous. Just now I have watched a programme on Islam, giving me a more (sympathetic?) and more educated version as opposed to the evil depictions created by the media.

And I also agree that now, everyone has one hang up or another about how another race is being treated better than their own- we could be here all day giving examples of each.

[lifelearner]

continued from above

Anyhow, I think what we are witnessing here in the UK is the effects of centuries worth of inequalities- could also be called KARMA. Whereas, ethnic minorites do not have the financial and political power to openly control tribes of white people, when these foreigners do come here, they come with the view that has been painted back in their homeland- the UK is painted with gold. And as much as I am not a religious person, I would not want to prevent someone who comes here to find their gold, from practicing a religion that is older than the UK itself- well, it's not right is it.

But to answer the original question if we can all live together- YES! but not after we have had to go through yrs maybe centuries of it going wrong first- how else are we to learn.

[lifelearner]

It would also be interesting to hear of the experiences of white people living as minorities in other countries.

[oxeyedaisy]

joules99..as you think i live on another planet..let me tell you i live in a large city ..unlike yourself who lives in a allmost white area..and yes we have asylum seekers that people dont like because they are claiming benefits and begging in the streets just like they do in leicester and other areas where they have been sent to live..they are here to stay unless they get deported..so what are people expected to do..waste energy moaning about it ? its up to the immigration to sort it out..i am not overkeen on them as they contribute nothing yet take up appointments at the doctors and dentists..so we have to wait longer..if i see one begging i ignore them.their is an indian family living down the road from me and they dont come knocking my door telling me i should join their religion..allthough i would be welcome at their mosque.if i chose to go.they are clean and polite and of no trouble to anyone..i worked once in germany where i was the only british worker and i made effort to learn enough german to get by and fitted in very well.its all down to the individual whether they wish to mix and be sociable..their are good.bad.clean.dirty.people in all races..some of the dirtyiest houses i have been in are from white english people..how can you sit smug in your allmost white area and tell us what problems we have in citys..where i am their is a mainly white council estate that is really rough i wouldnt go their..and two mainly ethnic areas.they like to live together as they feel safe they have their own shops and dont bother anyone..that is their free will choice they could move to another area if they wished..you will find its allways the ones that move out and mix that do better for themselves..but thats their choice..and who is it that knocks on doors trying to convert you to their religion..not the asians or westindians its mainly the jehovahs and mormons..

[indian]

But joules99, just because there's more minorities in Britain now it doesn't mean you're loosing your culture. The majority of poeple i know are quite well integrated into the British culture, but there are the few who think they have the right to come in this country and everyone has to follow their way of living. Believe me i experience this everyday for m,yself and it's frusttrating because this is the picture poeple get of all minorities when it's not true. I'm proud to be british and love the british culture. But there's a part of me which is indian, and i practice thois part of my culture without forcing it on anyone.

Like i've said before, i can understand about people feeling they can't say anything in fear of being called racist as the government seems to be so intent on giving in to pressures from groups so as not to look racist. I don't think you're racist, as in you don't hate people just because of their race but because you feel they're taking over your country and pushing their ideas onto you, which is happening in some parts of the country. I'm not suprised the BNP and other such parties are getting more votes in the atmosphere today. The minorotoes are being protected, but nobodies thinking about protecting the majority in favour of being called racist. Am i right?

[londondave]

I lived in Leicester in Cedar Rd for a year in 93 whie my girlfriend was doing her Masters degree. I hated it! Someone was stabbed in our front garden, we had damage to property in attempted burgles, lots of people we knew were mugged, sexually, physically attacked.

[FP]

Indian, I live in an almost 100% white area of the country in a very rural environment.  The one thing I miss is the variety of cultures and races that we lived amongst when I lived in Hertfordshire.  This, in reply to joules 99.  What a shame we can't all accept other cultures and enjoy them. 

We live in a time of change when people of different races and cultures are learning and we learn by our mistakes.  It won't be in my lifetime, or even in my son's lifetime, but eventually things will sort themselves out.  After all, who are the real British we have been a mixed bunch for hundreds of years!