Moving to another country
 

When someone moves to another country should they adopt thats countrys culture and way of life in a effort to fit in? Or should the country adapt to their way of life? Just recently theres been some controversy about muslim veils . Jack Straw made some comments that upset alot of people http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/5410472.stm and just yesterday a teacher was surspended because she wouldnt remove her veil and the childern had trouble under standing her . Also in Belgium 2 teachers were sacked for wearing the veil http://www.adnki.com/index_2Level_En...331271794&par=
So if someone does move and adopts a different way of life do they lose some of their identity ? and if so should this happen? but also should other people have to adapt their own way of life to fit in with someone who has moved to their country of origin ?

In the instance of it happening in a school I seem to remember a case in France where a school had enforced a uniform and asked a muslim girl to remove her veil and in the end I think the school won, and rightly so. If a school hasa uniform policy it is unfair that any student be seperated by making allowances, regardless of its for religious or cultural or whatever reason. Otherwise you'd get kids saying that it was against ther religion to wear any uniform and there'd be no way to enforce that without potentially upsetting someone.

In terms of in normal society I don't think you can really enforce anything though, you could just hope that people will be civil enough and respect each other, but in the instance of what happened with Jack Straw I think that he was right to an extent, in that it is generally considered polite to be able to see someones face when you are talking to them. This, of course, isn't something that a strict muslim would agree upon I'm sure, but as someone who isn't a fan of religion I can't really sympathise with that.

I hated having to wear school uniforms as they weren't comfortable, which put a negative spin on everything else, like a butterfly effect almost, although I know that isn't the issue here. The problem is that it will seperate people by their religion, something that happens in different ways anyway, but it shouldn't need to, there should be a compromise, it's just a case of finding it.

And just out of curiousity, not as a joke or meaning offense, but what type of photo would a muslim woman have on her passport, and would she remove her veil to go through security at an airport etc? If exceptions are made in that instance, why not in others?

If I was to move to another country I would make huge efforts to get to know the culture, learn the language and respect the peoples way of life. For me it's important to intrigate into the new way of life. If I could not feel that I could do that because my own personal beliefs then I would not move.

The veil issue is tricky...I'm not sure how much as to do with religion and how much is culture. If it's a very religious thing then you can't really ask someone to remove it...you wouldn't ask a Jew to remove their kippah or a nun their habit...but if it's more of a culture thing then I think, yes they should remove them when it's practical..like talking with someone...Like teaching children.

You don't forget how to speak one language to learn another. There is no need to lose identity when you take on a broader sectrum of things. Certain amount adaptation is needed to make the new residents feels welcome but this has to be kept in balance. When english nationality kids living in england are forced to into Urdu lessons the balance is wrong.

There's no such thing as uniforms in French school. But Laïcity is a very strong issue, and it is forbidden to wear any religious sign in school.
I don't care for society if anyone wears a religious sign, as long as they don't annoy me for not doing the same, except for schools (primary and secondary), I think they should be totally neutral on that issue, and that's why I think the French position is the correct one.


Ponrauil

What does that mean? Thanks!

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Laicity

I think that sums it up :).

To answer Russ' original question, it's the imigrant that must fit to country he's joining. Though he should of course be able to practice religious, philosophical or ideological activities if any, he must respect his new country's laws and culture.

The biggest "mistake" made by imigrants is to try and keep their child in the home country's culture rather than let them be fully integrated in the new one. It's a bigger sacrifice than it seems and I'm pretty sure there would be less imigration if potential imigrants realised that.

Ponrauil

...thanks for that! :)


some info for passport pix...basically you can wear something covering your face if it be for medical reasons or religous beliefs!...unbelievably!

http://www.passport.gov.uk/downloads...4Eng-Photo.pdf

Certain medical things cannot be removed for health reasons and that is alright, but anyone could just say that it is their religious belief to have to wear a certain item of clothing. I could put a balaclava on and say it is part of my religion and they'd have to let me. If you cannot see the whole of someones face in a passport photo then someone else could pose as them easily.

So do you think it would be a good idea for countries to set up a course for people wanting to move into that country so they get to know whats acceptable and whats not .So that they might integrate with that sociaty better? I think it would work here .

That's how it works here in Québec. When we arrived in the first 3 weeks we had like 5 meetings with other imigrants from anywhere in the world with a host that gave us a lot of info on administrations, transports, jobs, cities and regions, culture etc... It was very useful, everything we'd been said revealed to be true.

There are a lot of ressources for imigrants but if they're not informed and supported in the first weeks they wont use them and integrate themselves efficiently.


Ponrauil