Moving back British Muslim
Jan 26th 2013, 3:21 am
#47
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Re: Moving back British Muslim
I've never had any religions pushed in my face apart from JW's knocking on my door, which used to drive me nuts. But that's a different argument for a different day!
Jan 26th 2013, 3:26 am
#48
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Re: Moving back British Muslim
This thread has been niggling away in a little corner of my brain today; I think it's because you identified yourself by your religion, Drifting. I suggest that your biggest danger of a bad reaction is if you go around pushing that religion in people's faces, as happens all too often. ie be yourself, not a label :-)
Jan 26th 2013, 4:00 am
#49
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Re: Moving back British Muslim
That's a little presumptuous towards the OP, suggesting he/she is going to shove their religion in other peoples faces. A religion is a huge part of someone's life and will, therefore, make up their identity. You don't know the OP so saying they are identifying themselves by their religion and shoving in peoples faces is a little harsh. I've never experiences anyone doing this in the UK. People of different religions go off and do their own thing and do not force it on anyone else. Apart from JW's as I mentioned before.
As for the JWs - they ARE bad. Knocking on the door, front and back, at ridiculous times of day, leaving offensive comics in their wake. Ban the lot!
Jan 26th 2013, 4:10 am
#50
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Jan 26th 2013, 5:07 pm
#51
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Re: Moving back British Muslim
I'm in Yorkshire and my impression is that, while some people might mutter generally about immigrants, when they interact with an actual individual, they're invariably kind and friendly and respectful just as they would be with a white person.
To some extent I think it's because some people have a view of muslims and other immigrants that comes straight out of the Daily Mail. But when they meet an actual person, that goes out of the window. If asked about the dichotomy, they'd probably say "Oh he/she is lovely ... it's those lazy/violent/scrounging/[choose disparaging adjective] immigrants I don't like."
It's the same way that everyone seems to moan about benefits scroungers but no one disowns their friend or relative when he/she signs on after losing a job.
I'm sure you'll be very welcome.
To some extent I think it's because some people have a view of muslims and other immigrants that comes straight out of the Daily Mail. But when they meet an actual person, that goes out of the window. If asked about the dichotomy, they'd probably say "Oh he/she is lovely ... it's those lazy/violent/scrounging/[choose disparaging adjective] immigrants I don't like."
It's the same way that everyone seems to moan about benefits scroungers but no one disowns their friend or relative when he/she signs on after losing a job.
I'm sure you'll be very welcome.
Jan 26th 2013, 5:10 pm
#52
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Re: Moving back British Muslim
Look at the 4th picture with prince charles, that how i'd like to think of the UK and on the whole I think thats how it truly is.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/in-pictures-21194276
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/in-pictures-21194276
Jan 26th 2013, 7:41 pm
#53
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Re: Moving back British Muslim
It also makes it more pleasant so lets just go with that.
Personally immigration made the UK the awesome country it is today, and I for one am really proud of it.
But lets all be honest, unchecked immigration from people who have no direct right, i.e. economic migrants, they should only be allowed in once all familial migrants have been settled.
I think the crux of the issue is a lot of UK people feel sidelined in these economic times when immigrants from other countries come and potentially take jobs from locals or put an added strain on public finances so projects for locals get scrapped as the money has to allocated for EU migrants from poor countries.
Its not racism that most people espouse, its fear of the country changing and leaving them behind.
Personally immigration made the UK the awesome country it is today, and I for one am really proud of it.
But lets all be honest, unchecked immigration from people who have no direct right, i.e. economic migrants, they should only be allowed in once all familial migrants have been settled.
I think the crux of the issue is a lot of UK people feel sidelined in these economic times when immigrants from other countries come and potentially take jobs from locals or put an added strain on public finances so projects for locals get scrapped as the money has to allocated for EU migrants from poor countries.
Its not racism that most people espouse, its fear of the country changing and leaving them behind.
Jan 26th 2013, 7:54 pm
#54
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Re: Moving back British Muslim
This thread has been niggling away in a little corner of my brain today; I think it's because you identified yourself by your religion, Drifting. I suggest that your biggest danger of a bad reaction is if you go around pushing that religion in people's faces, as happens all too often. ie be yourself, not a label :-)
Last edited by DriftingBack; Jan 26th 2013 at 8:06 pm.
Jan 26th 2013, 8:02 pm
#55
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Re: Moving back British Muslim
That's a little presumptuous towards the OP, suggesting he/she is going to shove their religion in other peoples faces. A religion is a huge part of someone's life and will, therefore, make up their identity. You don't know the OP so saying they are identifying themselves by their religion and shoving in peoples faces is a little harsh. I've never experiences anyone doing this in the UK. People of different religions go off and do their own thing and do not force it on anyone else. Apart from JW's as I mentioned before.
I am not about to come around to anyone's house with a Quran and give you to option of seeing the light or else!
Jan 26th 2013, 8:32 pm
#56
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Re: Moving back British Muslim
I am not sure how you feel i am pushing my religion in snyone's face. I call myself a British Muslim bcos thats what i am. My name identifies me with a religion, like yours does with another - whether you believe in anything or not. Same goes for me. it's my identity - all I am asking is my identity being what it is are my children going to be welcome or not? This is in light of deeply divisive headlines in certain papers, almost everyday. whether I practise it or not is not the question. My very identity is offensive to some people, the fact that I am is obviously not a happy thought to a lot of people judging from some of the comments I've read in some of the papers. Read the daily mail for a few days and also read the comments section and then tell me I am being paranoid!
Have to disagree with anyone's name necessarily identifying them with a religion, all it may do is give a clue to what one distant ancestors' religion might have been. I bet Ben Harper doesn't get people bothering him to play them a tune all the time. Oh wait....
I do read the Daily Mail, mostly for entertainment of the horror show variety, as it's clearly written by idiots for idiots. Yes the comments are horrifying, there are a lot of "those" people in the UK, but amongst 70 million or whatever it is now, is it really a significant amount? I don't know but Mrs Trellis springs to mind
As for your kids, they could well get bullied - it's what kids en masse tend to do. If not for their religion, for their hair colour, accent, intelligence or lack of, left or right handedness - or just because there's a Y in the day.
I do wish you good luck, as someone who has lived in several countries I've found that respecting the host country's culture, and making a bit of an effort to fit in, go a long way to make the experience nicer for everyone. That includes those of us who are returning to our home countries too; things have undoubtedly changed while we've been away.
Jan 26th 2013, 8:42 pm
#57
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Re: Moving back British Muslim
Please understand, I only said _IF_ you were going to push it at people. If not, hopefully you will have no problems at all. It wasn't me wot put it in the post title
Have to disagree with anyone's name necessarily identifying them with a religion, all it may do is give a clue to what one distant ancestors' religion might have been. I bet Ben Harper doesn't get people bothering him to play them a tune all the time. Oh wait....
I do read the Daily Mail, mostly for entertainment of the horror show variety, as it's clearly written by idiots for idiots. Yes the comments are horrifying, there are a lot of "those" people in the UK, but amongst 70 million or whatever it is now, is it really a significant amount? I don't know but Mrs Trellis springs to mind
As for your kids, they could well get bullied - it's what kids en masse tend to do. If not for their religion, for their hair colour, accent, intelligence or lack of, left or right handedness - or just because there's a Y in the day.
I do wish you good luck, as someone who has lived in several countries I've found that respecting the host country's culture, and making a bit of an effort to fit in, go a long way to make the experience nicer for everyone. That includes those of us who are returning to our home countries too; things have undoubtedly changed while we've been away.
Have to disagree with anyone's name necessarily identifying them with a religion, all it may do is give a clue to what one distant ancestors' religion might have been. I bet Ben Harper doesn't get people bothering him to play them a tune all the time. Oh wait....
I do read the Daily Mail, mostly for entertainment of the horror show variety, as it's clearly written by idiots for idiots. Yes the comments are horrifying, there are a lot of "those" people in the UK, but amongst 70 million or whatever it is now, is it really a significant amount? I don't know but Mrs Trellis springs to mind
As for your kids, they could well get bullied - it's what kids en masse tend to do. If not for their religion, for their hair colour, accent, intelligence or lack of, left or right handedness - or just because there's a Y in the day.
I do wish you good luck, as someone who has lived in several countries I've found that respecting the host country's culture, and making a bit of an effort to fit in, go a long way to make the experience nicer for everyone. That includes those of us who are returning to our home countries too; things have undoubtedly changed while we've been away.
I do take your philosophical point about names, ancestors and identity... But facts are most people would bracket me as a British Muslim of Indian origin. You are right about the bullying though - kids will be kids. Black, white, Chinese, Jew, Muslim, one toothless, specs-wearing - kids can be horribly mean. That's what I meant when I said I had chosen Wokingham to live in bcos the teachers there would have, one hopes, more experience in dealing with such situations. I have lived in many countries too so I have some experience of fitting in process you refer to... But I found fitting in the Uk very easy. In fact it didnt seem like a different culture to me at all...( In contrast when I came to the middle east, where as a person of Muslim origin I should have been fine, I got the biggest culture shock of my life!) Yes things in the UK have changed but as people get back into jobs, and the recession eases things will get better.
Last edited by DriftingBack; Jan 26th 2013 at 8:46 pm.
Jan 26th 2013, 9:34 pm
#58
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Re: Moving back British Muslim
On a lighter note.. If anyone is a fan of Mrs. Brown's Boys there is wonderfully funny clip with Mrs Brown and visiting Mormons. Hilarious..I know this sitcom might not everybody's cup of tea but...
Jan 27th 2013, 1:13 am
#60
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Re: Moving back British Muslim
With Jehovah's Witnesses, I just smile and say that I am busy. I usually am drinking tea and watching the idiot box !