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hifiguy

(33,688 posts)
14. Anyone with even the most basic understanding of human nature
Fri Oct 30, 2015, 04:28 PM
Oct 2015

should be able to see that the introduction of large numbers of people who are VERY culturally different into a place that has been more or less homogeneous for 1500 years is going to cause problems. Big problems. Humans are primates and primates are tribal.

The people from the Balkans were at least from the fringes of Europe and shared a fair number of social and cultural norms and mores. I daresay the Syrians - particularly if they are not educated - share virtually no social and cultural norms with Swedes. And I have no doubt that Islam in its traditional form greatly exacerbates the problem.

If I were to emigrate to another country, say China, I would accept the fact that I have to acclimate myself to the norms of that new country. Certainly Southeast Asian and Latino immigrants have had no problems becoming as culturally American as those whose families have been here for generations while retaining their own traditions, just like the Irish, Norwegians, Germans, Italians, Poles and all the other immigrants who came to the US in the last 150 years. Hell, I've seen it right here in Minneapolis where I live.

Many - not all - Muslim immigrants do not want to blend into the new society, they want to bring their old society with them, including treating women as fourth-class citizens at best and property at worst. One can't blame the Swedes for being uncomfortable with that. Here, the Somalis show zero desire to assimilate in any but the most superficial ways, unlike the Vietnamese, Cambodian and Latino immigrants have done.

Moral of the story as I see it - refugees should be grateful that they were taken in by a host country and adjust their behavior to their new home if they wish to be accepted.

"When in Rome do as the Romans do" has been wise advice for centuries.

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