The Prime Minister has stressed the "duty and need" of immigrants to integrate into society.
Tony Blair used a Downing Street lecture to set out a series of measures designed to help create a society of "tolerance, solidarity and equality".
"Multicultural Britain was never supposed to be a celebration of division but of diversity, to allow people to live harmoniously despite their differences," he said.
"We need to reassert the duty and need to integrate."
Mr Blair set out a series of measures to help ease tensions between races and religions.
He reiterated his support for an English language test to ensure those wishing to settle in the UK can communicate.
And he said faith schools would be twinned with schools of other faiths to promote understanding.
Mr Blair stressed the need for citizens to accept equality and respect for all, citing forced marriage and religious prejudice against women as unacceptable.
He said everyone must obey criminal not religious law while visiting preachers from overseas will be excluded if they preach hatred.
Religious and racial groups seeking grants will also be asked to show how they promote integration.
In the address, Mr Blair insisted he did not want to dilute religious identity or abandon multiculturalism, which should continue to be celebrated.
But he said "the right balance can be struck between integration and diversity".
A national row over multiculturalism was been sparked by the suspension earlier this year of a Muslim teaching assistant who refused to remove her veil in the classroom.
Mr Blair backed that decision - saying the veil was a "mark of separation" that made people of other ethnic backgrounds feel uncomfortable.
It was also a visible symbol of the wider debate about the way the 1.8 million-strong Muslim community integrates into British society, he suggested.
The event at Number 10 is being hosted by the Runnymede Trust, an educational charity whose aim is to promote a successful multi-ethnic Britain.
So in a democratic, free, country, people are forced to go to fight for the country and risk their lifes even if they dont agree with it, they just 'have to do their job'.
Hmm.
Do you recall a case in which a sikh boy, quiet old, wanted to carry a little dagger thing to school around his neck as part of his religion?
I think the veil nor an empty class room can compare to that.
So in a democratic, free, country, people are forced to go to fight for the country and risk their lifes even if they dont agree with it, they just 'have to do their job'.
If the person is a citizen that is true. But, not always. At the moment the US has an all volunteer military. However if congress declares a state of war the draft will be reinstated and then all citizens between the ages of 18-35 can be called up for military duty. the draft can also be reinstated by congress if it is felt it is too small for defense.
No offense, he has a point there. If muslim women wants to practise their religion like that, in that manner, then they should migrate back to their parent's homeland or to a muslim country. It is an Christian country. This is the part that annoys me the most; why are you muslims trying to be so practising your religion in a Christian land, but not in a Islamic land? Like that veil issue, covering everything up.
p.s Glad to be a Canadian Muslim
Wa Aleykum Salam
'he has a point there' are you talking to me sayin someone else has a point or just talking generally saying I have a point? lol am confused.
As for the underlined bit, I think that some Muslim feel that since the law is there they can use it, i.e. discrimination law and so on, it annoys me to in some ways but Alhamdulilah they are my brothers and sisters and just going through the law system.
The path is long but I hope we meet,
After the grave and the Day, in paradise in bliss upon a reclined seat.
A traveler traveling - travelled from shirk to tawheed,
If I'm remembered for anything - let it be the Mercy I seek.
It's about Jihad bro, he's masking what he means, he's blatently on about people who have Qitaal on their minds, they're worried it might spread.
Thats obvious. He doesn't want UK citizens to be treasonous and fight the UK, either at 'home' or abroad. You talk as if this is some kind of evil hidden agenda, lol. It's simply a matter of loyalty.
But then again, these issues surrounding immigration, especially Muslim immigration, are fiercely debated everywhere in Europe, also in those countries that are not really targets in this jihad. It's a reaction to the massive influx of Muslim immigrants in the last few decades. 'Jihad' is only part of it. I think the 'common people' are more distressed because they don't recognize their own neighborhoods anymore.
No offense, he has a point there. If muslim women wants to practise their religion like that, in that manner, then they should migrate back to their parent's homeland or to a muslim country. It is an Christian country. This is the part that annoys me the most; why are you muslims trying to be so practising your religion in a Christian land, but not in a Islamic land? Like that veil issue, covering everything up.
Such as "a separate classroom" for muslims to pray in whilst at school.
What is so bad about that? This is a requirment for us. We have to pray five times a day and one of those times happens to be during school. It would be just pointless to ban this, it makes no sense.
Anyway, take it away and I hope the kids will take over the playground and pray their instead. Kinda backfires doesnt?
Thats obvious. He doesn't want UK citizens to be treasonous and fight the UK, either at 'home' or abroad. You talk as if this is some kind of evil hidden agenda, lol. It's simply a matter of loyalty.
But then again, these issues surrounding immigration, especially Muslim immigration, are fiercely debated everywhere in Europe, also in those countries that are not really targets in this jihad. It's a reaction to the massive influx of Muslim immigrants in the last few decades. 'Jihad' is only part of it. I think the 'common people' are more distressed because they don't recognize their own neighborhoods anymore.
I agree with this. Alot of this is simply adjusting to this community that doesn't seem to integrate as others in the past have done. Being a Muslim doesn't give you the right to preach violence(as Hamza), or give you the right to go fight "jihad" and then come back. KAding brought up the issue of normal people feeling uncomfortable because they don't recognize their neighborhoods and in some cases their cities anymore. That isn't racism or Islamophobia. Similar feelings occurred in the U.S. when Irish and Italian people would return to their neighborhoods and find that it was now a Puerto Rican neighborhood.
"Imagination was given to man to compensate him for what he is not, and a sense of humor was provided to console him for what he is."
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