The problem with muslims...

[Minimalist]

But, what I've been reading so far, it seems that the British Muslims tend to live in their own segregated communities, and have these certain "no go" areas, which makes the non-Muslims a little bit unwelcome for that reason. But the idea of "no go" may be due to the the non-Muslims feeling like foreigners in their own country and thus leading them to invent such a word. Another reason for the existence of such isolated communities may be caused by incidents of racist victimization of incoming Asian and/or Muslim families. I don't if this is true, but that's a possibility. Therefore, I think it's quite possible that the division is mostly influenced by racial views rather than by religious views.

Rayaan, as a former New Yorker I have lots of experience with this kind of "ghetto mentality" among immigrant groups. Since the late 1840's when the first waves of German and Irish immigrants began fleeing Europe they have tended to cluster in certain areas. Sections of Manhattan are still known as "Little Italy" or "Chinatown." These days there are mainly some great ethnic restaurants in those spots. Flushing, Queens



has a large Asian community and the #7 subway line which runs from there to Manhattan is referred to as "the Orient Express." Astoria, Queens is known as a Greek enclave. Brighton Beach in Brooklyn is Russian. The list goes on. Their native tongues are spoken but anyone who wants to interact with the rest of the country learns English. My grandparents came from Italy in 1912. My grandfather spoke a heavily accented English but made himself understood. My grandmother spoke mainly Italian until the day she died. My father spoke enough Italian to serve as an interpreter for his unit during WWII...and amazingly the army sent him to Italy instead of the Pacific! I speak virtually no Italian and neither does my brother and that is the way it generally goes. The first generation holds on to the old ways, the second generation has a smattering and the third generation says "screw that...I'm an American."

In virtually all cases the groups who settled there have assimilated into mainstream American life. Some stay...many others move out. But they have the choice and the opportunity or at least did until the republicolibertarianazis started turning this country into nirvana for the rich only.

So the question which will have to be faced in Europe is will muslim immigrants assimilate into western culture within a couple of generations or will they isolate themselves behind their fatwas and burqas. If you move somewhere and wish to blend in you become a valuable citizen. If you move somewhere and seek to replace the existing culture you are an invader. Europe has a spotty track record on dealing with invaders.