No flaming, just out of curiosity. The vast majority of my friends are proud, but not to the extent they start pogroms or "reverse pogroms" ( jewish buddies)

I'm not quite sure of the context so I said "i really don't care" as generally it's not very important. In the context of friends, I have friends from every single ethnic background I can think of.

Being totally honest, I'd be lying if I said I didn't have certain preconceptions based on race however. I do try hard to make sure these don't affect my judgement and have done a lot of work researching other cultures/lifestyles/religions but I still feel guilty that sometimes I would form an initial opinion to a stranger based on race. Perhaps it's human nature to be slightly more wary of others who are different to you...would be interested to hear your thoughts Sir D.

[ 11-12-2005, 06:41 PM: Message edited by: shamrock_uk ]

I'm proud of being white, but will not discount other race, if their culture meets my standards of right and wrong. I won't have any special treatment, but won't loathe them unless I find them fragrantly offensive, in which case, I tend to avoid them. The fundamental issue here I believe, is the degree in which Race effects our view of "Western" civilization. I am strongly in favor of say, Europe and America retaining their traditional values, as well as immigration control, to preserve their native (read: white) culture, but the success (or lack theroff) of assimilation remains a key issue for me.

[ 11-12-2005, 07:05 PM: Message edited by: Sir Degrader ]

There's a lot of sense there. I'm quite in favour of preserving "traditional" values, at least as far as there can be such a thing.

I'm not sure whether I would be in favour of immigration controls to further such an aim however, simply because I know so many "white british" people who fall so far below the benchmark for civilised behaviour and a fair few immigrants (mainly Muslim) who are so proud and happy to be British that it almost makes me ashamed when I see such behaviour. Especially since most of the racism they experience comes from these bigoted fools.

Don't think you can draw hard and fast lines about immigration and culture, but I will say that I am steadfastly against any substantial "change" to reflect the culture of an incoming community. I make an effort to fit in when I go to the Middle-East and I don't see why this can't work both ways.

Well, I guess that's Britain. I've heard of their policy of assimilation. The reverse is true here in the Great White North (pun intended). Immigrants flood in, alot of them can't speak English/French very well, DESPITE the citizenship tests, and retain their old culture, usually to their detriment of ours. Crime, especially that of asian/black gangs has resulted in certain areas in Toronto being closed to the general public, drugs swarming the streets. Also, while I hate to sound like I'm ranting, one can't mention the perpetrator's are black/asian/whatever, UNLESS they are white. Example: Hell's Angels are on the front page, but the fact that Tamil gangs have members who fought in Sri Lanka is barely mentioned.

[ 11-12-2005, 07:55 PM: Message edited by: Sir Degrader ]

I'm not too keen on immigration and henceforth immigrants. It's not a racial thing, though, it's a political opinion. When I visit a foreign country, any country, I have as much respect for the citizens as I do for my fellow Britons here in the UK.

Don't want to mislead you Sir D - it's not all roses over here. Having met these people when I'm at university I should imagine they're at the upper echelons of the immigrant communities - we certainly have our gang/drug related problems too.

DO not care. Ummm nothing else to say. ;)

Not important. At all.

Race is just a word with a definition, both originally made up by humans and through the course of times changed by humans. I think you can hardly say that race should be an issue for that matter!