British Prime Minister Tony Blair says immigrants have a "duty to integrate"

[munchkins 0]

Tony Blair for president

yeah yeah i know he can't be...........

Trust me Charles, you really would not want him, to say he is as much use as a chocolate fireguard is putting it mildly, he is useless. When you consider that it is his government that opened the floodgates and were insistant on "multiculturism" and it is only now, when the "proverbial" is starting to hit the fan.

He can "talk the talk" but that is about all

[munchkins 0]

In reply to Spiritee, Great Britain only did what many nations before had done, i.e. the romans, the turks and the arabs, trouble is we were pretty good at it

[Mags 112]

Trust me Charles, you really would not want him, to say he is as much use as a chocolate fireguard is putting it mildly, he is useless. When you consider that it is his government that opened the floodgates and were insistant on "multiculturism" and it is only now, when the "proverbial" is starting to hit the fan.

He can "talk the talk" but that is about all

I REALLY can stand the man...

[kaydee457 13]

Tony Blair will be judged in history as one of the great leaders Britain ever produced; he and Winston Churchill will share similar accolades.......

[sparkofcreation 0]

I don't think there's anything wrong with saying that immigrants to a country should integrate into that country's culture ... the problem is that "the country's culture" is always narrowly defined as liking what the people in power like.

For example, I'm sure that many people would say that immigrants to the US should be obligated to go to a church (or possibly a synagogue, but definitely not a masjid) and fly the American flag and never criticize the government. Despite the fact that we're taught as schoolchildren that a valuable part of the US history and culture is the pluralism of religious and political views and of cultures. And so I believe that people who don't agree with the ideals upon which this country was founded should go elsewhere ... whereas if you agree with the ideals and disagree with the implementation, you should work to change that.

And I picked the third option because I think a lot of the speeches on immigration reform have been pretty darn close and it's only a matter of time. (Although I must say, and I hate to admit it, I thought President Bush's immigration reform plan was excellent ... and I think that any plan that liberals think is too harsh and conservatives think is too lenient merits serious consideration.)

[Hilarious Clinton 452]

Immigration is a privilege and a country can (and should) make the entry requirements however they want.

[w¡n9Nµ7 §£@¥€r 123]

... the problem is that "the country's culture" is always narrowly defined as liking what the people in power like.

Here is how Blair defines it (from the article posted on page 1):

Integration ... is not about culture or lifestyle. It is about values... our essential values - belief in democracy, the rule of law, tolerance, equal treatment for all, respect for this country and its shared heritage - then that is where we come together, it is what we hold in common; it is what gives us the right to call ourselves British.

[Mr. Big Dog 10,747]

... the problem is that "the country's culture" is always narrowly defined as liking what the people in power like.

Here is how Blair defines it (from the article posted on page 1):

Integration ... is not about culture or lifestyle. It is about values... our essential values - belief in democracy, the rule of law, tolerance, equal treatment for all, respect for this country and its shared heritage - then that is where we come together, it is what we hold in common; it is what gives us the right to call ourselves British.

Can't argue with that.

[almaty 19]

... the problem is that "the country's culture" is always narrowly defined as liking what the people in power like.

Here is how Blair defines it (from the article posted on page 1):

Integration ... is not about culture or lifestyle. It is about values... our essential values - belief in democracy, the rule of law, tolerance, equal treatment for all, respect for this country and its shared heritage - then that is where we come together, it is what we hold in common; it is what gives us the right to call ourselves British.

Can't argue with that.

i also agree..it is rational and logical to have these expectations

[Mags 112]

Tony Blair will be judged in history as one of the great leaders Britain ever produced; he and Winston Churchill will share similar accolades.......

Ha ha!

[Trumplestiltskin 5,791]

... the problem is that "the country's culture" is always narrowly defined as liking what the people in power like.

Here is how Blair defines it (from the article posted on page 1):

Integration ... is not about culture or lifestyle. It is about values... our essential values - belief in democracy, the rule of law, tolerance, equal treatment for all, respect for this country and its shared heritage - then that is where we come together, it is what we hold in common; it is what gives us the right to call ourselves British.

Can't argue with that.

I don't argue with his rationale - just his willingness to actually back it up with supporting legislation.

Blair, like Bush spent his last piece of "political capital" some time ago.

[ChristinaM 0]

Interesting, Kaydee, you should think that Tony Blair will go down in history as a great leader - you do realise that the Labour Party is traditionally left leaning?! Other than his support of Iraq (against the will of the country, if I may point out), I wouldn't think that there's anything "Our Tone" has done that you'd like.

[Trumplestiltskin 5,791]

Interesting, Kaydee, you should think that Tony Blair will go down in history as a great leader - you do realise that the Labour Party is traditionally left leaning?! Other than his support of Iraq (against the will of the country, if I may point out), I wouldn't think that there's anything "Our Tone" has done that you'd like.

Where is Labour now? Sort of Center right isn't it, at least Blair's version of it was. Once Gordon Brown takes over next year, I'm guessing it will realign to its traditional ideology.

Unfortunately the tories still haven't figured out firstly how to properly market themselves - looking at the various showers of $hit the party has elected to lead them. They start off with Hague, an ex-public school toff who failed miserably to show any charisma or anything meaningful that could identify him with the public.

He quits after losing the election and possibly realising how ridiculous a figure he is in public.

In comes Iain Duncan-Smith who fails miserably to put together any comprehensive policy package to give his party any a guiding strategy or sense of leadership. The party then stabs him in the back before bringing in yet another public school Toff - Michael Howard: a sort of jewish Adolf Hitler, who was actually fired from his own party some years before for abusing his authority.

Now they're stuck with David Cameron, who comes up with the genius idea to re-brand the conservatives as the "new green party". He even sets the example, by riding a bike to work every day - while his chauffeur driven limo follows behind carrying his briefcase.

UK politics couldn't get any more ridiculous, or any more depressing for that matter.

[Saddle Bronc 124]

should, never will