“When we go to their countries, we respect the local customs. So they should do the same.”
Which is clearly untrue. Visit any country where the English gather in large numbers and you’ll find most of us not integrating at all.
Whether in Spain, Turkey, Singapore or Thailand, we mostly speak English, visit English pubs, eat English food, and drink ourselves stupid.
Few of us go native when abroad. In fact, this would largely be frowned upon, both by our fellow Brits and the local population. Those that do are considered mild eccentrics.
No, but for the supposed aliens in our midst, we demand that they assimilate and integrate, or leave. Their not drinking — a private choice by any measure — is politicised and problematised. But why?
Why is that a measure of integration? Why is it an issue that these people choose to observe religious obligations such as fasting and praying — again, private decisions — or wearing clothes of their choice.
Of course, there is no problem. This is purely about stigmatising whichever minority we wish to demoralise today. Near at hand, we will always have the support of a different minority community, who will vocally declare:
“We’re with you. As an X, we always integrate, we’re not like them. If they don’t like it here, they should go home.”
Only, regardless of the pat on the head they receive, they are like them, for we are all like them. We all choose to live and behave as we please. We would rightly say to those interfering with our personal choices in any other realm: “Bog off!”
Don’t get sucked into these infantile identity debates. Live a good life however you see fit. Be the best version of yourself, and be glad.
Last modified: 19 January 2023
