Ignorance, exclusion, discrimination, and a lack of social integration of foreigners and immigrants within the main society may become causes of deep frustration and explosive violentclashes among young people as seen in different parts of the world. How can people of diverse cultures and backgrounds live together peacefully? How can young people contribute to the creation of dynamic and harmonious multicultural societies?
136087
I would say that its nearly impossible. An immigrant in any country will long for his native land and any given oppurtunity might associate himself with that country. Ofcourse there are exceptions and staunch patriots of a country who are immigrants to that country, and I salute them.\n\nAcceptance both from the immigrant and the native of a country is the key for any multicultural society. I have heard stories from my friends in US whose American neighbours stood up to fanatics and protected them during the aftermath of 9/11 when anyone with a Turban(head gear) was considered a terrorist. I would call that a success of Multicultural Society.\n\nYes, Charity begins at home and so does Tolerance. We might not be able to change the whole country in our lifetime, but we sure can set an example and mind you, that is an infectious thing which spreads rapidly. \n\nAs some great person once said, "Youngsters are the torch bearers of the world tomorrow..". Probably if they are educated about Love, Forgiveness, Tolerance and Harmony from a young age, we might see that "Utopia" called "Harmonious Multicultural Societies". \n\nYes, we too need that education and knowledge to teach those youngsters. Maybe this forum is one place which can be a start.... Lets go beyond that religious, racial, regional and cultural differences and find happiness and harmony amongst us HERE.. The world will follow...\n\n.:Fishie:.
291966
The Gypsies you are referring to live this way because of societal problems, of which you certainly are not the cause. The Gypsies are treated very badly all over Europe and were one of the racial groups badly persecuted by the Nazis, and to this day are considered non-Europeans. These are cultural differences and enforcement differences that are beyond your control, and beyond my control. Try not to become frustrated by a frustrating situation.\n\nThis is a case where people are being forced into what most people would consider appalling conditions, but because they spend some money on visible luxuries (tv dishes), it is difficult to not believe they either choose this lifestyle or that they are somehow cheating society.\n\nIt is very difficult to see someone who does not seem to be conforming to society's rules and not think harshly of them, after all we are able to conform even though it is difficult, we have made sacrifices to fit in, and we have given up aspects of our parents' or our grandparents' cultures because of it. The main thing, I believe, is to try not to believe the nonconformity is 'because they are Gypsies' or because they are another racial group. This will tend to be the first step on getting to a way of thinking that you will not recognize after you have gotten there.\n\nThe feelings you have about this situation are completely natural, and unfortunately they are feelings used by others to manipulate us into behaving in ways that we should be ashamed of. When situations start to get into areas they should not, make certain your complaints go to the police or other civil authorities whose job it is to deal with these problems; there are certain steps to take that are important, and which they have been trained to accomplish. When we get frustrated and think we know how to handle a situation like this, it is almost certainly a problem waiting to happen (they have to go someplace, but not here).\n\nYou are not a racist. Please, don't allow situations beyond your control to turn you into one.
602575
The problem appears to be mainly in Europe.  I've seen that special.  Europe has not had a civil rights movement like we've had here in the States.  This is one of the things that separates us from the rest of the world.  We are at least trying to do something about racism.  In Europe it has always been accepted; look at all the "ethnic cleansing" that has, and still goes on.  People in the States just don't know how lucky they are.  Anybody who think that they have it so bad here, should try living outside the US for a few years.  Not just visit, but actually live there.  They will come back to the US and be thankful that their country is trying to make everyone's quality of life better.
302376
People hate other people. It's almost an inherent aspect of the species. Hatred is rampant in Europe, Russia, the US, the Middle East.\n\nWhy? Because people are intolerant of those who are different. And that intolerance makes them want to eliminate those who are different. It's the whole basis for attempted genocide in Africa, the Palestinian conflict, racism everywhere, and the same for the war on terror (both the US and foreign sides of the conflict).\n\nShould we step in and stop the hatred? Absolutely. But where do we start? I think we need to start wherever home is, and clean our own mess and stop prejudice-inspired violence here.  \n\nI don't care what people think about other people. If you want to hate someone, or fear them, that's your choice. But that doesn't give anyone the right to attack someone else just for being different. Not the Skin-Heads, not the Genocidal generals, not the Terrorists, and not the US neocons.  \n\nSadly, the way the world is going, people are polarizing and even political parties are starting to hate and attack each other just for having different beliefs. The world has gone to hell in a hand-basket, and there's serious question on whether people are going to wise up and learn to get along before the process becomes terminal.
32067
The world will never be a peaceful place as long as there are material interest as a base of society,it's simple-people are greedy and that meeans that no matter their lack of need they will threat other people for their resources.It isn't fair yet it happens since the begining of the forms of human organisation.
93138
For the children of immigrants in the United States I would say that biggest difficulty of coming of age is being torn between two communal identities. Your family, who you love, wants you to remember your heritage. Your friends, who you also love, want you to embrace mass American culture. It can be difficult, if not impossible to reconcile these two opposing desires.\n\nI am not the child of immigrants but I lived in an area with a very high Asian immigrant population. It seems that growing up is a time for a lot of animosity between parents and children and especially so in the case of the children of immigrant parents. There are a lot of arguments and angry rants the next day at school about "Why can't they just let me be my own person?".
162148
People's intolerance and ingorance about things such as religion and other aspects that they know little about. Most hatred comes from ignorance and a lack of understanding and perhaps by eliminating it, peace would be an attainable posibility in a world that is too focused on violence and negativity.
73639
You pretty much answered the question the way I would.  It would be great to break down the language barriers, so we would realize there are less differences between us and "everyone else" than we think.  But yes, I think there's the danger of becoming too similar.  Maybe not, though...every country still has different customs and "slang", so maybe the cultural uniqueness would prevail.
192181
as long as people have differences (racial, religious, ethnic), there will be conflicts and there will be war.  Human nature is that we form "in" groups and "out" groups.  by forming outgroups, we alienate others, and while we may not know that we are alienating other, others will realize that there are inequalities, and will rise up/ create other conflicts.  Religion plays a huge role in determining the fate of a nation, as as the socialists put it-"religion is the opiate of the peoples"-it lets the people escape the realities of present life.  religion fits the ingroup/outgroup idea well, as others outside of your religion are not only socially different from you, but religious ideas told to one group such as others going to gell, or that others are not following God, create ocnflict with other groups.  Ethnic differences occur in countries where opression occurs due to incorrect boundaries to begin with, most socially incorrect boundaries were due to western domination, but that's a different story.  what's important is that a minority is opressed and they feel that they should rise up, causing conflict.  in sum, as long as we cannot accept others, there will be war.
294517
First, in every country in the world and any time in the history of the world, immigrants are accepted so long as they are not very visible and numerous.  When their numbers increase and they become visible, the problems arise.  They are seen as intruders and "not us" and the human tendency to divide people into "us" and "them" and to fear outsiders comes into play - xenophobia is a genetic thing with all primates, including humans.\n\nThe difference between humans and other primates is that humans have the capacity to overcome their genetic disposition in this regard.  But most don't have it together enough to do so, and they let themselves be driven by this primitive genetic program.\n\nThey will give "reasons" for their opposition to immigrants, but in reality, these "reasons" are just rationalizations for their primitive drives - they are just finding excuses for their irrational behavior.\n\nYou will see so many people covering up their xenophobia and racism with the blanket of illegality, and at the same time you will see them complaining about how they don't speak English and how everyone of them harrasses them and oogles them and are generally churlish and on and on with the stereotypes and disinformation.\n\nSo that is what is going on here: immigrants are between the cracks; they are no longer invisible, and at the same time they are not yet familiar enough to natives that the natives are comfortable with them.\n\nAdd to this the rabble-rousing of the Compassionate Conservatives, and we have this unseemly brouhaha.
418720
I agree with the statement.  the reason that we don't have a peaceful society is that not everyone follows this creed.
220261
Ignorance will always breed hate because through out history when people do not understand something they either open up to it or reject it. Most of the times they reject most things they never understand and eventually it becomes HATRED. People to need open up there mind as well as there hearts more. Common sense will tell you that immigrants have come to this great land of opportunity for hundreds of years and now all of sudden because of a coordinated attack that was done by people who were here legally we must reject all immigrants. God welcomes all not just a few (conservatives) to his heaven.
284618
This is true of most nations. There is great diversity in India, There is in the US too. Look at Iraq. There are just three nations which are already diverse in a world which is becoming more diverse daily. I n my mind, it is important that the population of a country identify themselves as nationals of that country and participate in its culture to strengthen a sense of community. However, the thousands of years of separatism in ay given place does not allow any other nation to dismiss it, rationally. As a sovereign nation, it may be difficult to integrate the needs of all the subsets of communities, but it is impossible to say that a nation must first unite its population before we can build good relations with that nation. The stakes are so very high.
96861
*Fades in from the darkest corner of the street*\n\nGosh! From where do you get the ideas for these interesting questions. The best part is that all your questions require a certain amount of thought process. Love those questions!\n\nNow, time for my answer, here it is-\n\nA religion serves many different purposes in a culture, I'll list the ones on the top of my mind here-\n\n1- A religion generates unity and integrity values in a culture as the people start having common beliefs and hence, common interests.\n\n2- A religion fills a color in the cultural lives of the people. People who follow a common religion are bound to have some common festivals, rituals, ceremonies etc. This not only brings people together, but also "spices up" their lives.\n\n3- A religion sometimes also decides the longeivity of a certain culture. A culture founded on the base of strong spiritual and religeous supports is less likely to be affected by the external influences like- Political invasion, cultural clashes And intra-community quarrels/disputes etc.\n\n4- A religion also helps in strengthening the moral roots of a culture. The culture in which children are taught what's wrong, what's "sin" and what's good from the early stages of their lives is more likely to produce honest, truthful, patriotic, loyal, spiritual and open-minded citizens and such cultures excel in all the fields of study and yield more competent, efficient and intellectual people to the world.\n\n*Fades out back in the dark street corner*
307494
It say its the society. People in developed areas are alot different and dont seem as happy as people in underdeveloped areas in life in general. Rude, cheating, cunning thats the trap of the city life. It will swallow you and spit you out. Hence this is what we end up with today. Eg no family time spent together which results in people cheating and fighting with their parters and family memebers... I can be bothered to talk about it as it is a rather depresing subject. All I know is that Id rather live in the old days where you didnt have these problems as often.
429456
It really depends upon the culture. I knew a girl who was Saudi, but raised in Venezuela (another culture repressive to women). She was a student of mine in college and clashed frequently w/her traditional parents, since she wanted to become a doctor. \n\nKids and parents of all cultures usually clash, to some degree or another. Even parents (like a lot of aging Hippies I know!) who are pretty loose on discipline, have fights with their kids and sometimes the kids suffer from not enough discipline, whereas in our culture, it's usually TOO MUCH discipline (esp. if kids are hit...that's just wrong!). \n\nWhat you're describing sounds like basically the same thing that every immigrant group has gone through in some form: the older generation wants to keep tradition but the younger generation wants to be Americanized. \n\nThe main thing is to realize the kids aren't doing this out of lack of love or respect. You need to let them go and mesh with the new society, but be there for them if they need a place to come back to, and they usually do. \n\nDon't alienate your kids just because they're not exactly like you!
465864
Some countries identify themselves with their culture. To alter the culture would alter their identity, and this is change that not many societies deal well with. Check out America...we are having an identity crisis right now. Are we a war nation? Are we a peace nation? Are we unified nation? Who knows? \n\nThe most violent places on Earth are where they do not have an identity or history.