...Perhaps you can tell me. How are UK people distinct from European mainlanders?...
...My sample size is too small. I don't know Europe well. You tell me...
As a belated addition to the discussion from early this week, I got a reply from "my socialist friend" (an Englishman who's lived in France for over 30 years now) to the above question; as an ex-Brit view from a French perspective at least.
"Seeing as there's a universalist trait in france that goes back to the universalist declarations of the french revolution i think idealism is deeper rooted here than in the uk. Freedom, equality and brotherhood as a slogan is seen on all public buildings and anything by the government (even rightwing). The idea of "The Republic" is very powerful although everyone has a different idea as to what it is and what its values are but there's definitely an all-inclusivenss in it and a deep commitment to equal treatment and laws for everyone (no particular exceptions for different communities or classes) and it is lay in its essence right to the core in that any religious signs in public buildings such as schools and townhalls etc are against the law. These universalist principles have meant that in the former colonies that are still part of france and that send mps, there's not much will to revolt or independence seeing as the indigineous population was (and now is) theoretically treated as equals to the white colonizers now officials of the republic."I guess this explains their hostility to burkas. It surprises me that the French allowed no-go zones to develop in muslim communities throughout the country.
http://www.gatestoneinstitute.org/5128/france-no-go-zonesVery scary, bigtimespaghetti, thanks for posting the link.
I have read bits & pieces about the No-Go Zones in France (and there are apparently such places in much of Europe). Of course that is a very bad thing, as tolerant Western values are being lost even as hateful values are growing.
My family and I have been to Paris a few times over the decades. YES, the city is less comfortable for tourists (esp. the Metro), and we never even went to bad neighborhoods.
The whole Muslim immigration (and lack of integration) mess is an enormous problem for Europe. And it is getting worse by the day.
Yeah, a lot of my liberal friends put it down to impoverished ghettos, which I can see their point. Perhaps it is no worse than that? I don't know.