Integration!

I thought I would deviate from my normal blog, about spanish views, tonight! Sometimes I feel I want to comment on something topical, in the news or high up on my thought agenda and today I have been angered, by what I have read, is happening in the UK.  I may well be living in Spain as an expat, but The UK will always be my home and I will always care about what is happening there!

Let me first begin by saying, this is not a racist rant, it is the complete opposite.  I really get incensed by people who jump on the racist bandwagon, because they have no alternative voice, when discussing such issues.  Well I do have a voice, a very large opinion and will always express how I feel, so get used to it!

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'50% of British Muslims want homosexuality banned'

So this was the news I was greeted by this morning.  50% of all British Muslims, want homosexuality banned.  Personally I believe that figure is much higher.  Often people do not express their views honestly, when answering questions on a controversial subject, so I am literally taking this figure with a pinch of salt.

My first reaction was, why the hell should we care what the Muslim community think?  After all they are a small, although growing minority living in The UK.  Well it is important to take these views on board for many reasons.  These terrible opinions are growing in the Muslim community, especially among the young, whilst British society, the legal system and its people have moved in the opposite direction, Immediately you have a conflict of views, between two different cultures, that in reality are incompatible.  Now lets not forget, why we have a Muslim community at all in The UK, when in many of their Countries of origin, we would not be allowed to be British, gay or liberated, as they are here.  The reason they are allowed to express their views in the first place, is because The United Kingdom, has freedoms, they could only dream of in their own Country.   

​I am not a racist, but I am a realist, like most people and will not  be called to account for my views by anyone.  Britain has for too long, allowed foreign nationals, to enter the UK, on extremely dubious grounds, without checks, for fear of being accused of being racist as a Nation.  Open borders for all, open to abuse and open to radical people, who have had time to use their views as a platform to peddle their dangerous propaganda!  For some obscure reason, the powers that be are so blind to the fact, that there are bad people in the World.  We let people in without a thought for the communities they are moving into and expect them just to integrate into the British way of life.  Are we really that naive, to think this is going to happen without a hitch?

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'I am comfortable with my sexuality'

For many years, as a gay man, I have suffered from bigots and bigoted views, a system that never recognised my sexuality, illtreatment and inequality!  It has taken many years of campaigning to change people's outlook and make our Country a better place in which to live.  The British public are a tolerant bunch, as a rule and we do not take too kindly to intolerance and religious nonsense.  I campaigned for change in the 1990s and fought hard to change the British Equality laws, working with Stonewall and others.  Myself and my partner, now husband, were the second couple in  The UK, to be allowed to stay together, based on our relationship, with one partner being a foreign national.  I have battled with my sexuality all my life and I am not going to sit by, while a group of fanatics, who views are based on a book that is outdated, anti gay, anti women and anti Western, try and destroy, the freedoms we now enjoy, because they decide it is appropriate to do so!

Lets just think for a minute, before the racist accusations get thrown my way.  In Muslim Countries, homosexuality is a crime, in some cases punishable by death. Women are  second class citizens and have no rights.  Women have been stoned to death for being raped by a man.  Apparently, it is there fault!  Men are allowed more than one wife and are allowed to marry children, yes children. Children should be treated as children, not virgin wives.  How long do we have to sit by and let this happen?  If genuine people make, even the slightest utterance that they may be wrong in some way, they are lambasted and accused of racism, while their accusers continue to spout outdated, inflammatory and incompatible views!

'Incompatible'

So they we have it.  Yes I have a view, I am going to express it and it is not racist. I believe in integration, not segregation.  If you move to a new Country, you should embrace that Country 100%.  If you are incompatible with your new home, have the common decency to move away and live somewhere, where you feel happy.  If you are coming to Britain or my new home, Spain,  to work, live and contribute, then fine.  Your skin colour is not an issue, your religion isn't also, but do not try and push us back to the dark ages and turn Britain into The Middle East.  It is not compatible with British or European views and lives!

Everyone of us are equal, women, homosexuals, children, Black people, the list goes on. Do not discriminate against me, after all, you will be the first ones to complain, when it happens to you!

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