Gaijin 06 said:
Why is is only France and Belgium that have these problems then? Could it be something to do with the host communities rather than the guests?
I believe that the Netherlands, and maybe aslo Switzerland and Austria have similar problems, though maybe not on the same scale. I have analysed the problem many times, and however we look at it, it's particularily the North Africans that cause problems. Black Africans are squatters that know how to take advantadge of the social security system and live in cramped flats against the contract rules. But they don't cause as much trouble as Moroccans. Most North Africans in Europe live in France and Belgium, because they are French-speaking countries and Morocco, Algeria and Tunisia were former French protectorates/colonies. Maybe that's why other countries have less problems. The immigrants come from other countries.
I can't believe only Muslims hassle your girlfriend.
Yet, that is always what happens. I have always seen it dozens of times. Everytime a gang of Moroccans comes somewhere, there are troubles. One of my cousin was beaten by one such gang, and I know many other people who have had problems with them (insults in the street, vandalism, theft in cars, even carjacking).
In Belgium the Moroccans are not even the biggest group of immigrants. The Italians are. But as Duo said, other immigrants tend to be well integrated, be them Asian, Eastern European or Southern European. I don't even think that Islam itself is the problem, but rather how traditional or fundamentalist is their approach to Islam. There are also Muslims in Albania, where Duo comes from, and Turks are also Muslim - but most of the South-East European Muslims have a much more relaxed and liberal approach to Islam, and don't usually wear headscarves or veils in their own country. The Turks even produce and drink abundantly beer, wine and raki, despite Islam prohibiting alcohol consumption. In contrast, as Duo said, Moroccans in Belgium make women wear headscaves, and would usually never let a non Muslim marry their daughter, while their men go after European girls.
I also don't doubt that if religion hadn't been the "driving force" behind these wars then something else would have been. It is part of human nature, whether we like it or not.
It remains a fact that they are the ones that cause the problems. So, are you saying that North Africans are genetically more disposed to behave badly or fail to adapt to different cultures. That's closer to racism. I see the facts, and try to find the cause to it. I doubt that it is genetical. Probably more cultural - and in their case culture is heavily influenced by religion.
EDIT : maybe we should bury the hatchet and stop the argument here.
