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28/01/2008, 3:05 groslard Joined on 26/12/2007 Posts 255 Re: Too many immigrants?  Tresco wrote: [ Sorry Groslard...I know your post was serious but I'm having trouble with that part of it, (about religion), in particular. I think you underestimate the separation between Church and State in France, which goes back to the Revolution in its roots, and to the law of the 9th of December, 1905. Many of my French friends would be unhappy to speak of religion in a definition of what is French. Obviously with the established Church in the UK, British people here often have difficulty in understanding that, asking for example why there is no carol service at the local school, or wondering why sometimes Easter isn't at the centre of the holidays. These are a trivial examples, but no French person politician would say "God save la France" or "God save the Président"..and it shocks them to hear GWB say "God save America" or talk of praying. In short I think that Anglophones tend to bring a different attitude to religion, which is much closer to that of Islam that that of the French.    Report

28/01/2008, 7:46 raindog Joined on 26/09/2007 HERAULT Posts 780 Re: Too many immigrants? groslard - why are you picking on Brits? I thought every nation/race in the world was the same. That's why you get "Chinatown", "Little Italy", "Iranian Quarter" etc etc in every big city in the world. I'd say Brits integrate better than alot of other nations when they emmigrate.  And as you're lumping all Brits together, presumably you're including yourself in this criticism? (or are you somebody special from outside the uk?)  "In short I think that Anglophones tend to bring a different attitude to religion, which is much closer to that of Islam that that of the French." are you serious, or is this a wind-up born out of boredom? sociability is just a big smile and a big smile is nothing but teeth    Report

28/01/2008, 8:07 Tony F Dordogne Joined on 10/04/2005 Small village in the Dordogne, near St Cyprien Posts 1,483 Re: Too many immigrants? No Raidog, he's just being his usual self as he has done on other fora on France. Tony F Dordogne (24) Huguenot Trails    Report

28/01/2008, 9:00 sweet 17 Joined on 05/08/2006 charente maritime Posts 2,388 Re: Too many immigrants?  Tresco wrote:  Dick Smith wrote: The Return of the Jedi? I wish a Jedi Knight would call round here sometime, rather than the Jehovas Witnesses. Careful, Tresco!  Some of my best friends are Jehovah's Witnesses! Can't allow these poor, gentle and long-suffering folk to be maligned in this way. Seriously, I have met quite a few Witnesses in the course of my life and work (including some since I have been in France) and I have found that, of all the ones I have met, they are, without exception, very kindly and gentle in their ways and in their speech.  Either only a certain type (masochists, I would think) get attracted to this sect or the teachings of their religion has turned them into such inoffensive creatures.      Report

28/01/2008, 9:37 Tresco Joined on 23/08/2004 Charente Maritime. Posts 4,635 Re: Too many immigrants?  groslard wrote: I think you underestimate the separation between Church and State in France, which goes back to the Revolution in its roots, and to the law of the 9th of December, 1905. Many of my French friends would be unhappy to speak of religion in a definition of what is French. Obviously with the established Church in the UK, British people here often have difficulty in understanding that, asking for example why there is no carol service at the local school, or wondering why sometimes Easter isn't at the centre of the holidays. These are a trivial examples, but no French person politician would say "God save la France" or "God save the Président"..and it shocks them to hear GWB say "God save America" or talk of praying. In short I think that Anglophones tend to bring a different attitude to religion, which is much closer to that of Islam that that of the French. I think you're reaching too far with this one, Groslard. The majority of the UK population has nothing active to do with any religion, and don't want to hear politicians invoking it, either. It may be that most of the Brit immigrants you've met here fall into an older age group, which has a higher number of practicing Christians (for example), in which case it's understandable that they would seek to continue attending services, but that does not equate with them trying to 'impose' their religion on the French, any more than the 4,000 or so Rastafarians are 'imposing' their religion on others in Britain. BTW the separation of Church and State was one thing I did know about. I read it in about thirty books before I came to live here. It does tickle me to see some people on forums bewailing the so called 'banning' of Nativity Plays etc. in UK, and citing such things among the reasons they're moving to France though.    Report

28/01/2008, 9:54 Cathy Joined on 07/03/2006 Mostly near Bordeaux; Sometimes near Bristol Posts 1,714 Re: Too many immigrants?  Eos wrote:  Frederick wrote: ...mostly Dutch or German ..........languages I do not speak ..or Irish ....and I can just about understand them...... I'm sure they'd be more than happy to speak more slowly if they realised how they are inconveniencing you. Or maybe it's deliberate... Round here, there are a lot of Germans, who tend to be quite brusque in their manner and a little bit rude to shopkeepers etc.  They speak in English and so the French think that they are Brits.  Standing in queues, I see them in action and so when I get to the head of the queue, I tell the assistant that they weren't British. Does that sound familiar wherever you are or am I being a typical 'Little British'?   Cathy ----- Your children won't remember you ironing their pyjamas but they will remember you reading them a bedside story.    Report

28/01/2008, 9:57 Cathy Joined on 07/03/2006 Mostly near Bordeaux; Sometimes near Bristol Posts 1,714 Re: Too many immigrants? I've just remembered something else.  I was speaking to a fellow Brit about 6 months' ago and she said that she liked it in the South West of France because there are few immigrants.  I looked at her and said that there are lots of immigrants.  "Where?" she said.  "Here" I answered "We are the immigrants...."   Cathy ----- Your children won't remember you ironing their pyjamas but they will remember you reading them a bedside story.    Report

28/01/2008, 11:17 Quillan Joined on 23/08/2004 Forum Moderator Posts 3,642 Re: Too many immigrants?  groslard wrote: Excessive house prices caused by excessive immigration, meaning that young French people can no longer buy houses in their own communities. Er I would like to answer that one as it is something I know a little about. The young French move to the UK (and other EU countries), they get very good jobs, live in ghettos (well north of Chalk Farm in London) have their own bars, restaurants, news papers and even boule dromes with no attempt to integrate. You walk down the street and all you can hear is French and there are about 80,000 of them in that area alone My neighbours daughter and husband live and work in Brighton, they have bought a house there and are quite happy (they are JW's by the way not that it matters). They have a plan and will return to France in 7 years time and buy a restaurant and have kids. Now consider why they are there, to make money and return to France and settle down is the answer. They get access to a completely FREE health system, no 70% stuff in the UK unlike France, from the moment they arrive. I didn't hear anyone English complain about the French being there. Clearly the stuff about comparing us to Muslims and the other comments are racist and geared to inflame but like most racist you have little or know idea of what you are talking about. As far as religion is concerned I have seen more French in churches here than I have seen English in English churches who, if you have not heard, are suffering very badly by falling congregations caused mainly by the fact that the Brits are not particularly openly religious. Our attitude, in general, to other religious is to each his/her own. http://www.chambresdhote.com    Report

28/01/2008, 12:35 powerdesal Joined on 07/01/2006 Sharjah U.A.E Posts 2,173 Re: Too many immigrants?  groslard wrote: Excessive house prices caused by excessive immigration, meaning that young French people can no longer buy houses in their own communities. Perhaps if the sellers of the houses reduced the prices to a level affordable by young French people your problem would be solved. It is after all NOT the buyer who decides the price. So who is to blame, what nationality are the sellers?? Could old fashioned greed have anything to do with it? Would the young French people be interested in buying the average run down rural property favoured by Brits? doubtful, especially given the lack of job opportunities in rural areas. Steve Sharjah (but not for long ) + 50 (in France) ........................................................................... 7 days Ins'Allah (1 with the packers, 2 for the week end, 4 for work)( or maybe 8, or 9, or 10 or 11 or....)    Report

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France Forum » French Culture » French Culture » Too many immigrants?

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