Jack Straw would rather prefer Muslim women not wear 'veils'

[imtiaz82]

Yet, inspite of all this, muslims are the most tolerant group in UK

Muslim schoolchildren 'more liberal and tolerant' (20/09/06)
PA News
Published: 20 September 2006
Muslim pupils are more liberal and tolerant than their white counterparts, according to a study released today.
Nearly a third of white youngsters questioned in Burnley, Lancashire, - the scene of race riots in 2001 - believed that one race was superior, compared with 10% of Asians who thought the same.
Almost half of the white pupils felt that respecting others regardless of religion was not important and a quarter did not feel it was important to tolerate people with different views.
The research was carried out as part of the Burnley Project, a Home Office-funded investigation in the wake of the riots.
More than 400 15-year-olds were surveyed about their attitudes towards race, religion and cultural integration earlier this year. The research was conducted by Lancaster University's religious studies department.
The pupils came from three unnamed non-religious schools, all in deprived areas. One in Burnley, attended mostly by white pupils, and two schools in Blackburn, where one had mostly Indian or Pakistani pupils and the other was ethnically mixed.

Study author Dr Andrew Holden said a "disturbing" finding of the survey was the response to the question of racial superiority.
Nearly a third of the white pupils believed one race was superior compared with a tenth in the Asian school and under a fifth in the mixed school.
Dr Holden said: "The greater degree of racial tolerance in an overwhelmingly Asian/Muslim populated school again calls into question the common sense assumption that mixed schools represent the most tolerant environments."
The much higher levels of intolerance at the white school were linked to widespread resentment among white residents over the allocation of public funds to the Asian community, he reported.
"It is the cumulative effect of myths and stereotype, negative perceptions of cultural diversity and fundamental fear of difference, that teachers, outreach workers and educational support staff must make every effort to combat," he concluded.
Dr Holden added that most pupils at the mainly Muslim school were well integrated and loyal to the UK.
He said: "The overwhelming majority supported liberal democratic values such as showing respect for others, freedom of speech, being friendly to people from other religious and ethnic groups and tolerating those with different views."
http://www.tes.co.uk/2285351

[Arnab]

I think any minority religious group would turn out to be more liberal and tolerant than the bigger religious groups, e.g. Muslims/Jews in Christian countries, Christians/Hindus in Muslim countries.

You know, because otherwise they would get their a$$es kicked by the majority.

[imtiaz82]

You have a valid point, but the world media(BBC, CNN) does not seem to portray the minority muslims in western countries to be that way. Infact many of my American colleagues at work were surprised to see the report as they just assumed muslims to be very intolerant whether be it in UK or US. Just goes to show the power of media..

Originally Posted by Arnab
I think any minority religious group would turn out to be more liberal and tolerant than the bigger religious groups, e.g. Muslims/Jews in Christian countries, Christians/Hindus in Muslim countries.

You know, because otherwise they would get their a$$es kicked by the majority.

[ammark]

Sorry to dig up this old thread... was bored, and found it interesting to revisit. Here's an episode of The Doha Debates hosted by Tim Sebastian. The topic of the debate: Is the veil a barrier to Muslim Integration?

http://clients.mediaondemand.net/the...1&bandwidth=hi

[Hatebreed]

Thanks Ammar, very interesting debate and lots of good points made by both sides.