I think many people confuse culture with national differences. Many speak as if most of western European nations do not share basically the same culture, but surely they do. Certainly there are minor differences between nationalities, but such differences don't make for different cultures. France has national differences, not cultural differences than, say, England. There is little to no difference between Canada and the US, but large differences between the U.S and Mexico as these are entirely different cultures, indeed, civilizations -- if you could call Mexico that...

When I looked the word up in the dictionary, even that definition was inexact and confusing. I think that when we speak of different cultures, we should mean different civilizations such as Arab, West European, Chinese, Indian, and so on. Note that civilisations and cultures span nations, but nationalities do not. There is no french "culture" anywhere but France.

I can, however, understand why many would set France apart from the rest of Europe. The French, well . . . my thoughts about those people are best kept to my self.

Another point: Muslims do not integrate well in the US either, but certainly many more than Europe. Those that do, succeed very well. Those that don't, remain apart because they want to, because Islam is a politically religious culture that promotes exclusion. Nor do Americans kow-tow to them; when moslems complain about pork and symbols of pigs, we offer them a pork sandwich.

Note that their religion teaches them to attempt to change the customs of their host nation. If you allow them to do that, they will overwhelm you and take over . . . as you people are experiencing.

Brigand:
Thanks for your very insightful thoughts, but they are a bit too pessimistic according to my humble opinion. Indeed, you have given the solution to the problem of immigration and assimilation yourself: your reference to the adopted kids.
Look, I recently immigrated away from Belgium and will probably spend the rest of my life here abroad. I will NEVER be fully integrated, although I love my life here. But my kids will, and I will make damn sure that they will. Certainly, I will try to make sure that they can also carry things with them from "my" culture, not in the least the Dutch language, but also history and certain habits and certain views. But for my kids integration comes naturally: we don't live in a big "Flemish" enclave within which my kids can grow up without ever having to speak the local language or hang out with local kids and families... THAT is one major part of the problem, namely that there are just too many of these immigrants so that they stick together and remain hanging in their own culture ( I remember the story of a Brussels priest when the first North African immigrants arrived: they were so alone that their willingness to integrate was so huge that they even came to Catholic Holy Mass!!). But being stuck in their own culture would not be so bad if we would be talking about Chinese or Jews or Koreans or Mexicans. No, they get stuck in a culture that is too foreign to give these kids the same changes and opportunities as the "real" French. Compare it with blacks from the ghetto's: it's not so much that they are black, but that they are permeated with a culture that is just not fitted to function within the "normal" American mainframe. Same thing for the majority of North African immigrants.
Solution: focus on the "next" generation. This generation is lost anyway and we can only hope to keep them under control. But break open the mold within which these generations have been stuck now for decennia. I don't like too much government intervention in private lives, but I fear that in these circumstances there is no other solution.
To be continued.
Bart

The examples given by Beliën are things that I've witnessed myself.

Years ago, it was at a 2nd hand CD Store.
Every day 'youth'(by nationality 'Belgian', by etnicity not 'Belgian') came and stole a cd or some game, so did the owner tell me. One day I was just looking around and I notice the owner stepping from behind the counter moving towards -what seemed to be- a 12 yr old 'youngster'(*cough). He asked the youngster what he exactly wanted. The kid replied. The owner took the requested CD's and just gave them saying -something like- "now on leave me alone".
I stood there. I approached the owner and asked him where my free cd's were. Just to taunt him.
He looked at me in that way which meant: Why would I give you any CD's.
Since then I never returned to that shop. I passed by it a couple of times and twice I spotted that same kid going in empty handed & returning with goods. The store no longer exists.
This is -what I call- a form of jizyah which could be levied at any given moment (If I'm not mistaken). In European terms I would call this a Maffia-thing.
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@Jim Kalb. Was it a rant ? I dont think so.

I believe the multicultural society is doomed because it is based on nothing.
What you call culture is what I've defined to be etnicity. Several etnicities can live together if they remain respectfull to one another. In Belgium -personally- I feel this is not the case between 'Flemish' (consisting of Brabantian & Flemish) & 'Walloon' groups.
However I would place my meaning of Culture in the authorative portion, because no local group will allow itself to be dominated. For instance: The French state can survive because its main etnic groups belong to the same Culture (Western European) but solely if the French State has respect for these subnational groups; otherwise it would desintegrate. Belgium could exist, theoretically but the situation has developped into a point of no return (PNR).

Your practical definition of multiculturalism is spotless, it is right on target.
The portion: "The point of "multiculturalism" though is not to give favors to minority cultures but to use the presence of minority cultures and the dogma of equality to disrupt and suppress the local inherited dominant culture"

Theoretically - If I'm not mistaken- the idea was to take the 'good' elements of another culture and force it down locally. Now, I dont have problems with culinary elements (such as Chinese restaurants, Pitta places etc) but I do have a problem with enhancing serious cultural contamination. Certainly when it comes down to attitude; religion; social order.
Heck; I often wondered why we're still not entitled to have a harem under guise of the Multiculturalism (which replaced the initial Socialist ideology).

Question that remains floating around in my mind: Who's job is it to integrate?
The State; The Immigrant; or should there be assimilation.
Assimilation is out of the question; I dont believe that it is possible except when someone was adopted at an early age. I know 2 etnically Peruvian people who were adopted; they're Flemings as much as I am.
I'm not even confident that integration is possible if a person comes from a different 'Civilisation'. I believe a Spaniard can integrate him/herself into our society; but I doubt that an Asian (for instance) could.
Either way it should be an intermix between State & Immigrant who should attempt to integrate into our local society. The State selecting those allowed to move in and helping them with acquiring the required linguistic skills & some job training.
If the immigrant fails; there is a secon try but afterwards it is bye bye 'green card'; follow-on question then is: what will the effect be of this dominant position, this 'repression'.

As you wrote it: "The youths are thus in effect acting as shock troops in a continuing revolution carried out by European elites against their own people. That is the fundamental reason the riots have not been suppressed." it is again right on target. However, I'm more inclined to define European Elites as: political 'left' with a huge propaganda machine (media) which is indirectly supported by the treason & gutlessness of the political 'right'.

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I believe Europe is doomed. Unless we spread out the word to sufficient people but therefor we must break the current PC-Media power and the political correct mentality.
For me the Leviathan is my absolute enemy. It no longer exists for me, it exists for a traitor element & its followers who have come to Dar el Harb.
The Leviathan does not protect me, nor assists in my survival by its inaction, its inability to destinguish ally from foe through traitors actions. Demography & multiculturalism are slowly killing us; no need for slaughter although that may come if we've been weakened enough.

The French leviathan does not act accordingly because it is attacking a cornerstone. If those riotors were French the leviathan would be actively supressing the riot. If they were Skinheads; the army probably would have been engaged after 3 days (sort of). Perhaps it is I who is alone in this thought. It seems my fellow students think otherwise, but then again they're all a bunch of lefties (VLD to PvdA).

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@ Bob Doney.
French particularities: fleeing from the enemy. Wearing a black barret. The believe that French is the supreme lingua Franca. Thinking that the best Wine only comes from France. Believing that Fries really are French! (Just kidding).

The question is: Is there any Frenchness, Britishness left ? Northern Ireland; Corsica; Basques...seem to form elements suggesting that these States did not trully respect its different -my definition- Etnicities. Leviathans who have pushed an etnicity to a point where they had enough of it. To what extent do these Leviathans really do their job for the people?