1 in 9 British residents were born abroad...

[max_tranmere]

For those who've asked why I think it is worrying, we only have limited room, the south-east of England is one of the most densely populated regions on earth, the road and rail network can barely cope as it is, same can be said for hospitals and schools. Also, the more people who come and live here and don't learn the language, don't assimilate etc, it means the domestic population will find it more and more the case that their culture, traditions, heritage, language, etc, become less and less of a prominent thing within areas.

How can people not be freaked out by the prospect of that? Remember, there is a differnce between 'cosmopolitan' and 'saturation'. It is not written in any of the racial equality legislation that people must like the fact that their way of life is being hugely altered, eroded, and in some places disappearing all together, and that they must go along with that or they are a fiend and a bigot. This sounds reasonable to me - unless some people really do regard the way of life here, the customs and traditions and language of this place as not standing for anything, not meaning anything, and can just disappear. I personally, like many others, am not a subscriber to that view.

[sparky]

For those who've asked why I think it is worrying, we only have limited room, the south-east of England is one of the most densely populated regions on earth, the road and rail network can barely cope as it is, same can be said for hospitals and schools. Also, the more people who come and live here and don't learn the language, don't assimilate etc, it means the domestic population will find it more and more the case that their culture, traditions, heritage, language, etc, become less and less of a prominent thing within areas.

How can people not be freaked out by the prospect of that? Remember, there is a differnce between 'cosmopolitan' and 'saturation'. It is not written in any of the racial equality legislation that people must like the fact that their way of life is being hugely altered, eroded, and in some places disappearing all together, and that they must go along with that or they are a fiend and a bigot. This sounds reasonable to me - unless some people really do regard the way of life here, the customs and traditions and language of this place as not standing for anything, not meaning anything, and can just disappear. I personally, like many others, am not a subscriber to that view.

I fully agree with you.

[Lizard]

One in nine British residents have green eyes! whooooooooooooooooo.

[Jacques]

But then many Brits choose not to live here. What's your point?

[silkflame]

Why is it worrying that 1 in 9 British people were born abroad, exactly? What precisely is the point of fear? One of the finest things about British history is that it's always been open to other people moving in and out. We're a nation of immigrants whether we like it or not: I'm English, but my ancestry is Irish and Welsh: how exactly is that a problem? And why does it justify neo-Nazism gaining in popularity, exactly? Since when is racism and xenophobia justified by anything?

Hundreds of thousands of people come to Britain every year - because hundreds of thousands of people leave Britain every year. It's called emigration; and how often is it ever mention in the media?

The Sun is hardly an unbiased source of truthfulness. Its bilge can be measured by the tonne on a daily basis. If anybody wants a decent discussion of Britain's histroy regarding immigration then Robert Winder's book 'Bloody Foreigners' is as good a place to start as any.

[mrmcfister]

Those that moan are scared.Simple as.Celebrate the differences.Enough English are sponging cunts and most immigrants are hard working peope who just want to make a few quid. This island can easily assimilate many more without it making too much difference.Chill yer beans and look at Nazi Germany in the early 30s for a reference.

[silkflame]

"London feels like a place where most people are passing through, doing their thing, nobody has anything in common with anybody else"

Isn't that how it's always been? If you ever read about the slums during the Victorian era, for instance. And what's to stop you or anyone else going out of your way to say hello to somebody, and taking the trouble to get to know them (and vice versa)? There's no reason to be put off by people's nationality. Class is a more divisive factor than race etc. How many solicitors spend time in the company of janitors, or shop clerks, for example?

Everybody deserves to be treated by respect - it doesn't matter where they're from, and it shouldn't only be the victims of prejudice etc. who are offended by it, or by the kind of vulgar rubbish the tabloids spout.

If there was no migration into Britain then the adult entertainment industry for one would be so much the worse off. And Sport: there'd be no Kelly Holmes, no Christine Ohoragu, and no overseas footballers.

[Georgio]

In Switzerland 22.1% of the population are foreign born!