Boris Johnson's Latest 'Gaff'

Should I have said non-British-Pakistani, then, jura? Even if that were a preferable term, the unfriendly behaviour is the same, and that is what I was talking about.

The MiL was being tribal, and I mean that in a negative, disapproving way. I object to being labelled Other People when I had gone out of my way to be a friendly approachable neighbour whom the actual neighbours appreciated, and I them.

All cultures are not equal.

And, to get back to the thread's original theme, it is Muslims wearing niqabs, or those who make them to wear them, who are still behaving in a separatist way by hiding their faces. It is not any other, or any part of any other religious or cultural group.

how very weird.....in which language?

Immigrant from Pakistan ....always good to know.

married to her cousin....again useful information.

I don't understand that post, batty.

In which language what?

Baggs, generalisations from 1 anecdotal experience or 2, are not helpful. Most Muslim would say that this comment re finding a Muslim to help instead, was unfair and stupid. All the ones I know for sure.

Most Muslims do not wear a chador or a burka- some do not wear any kind of special clothing at all. cultural, totally, not religious.

As Jane said, it would be good for a proper debate to take place in the UK, with all parties represented- and discuss the burka/chador and how to legislate. I would personally agree to all full face cover to be banned, in UK and all EU and Switzerland too. It has no place here, and no real place in Islam either. I would also ban all religious schools, ALL.

But BoJo was wrong to use the terms he used - he knows this, it was calculated and stupid, and does NOT help - AT ALL.

There are Christians groups that dictate what their women wear, still today. And not long ago in parts of Europe, and Ireland, where a son or daughter were expected to join the Catholic religious orders- some in my generation did.

Baggs I am wondering why somebody walked by you gate saying " pity you couldn't have got a Muslim to do that" and I am asking what language they were speaking.

My neighbour told me herself that she had "been brought" to England to marry her cousin.

Another friend of mine who lived up the road gave my neighbour her first lessons in English. By the time I knew my neighbour her English was fluent.

The Other People phrase was what MrNextDoor said his mother had said. He must have translated it because his mother did not speak English. I think he was second generation British-Pakistani. I assumed so because of his mother not speaking English though the subject never came up because why would it while we were all getting along fine like normal good neighbours until his mother shoved a spoke in the wheel?

Baggs I am wondering why somebody walked by you gate saying " pity you couldn't have got a Muslim to do that" and I am asking what language they were speaking.

That was not my gate, Batty. Nor my post.

apologies, it was starbox

jura likewise re this: Baggs, generalisations from 1 anecdotal experience or 2, are not helpful. Most Muslim would say that this comment re finding a Muslim to help instead, was unfair and stupid. All the ones I know for sure.

Why do you say that, jal?
He may agree with the teachings, the principles as a way of life, but cannot connect in a meaningful way if he does not believe that Jesus was the Son of God.

Jura, that was not my generalisation nor my anecdote.

You seem to have a personal interest in this subject oldbatty are you Muslim perhaps, and if so, do you cover up when out and about?
I ask because you appear really angry, even at quite reasonable posts.

My neighbour told me herself that she had "been brought" to England to marry her cousin.
That could be for cultural rather than for religious reasons.
My neighbour was brought here to be married to someone chosen for her and they were all fairly well-to-do educated people who were Hindu.

Baggs, just looked back and my apologies. Sorry.

Thanks, jal. I'm not sure I agree that faith in Jesus as the Son of God is necessary to be able to "connect in a meaningful way" with what Christianity is about. I say this because many Christians have doubts and questions about what they believe or don't believe. Doesmthat mean that when someone's being a Doubting Thomas he is not connected in a meaningful way?

I seem angry....because I am and scared.

Does that mean that when someone's being a Doubting Thomas he is not connected in a meaningful way
Yes, I think that would be true - to think that the principles are good but struggling with the concepts.

I'll have to sleep on that, jal.

Re the cultural marriage thing, yes. Minibaggs has a Hindu friend who is going to spend the next few years of her life trying to avoid being 'married off' to someone of her parents' choosing. Fortuntely she is very clever academically and can play the getting a good degree (or several!) card for some time.

Fortuntely she is very clever academically and can play the getting a good degree (or several!) card for some time.

phew what a relief

They rubbed along as well as any other married couple as far as I can tell - still together after all these years

oldbatty what is your real problem? Why that remark?
phew what a relief

presumably you are in favour of arranged marriages.

What a strange conversation this is turning out to be..