If Multiculturalism Is Dead In Europe, Then It Must Be Dead Everywhere Else Too

Recently British Prime Minister, David Cameron, followed his German counterpart's example and declared multiculturalism a failure. Angela Merkel did the same in October last year, stating, "...of course, the approach [to build] a multicultural [society] and to live side-by-side and to enjoy each other... has failed, utterly failed." (see previous link).  French integration has led to the banning of Muslim face coverings, and not surprisingly, Sarkozy also joined the chorus against multiculturalism saying, 'We have been too concerned about the identity of the person who was arriving and not enough about the identity of the country that was receiving him.'

Cameron argued that there needed to be a more robust 'national identity' in order to combat 'all kinds of extremism' in Britain. With the previous rationales in mind, one doesn't have to delve too deeply to see that the 'multiculturalism' referred to is really Islam and Muslim communities and culture that spring thereof. 

As such the burning question is: Does integration apply to expats and immigrant communities in the Muslim world as well? And by 'immigrant' and 'expat' we mean White and Western (but not limited to).

The United Arab Emirates, arguably the most liberal Muslim nation, has opened its arms to the West, at risk of its cultural and religious mores, and this has led to an increasingly Westernized society evidenced through Western media content, the growing workforce made up of many from the West and former colonies thereof, and the changing mode of dress and social interaction (primarily in flouting religious and cultural standards of modest dress and public abuse of alcohol).

Local authorities in the UAE concerned about the growing marginalization of their own people,  embarked on Emiratisation programmes to increase the presence of locals in the workforce. But the problem is also social. Some incidents of expats 'breaking the rules' have received international media attention, usually with sympathy for the perpetrators, and some amount of disdain for the standards of the host country. Some expats intentionally and openly defy the standards of dress and propriety in the name of their brand of Western freedom. 

Suffice it to say, Muslim nations are oft criticised by the West (and not without reason) for their strict moral standards and application of related justice, from putting their women 'under sheets' to insisting on the prohibition of pre-marital sex, and the harsh sentences for adultery or public indecency. But if multiculturalism has failed, and one is to be true to the aforementioned conclusions, then integration should take place wherever the context. 


The simple conclusion is - to all non-Muslims in the Muslim world - follow the lead of Western integration and don your burqas, dishdashas and abayas. It's only fair. If a Muslim cannot wear a burqa in the West, then a Westerner must wear it in the East.  Anything less would be hypocritical. But how would these standards be greeted by expats in the UAE should they be enforced? What would be the response if the UAE were to declare the failure of alien populations to learn Arabic, and the consequent repatriation of those who do not learn it? Your opinion is welcome.

More Interesting Facts (& Rumours) About Living in the UAE

1. You need a licence to buy alcohol and keep it in your house.

2. You need a licence to dance. Yea you heard me, a licence to dance.
If holding a function of any kind you will need a ream of permissions, among them the permission to dance.

3. Dancing in public is frowned upon as is singing out aloud.

4. Alcohol is not sold openly - only in tourist areas like Hotels. You can get arrested for improper use of alcohol.

5. Emiratis are nicer people than you have heard.

6. Western culture is becoming quite dominant in the UAE and beginning to override local customs and standards.

7. Dishdashas (worn by local men) and Abayas (for women) are rather elegant (IMHO) and can be quite fashionable and chic.

8. Proper policing of traffic has only recently begun in the UAE.

9. There are a range of nationalities within the UAE including Indonesian, Indian, Pakistani, Lebanese, Egyptian, assorted European, American, Jamaican (Ya Mon!) and Filipino...oh yes and some Emiratis (only 20% of the population though).

Interesting Facts (& Rumours) About Living in the UAE

It'll be exactly 2 months tomorrow since my Empress and I moved to the UAE and we've learned, heard and seen all kinds of interesting things since touching down. These are but a few of them and the list will grow as time goes on. So in no particular order:

1. An Emirati (name for the locals) male can marry up to 4 women at a time. He can get a sum of money and a piece of land for each one he marries (through loans which are routinely waived).

2. You may see someone washing his feet in the face basin of the public toilet. I did and it seemed...ok.

3. When a Sheik passes away all the radio stations are required to play Muslim chanting/prayers for 7 days. It happened just today (27/10/2010) during the morning news on Radio One mid-sentence. Literally mid-sentence.

4. Every Emirati is entitled to a stipend from the Government, employed or not.

5. Locals pay no utility bills and all health care is free.

6. You can get arrested for eating in public during Ramadan.

7. You can get arrested for wearing inappropriate clothing or inappropriate public displays of affection.

8. Some Indian men routinely hold hands in public (totally cultural, nothing sexual), but it's cool. However, unmarried persons of the opposite sex could be jailed for doing the same.

9. You are often paid according to your race and/or nationality. Pay increases with the progressive lightness of your skin.

10. Skin lightening products are openly advertised and sold here. One of India's most prominent actors, Shahrukh Khan, is the spokesperson.

11. The food is pretty awesome, especially Lebanese and Filipino food.

12. You must do a medical in order to take up employment here. You can get deported immediately (if working with kids or food) if found to have a contagious disease (like Hepatitis). Get a medical done before you arrive.

13. It's more open and liberal then you hear it is.

14. Emiratis are human beings and behave as such.

15. It's very cheap to hire a maid here. Very often Filipinos are maids and sometimes terribly exploited. Some Westerners get a kick out of having a maid because it makes them feel better about themselves. They are idiots.

16. Laws and policies can change very quickly here as they are done by decree rather than democratic process.

17. Dubai is the London/New York of the UAE. Abu Dhabi is the Coventry of the UAE. Coventry is the Coventry of England.