General Chat

sounds extremely sensible to me Maggie - as regards youth clubs, I feel children start school far too young in this country - I would prefer they started later and then left later when they are older - keep them occupied

stop schools from selling off their playing fields and let's have a bit more emphasis on sports - sitting in front of a computer or staring at a mobile phone for hours ain't good - get out in the fresh air

Interesting thought Maggie

Firstly, let's get this into perspective.
Between 2000 - 2015, 90 people were killed by terrorists in the UK
Between 1985 - 1999 - the number was 1,094
Between 1970 and 1984, 2,211 people were killed by terrorists in the UK

Firstly, we need to get rid of religious - based schools of all types.
The place of worship is the place for the teaching of religion.

Free Schools - they should come under the scrutiny of Local Authorities, and not be able to teach what they want.
All education should be equal for all children.

This may sound strange - but the reinstatement of Youth Clubs could go a long way to helping disaffected youth. Qualified Youth Workers can see a lot - and can assess behaviours.
It's also a way for children to get to know children in their area, who may go to different schools.

There's a kettle of fish Ann.....would they if they were able to?

Good point about the docks though, but then you could say the same for London.

we're fortunate in a way here in Cardiff - it's always been a cosmopolitan city because of the docks.

However, I can't help feeling that these women who go around with just their eyes showing are not the slightest bit interested in integrating, or they would uncover

Cynthia :-D

Nyx....exactly very difficult if not impossible situation agreed.

Ann...nor I

From my perspective, I feel that much of the problem is, sadly.............people being people. Unfortunately, there have always been warmongers and violence.

I could probably go on a 'faith based' monologue, but I will spare you :-D

I don't know either, but I do know that everytime I hear a phrase along the lines of "I stick to my own kind" it's another nail in the coffin.

'We', in the west, have a tendency to expect the 'others' who come here or even just visit, to fit in and become like us as if by some sort of osmosis, however racist 'we' might be to them. Yes we note the blatant racism of the "go back to where you came from" even to people born here and 3rd generation British, but we fail to call out the casual racism eg "My neighbour's an Indian BUT he's very nice".

It might be natural to stick to what you are comfortable with but it helps not a jot with integration, whether that is a Brit going to Spain and only communing ( probably the wrong word ) with ex-pats or the Polish person coming here and never mixing with anyone but Poles, ditto those of one religion and/or culture who see only the differences and not the similarities.

That said, there is and never has been, a fool proof way to deal with extremists, whatever ideology they have. If they weren't extremists in that ideology, they would be criminals of a similar sort, impressionable people who fall for a cause or evil people who have no cause except hate. The list is pretty endless of people who have murdered or died because something or someone told them to, or simply because ( in the case of killing) it was 'fun'.

Example of a potential threat to the community: Young man, 21 ish has posters with a recognised hate symbol on his wall, he wears paramilitary style gear, poses with a gun and spouts hate speech( racism) on FB, he has 'issues', has grown up hearing that part of the community around him is alien to what 'should be', grievances with the wider society around him that he perceives has 'let him down' while favouring those less deserving, he plants a device under a car outside a community building, at a time when terrorism is a threat worldwide. The area is cordoned off, evacuated, fear is present in those nearby. It turns out to be a fake. What should be done? Or more to the point can what has led him to this be undone? Will the attitudes he has learned at his parents knee perhaps be changed? ( Real scenario btw)..

It may be that the very thing that allows terrorists to communicate easily ( technology) will also be the thing that allows everyone else to see that other cultures, religions, and as indivuals" we have more in common than that which divides us" I hope so, but it won't be in my lifetime I'm certain.

I don't have an answer. I think, as the pessimist I have become, that we are heading towards extinction as a species, and sadly, because there are people I love for whom I would wish it were otherwise , for what we have done to the world and what we continue to do I think it might be for the best.

wish I had an idea - but I haven't :-S

I'm not of the string them high ask questions later brigade but what can be done in the real world to change all this hatred/attacks?

I honestly don't know as knee-jerk reactions won't work.

Is there anything or is it for want of a different phrase too late? Just having to carry on as normal and hope for the best which hasn't worked so far.