Muslims not happy with Christmas tree in Sweden

[JimLes]

I love the idea of different cultures, religions and nations living happily together in one country and it is beautiful on paper. But failed examples of USSR, Yugoslavia, Czechoslovakia tells us then it most likely will fail in the future as well.

Examples of undemocratic, totalitarian regimes may not be the best ones. The failures there are much more complex than simply countries being multiethnic. If you want successful examples, you can easily find them in democratic countries of western Europe. Switzerland being the first one to come to mind. Finland's continuing treatment of its Swedish-speakers and their returned loyalty is an example to everyone, and parallels Canada's relationship with our Francophones in many ways. And even the example of Northern Ireland shows that a country that only a few decades ago looked like a failed state can make incredible strides in a short amount of time.

 

[MVP]

Examples of undemocratic, totalitarian regimes may not be the best ones. The failures there are much more complex than simply countries being multiethnic. If you want successful examples, you can easily find them in democratic countries of western Europe. Switzerland being the first one to come to mind. Finland's continuing treatment of its Swedish-speakers and their returned loyalty is an example to everyone, and parallels Canada's relationship with our Francophones in many ways. And even the example of Northern Ireland shows that a country that only a few decades ago looked like a failed state can make incredible strides in a short amount of time.

Sweden and Finland are so similar in their ways of life that it is easy to understand why they coexist so well. Switzerland is a bit more interesting to me and since I never been there or know much about it I would like to research it's model a bit more. Maybe it's possible to model after it? How are they doing now with refugees from Syria? Did they accept a lot of them?

 

[GVC]

Examples of undemocratic, totalitarian regimes may not be the best ones. The failures there are much more complex than simply countries being multiethnic. If you want successful examples, you can easily find them in democratic countries of western Europe. Switzerland being the first one to come to mind. Finland's continuing treatment of its Swedish-speakers and their returned loyalty is an example to everyone, and parallels Canada's relationship with our Francophones in many ways. And even the example of Northern Ireland shows that a country that only a few decades ago looked like a failed state can make incredible strides in a short amount of time.

Not sure why y'all are insisting on looking abroad for examples. Toronto is an incredibly peaceful, functional multi-cultural/-ethnic city.

 

[Red]

Lithuania.

Cool. My grandmother on my mother's side was born in Vilnius in 1895. Came to America with her parents in 1900. What is interesting is her father was a Lithuanian Pole, and her mother was Lithuanian. I believe Lithuanian Poles were/are concentrated in the Vilnius region. Although I never witnessed it myself, I'm told my grandmother, who loved me to death and I was very close to her, would grow visibly upset if anyone told her her last name was Polish. That tells me there must have been ethnic tensions within her own immediate family somehow, yet she was only 5 when she came to America, so I don't really know why her partial Polish heritage apparently troubled her. I am not sure in what century her father's ancestors emigrated into Lithuania, but I understand they are the largest minority in Lithuania, and have suffered persecution over the centuries? And now, the two ethnic groups are fighting over the desire of Lithuanian Poles to use certain characters not found in the alphabet used by Lithuanians. Almost seems like an example of immigrants not adjusting to the norms of the society to which they emigrate.

 

[infection]

Which are so close to the customs, laws, and traditions of your home country that it really isn't much of an effort.

You read that he/she immigrated from Lithuanian to Canada, right?

 

[MVP]

I am not sure in what century her father's ancestors emigrated into Lithuania, but I understand they are the largest minority in Lithuania, and have suffered persecution over the centuries? And now, the two ethnic groups are fighting over the desire of Lithuanian Poles to use certain characters not found in the alphabet used by Lithuanians. Almost seems like an example of immigrants not adjusting to the norms of the society to which they emigrate.

Well at some time in history Lithuania and Poland was one country. That was not such a big deal but at the start of 20 century when Lithuania regained independence Polish army took eastern part of the country including old capital Vilnius. So for about 20 years Lithuania had temporary capital in Kaunas. Then Soviet occupation happened, Vilnius was taken away from Poles and included back in so called Lithuanian Soviet Socialist Republic. People were joking about it at that time: Vilnius is ours again, but all country are owned by Russians now. Anyway, a lot of Polish people ( about 6% total population, Russians about 6% as well) remained in Vilnius and other eastern parts of Lithuania...there is not much tension going on now except they are trying to demand that street names, last names and first names in official documents would use Polish language letters which we do not have in Lithuania alphabet, like W for example. But since official language in the country is Lithuanian it is not going to happen.
Here is a little map with former and current borders for those interested.

 

[Deleted member 848]

You read that he/she immigrated from Lithuanian to Canada, right?

yes. JimLes is from Eastern Europe too, as am I.

 

[RandyForRubio]

I can see why there would be an issue with a group of immigrants who traditionally aren't willing to change/meld with their new homeland. Would be hard for both sides.

You just hate to see people move to a place bc of how bad their old place was, only to try to make the new more similar to the old.