Not long ago I saw a documentary on the Apache Indians and Geronimo. They moved them to a reservation in Oklahoma I think it was and sent the children to schools where they were taught English, given haircuts and suits and made to look like the equivalent of Caucasians. They were forbidden to speak their language or practice their religion. I guess the thinking was our culture was so far superior that we were doing them a favor.

The Islamic culture certainly differs from western culture in their religious practices, attitudes to women and what constitutes the pursuit of happiness. Than there are the Islamic fundamentalists and worse the radicals. It is a knee jerk reaction to lump them all together.

From what I've read the Muslims in France for example are ghettoized and while their population is growing by leaps and bounds they have not assimilated into the French culture and have no desire to. I suppose the populace is reacting in whatever way they can to encourage assimilation and than there is the natural antagonism towards the 'other'.

This is one of the dilemmas of a democracy. We want to treat all people equally and allow them freedom of religion and the right to practice their culture. We sort of assume that they will conform to our culture and when they don't this creates friction. If we allow too many of them to immigrate they end up with political power and pretty soon it isn't the same country. So we have to be 'politically correct' but try going to their country and practicing your culture.