German Chancellor Says Multiculturalism Efforts Have ‘Failed’

[celeb_2006]

German Chancellor Says Multiculturalism Efforts Have



In her latest comment on the German immigration debate—how to integrate second and third generation immigrants, especially those of Turkish background and Islamic faith—German Chancellor Angela Merkel said Saturday that the country's approach to building a multicultural Germany has “utterly failed,” due to a lack of effort from past decades, German media Deutsche Welle reported.

She made the statements during a speech to her party's Christian Democratic Union (CDU). Her statement came on the heels of a similar statement made by Horst Seehofer, head of the Bavarian Christian Social Union, who said Friday, "Multiculturalism is dead," Deutsche Welle reported.

Merkel said that the millions of Muslims in Germany show that Islam is a part of the country. She illustrated the point by referencing Özil, a soccer player from Germany’s national team, who has Turkish roots, German media Spiegel reported.

Last week, Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan spoke with Merkel during a visit in Germany, and said they would improve integration, and that Turks living in Germany should speak without a German accent, Deutsch Welle reported.

Merkel emphasized the importance of immigration—particularly for skilled workers—for the economy. The opposing side of the debate is that emigration may be a larger problem, as more people are leaving Germany than entering.

The country is currently stirred by debate. Spiegel reported receiving more than 4,000 comments on the issue in two days.

Comments on the issue vary. Some who support Merkel’s statement that multiculturalism has failed, stated that the problem is not just in Germany. Others argued that multiculturalism is already working in Germany.

[yanna]

Last week, Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan spoke with Merkel during a visit in Germany, and said they would improve integration, and that Turks living in Germany should speak without a German accent

Why is that important? If they've lost their accent or are second generation and hardly speak any Turkish should they just fake it? This comment makes no sense.

[Grimmlok]

I wouldn't say multiculturalism has failed.. but integration has, in a lot of places

[sputnik]

Why is that important? If they've lost their accent or are second generation and hardly speak any Turkish should they just fake it? This comment makes no sense.

i keep thinking it's an error because in the first part he says they must improve integration so i'm thinking he meant without a turkish accent, and either he or the journalist fucked up.

[sputnik]

I wouldn't say multiculturalism has failed.. but integration has, in a lot of places

but i don't think you can have successful multiculturalism without some degree of integration. they go hand in hand. at least in societies with new immigration - i'm not talking about countries where several cultures have lived side by side for centuries.

[Sojiita]

I wouldn't say multiculturalism has failed.. but integration has, in a lot of places

but i don't think you can have successful multiculturalism without some degree of integration. they go hand in hand. at least in societies with new immigration - i'm not talking about countries where several cultures have lived side by side for centuries.

I kind of agree with you both here. I think that there is multiculturalism, but not in the sense of as much blending and mixing as you would normally think. As I understand it, there has not been much 'blending of cultures' and that immigrants have often just held on to their own nationality and culture to a good degree, and that native(as in caucasian) Europeans have not exactly extended a warm welcome on their part either.

*I guess I think of those housing projects outside Paris, etc, that are filled with immigrants and those regular flare ups of violence and car burning, etc.

I am not that informed on this issue I admit, but that is the 'sense' I get, anyway.
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At least Europe does not have to deal with a huge percentage of the population being Bible-thumping fundies at least. *sigh*

Given how much of Europe is experiencing a demographic crisis to the point of population decline, maybe we can export our Krazy Kristians to them?..*hopeful*???

We can start with an exchange rate of one refusing-to-integrate muslim for four Krazy Kristians...

[Grimmlok]

but i don't think you can have successful multiculturalism without some degree of integration. they go hand in hand. at least in societies with new immigration - i'm not talking about countries where several cultures have lived side by side for centuries.

Well what do you call many cultures living together without any integration?

[sputnik]

the middle east?
or switzerland, when all goes well. germans, italians and french each have their region and only really have anything to do with each other at a federal level, for political reasons.
what i meant was, integration is a part of multiculturalism.

[AliceInWonderland]

so what Chancellor we're tribes.