Firstly I have to say this is quite interesting ground and I'm enjoying this thread immensely.

Where to begin?

Well first having given it some thought that I have to agree re the population density point you make.
Many over here tend to think that the entire US is like Times Square on a busy weekend. When reading about some thing or other on the net it may mention some town or place over the water so straight to google I trot and look up said place and I have to admit that the population figures for that area are so low that there are more people in my backyard than there, an exaggeration but I think you take the point.

So Yes I admit to falling for that trap myself and your point re civil defence in such localities carries much weight.

I think the point about cultural differences,at least over here,tends to be a bone of contention when the differences of say an incoming population manifest themselves in regards to common law rather than taking issue with the differences in the way they may choose to live.

There is a perception, be it real or imagined, I have noticed creeping in to a lot of the indigenous population that somehow when laws are being broken by said arrivals then a massive leeway is given so as not to offend the sensibilities of "community leaders", whoever they may be, of which some south Asians are demanding that sharia law be used for them rather than common law.



We have had cases in some towns where gangs of south Asian men have been systematically grooming and defiling female children for their own gratification, one such example linked below.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/clyly0rdyz0o

The children involved reported this to the Police and local authorities but were ignored in part by the local police who, it was alleged, proffered the opinion that they were "asking for it" the truth of that I cannot say but more shocking was the attitude of social services who ignored their plight as they didn't wish to be deemed racist.

This went on over a five year period before some action was taken. now I am aware that white men can be equally despicable but tend in the main to be loan wolves and not operate mob handed like these people.

It is cases like this and things that have happened more recently that many are now saying we have a two tier policing system over here. You may have read or not as the case may be about the recent riots we have suffered brought about by the perception that those who are landing on our south coast daily are being treated more favourably than then the locals but again I have no experience on which to draw on only what the mainstream media feed us so up to a point I concur with your sentiments re cultural differences.

The trouble arises also when anybody has an opinion on the matter that isn't in lock-step with those who can see no wrong in such groups or individuals, the racist epithet is fired off like a 21 gun salute so as to shut down debate. Those who would like to debate such matters find that it becomes a thing of diminishing returns insofar as rather than suffer the kind of societal shunning that the Hamish community would say was harsh, they find it easier to go along with a collective group-think.

This I think is what cause resentments to ferment rather than any actual cultural aspect of incomers, more a case of why can they break the law of the land untrammelled and the perception, again as said, either real or imagined that new arrivals are getting better treatment from the government whilst that same government is stopping the winter fuel allowance for a swathe of pensioners.
(apologies for allowing politics into the discussion I will refrain from now on)




On a more positive note and speaking for my own town we have big Jewish, Chinese, Indian and, since Windrush, Caribbean communities. In the main we all rub along quite nicely and have happily absorbed some of their customs and they ours.

Food and fashion tends to be the great leveller with keema madras, jerk chicken , or curried goat being eaten by all shades of people as well as roast beef and Yorkshire pudding. Fashions and hair styles are borrowed and intermixed without some loon shouting "cultural appropriation" but here's the thing these communities in the main are law abiding and accept and contribute to the country that welcomed them in many moons ago.

They realised that standards of behaviour may be different to what they were used to in the old country and have adapted, settled in and are now for many generations active and decent members of the town but still retain some elements of their previous culture which they readily share with all.

In conclusion I believe nay hope that a mono culture can exist with people of all stripes who should be free to practice their own beliefs etc providing nothing clashes with civil or common law, that the law should be equitable for all and not some due to those same law givers shying away from threats of racism and that our differences can perhaps be shared and enjoyed.


The short version being that, provided all are same under law and treated equally I honestly believe, admittedly only by my own experiences, that those of differing backgrounds, race, culture call it what you will can live harmoniously without the simmering undercurrent you refer to.

I can but dream.