Has anyone on here read The Koran?

[Grahame]

bago, herself, apparently doesn't.

 

but..

 

*S/FX:- dramatic -and-scary-music*

 

by your token, that doesn't mean... ...those other billions of chinese... ...aren't right there, waiting in the wings... ...to take over the world!

 

(and the scary thing is...

 

there's far, far more of them than there are Muslims! )

 

be afraaaaid... be very afraid...

 

*muah-hah-hah....*

 

 

Economically you might be right, and it won't be funny.

[Bago]

Do you impose your will on others Bago? The Chinese I have met have integrated into British society very nicely. Why can't Muslims do the same?

Eh?

Siiigh, okay... where I shall start ? How do you know what is considered as integrated or not ? Some part of my culture, I won't share here, cos I know it won't be shared. Even just small things like dinners together in a family setting. Or even being friendly to a stranger is seen as flirting sometimes to others. Whereas it is and can be seen as ettiquettes and niceties. Respecting the elders is considered as strange, but then again, I was brought up in a country to begin with which had a "respect the elders" day. Plus a "children's" day. You see what is considered as "chinese" culture in the UK now, is not the whole part and everything about the chinese culture. It is only merely a subset of that. Some jokes, I can't share cos I know you won't get it. It'll make me seem like an idiot. lol... I tried one or two here and it went down like a lead balloon...

 

I don't say such things cos I know you won't get it, or even to appreciate it. I can only take so much of this supposed "integration". There are things which I do and considered as part of my life in the UK. I do not think anything more of it. Nor did I have such a strong conviction to rightly say, "action A, is done so because of my belief A". I sometimes attend the church with my friends whenever I visit them, but however, if someone in church say to me that I should not be there. I will also stand outside too and wait for my friend.

 

The closeness and the whole understanding only happens in families cos they have a universal right to be accomodating. With other people, you do have to make an effort, and I guess not done so in a nasty way, but I'm sure that it's a case of mutual appreciation too. Instead of reading about others in books,why don't people actually start socialising and understanding "as it is" ?

 

[Added]A good example of whether one can truly be themselves is when I cooked something from my own culture.

Just some red beans with in water with some sugar. It's considered as a dessert in chinese culture. I shall never forget the horrified look from the vegetarian in my flat when I told her that this is a good veggi meal. She looked horrified and then stared at me and said "no". I was ever so embarrassed. >.< Yet, she's willing to try polenta because fashionable and is from Italy?

 

Yet, my chinese friends whom I met here and there at uni, just comes over to share a pot of this dessert whenever we want to get together and we don't find it strange at all. At least they don't give me the "I dunno what you just killed in that pot" kind of look. lol... It's kinda amusing thinking back now.

[Grahame]

Eh?

Siiigh, okay... where I shall start ? How do you know what is considered as integrated or not ? Some part of my culture, I won't share here, cos I know it won't be shared. Even just small things like dinners together in a family setting. Or even being friendly to a stranger is seen as flirting sometimes to others. Whereas it is and can be seen as ettiquettes and niceties. Respecting the elders is considered as strange, but then again, I was brought up in a country to begin with which had a "respect the elders" day. Plus a "children's" day. You see what is considered as "chinese" culture in the UK now, is not the whole part and everything about the chinese culture. It is only merely a subset of that. Some jokes, I can't share cos I know you won't get it. It'll make me seem like an idiot. lol... I tried one or two here and it went down like a lead balloon...

 

I don't say such things cos I know you won't get it, or even to appreciate it. I can only take so much of this supposed "integration". There are things which I do and considered as part of my life in the UK. I do not think anything more of it. Nor did I have such a strong conviction to rightly say, "action A, is done so because of my belief A". I sometimes attend the church with my friends whenever I visit them, but however, if someone in church say to me that I should not be there. I will also stand outside too and wait for my friend.

 

The closeness and the whole understanding only happens in families cos they have a universal right to be accomodating. With other people, you do have to make an effort, and I guess not done so in a nasty way, but I'm sure that it's a case of mutual appreciation too. Instead of reading about others in books,why don't people actually start socialising and understanding "as it is" ?

Well just to say that I don't know you Bago and I am sorry if you have had to wait outside church, I think that is awful and I think your attitude is so refreshingly different and nice.

[Bago]

bago, herself, apparently doesn't.

 

but..

 

*S/FX:- dramatic -and-scary-music*

 

by your token, that doesn't mean... ...those other billions of chinese... ...aren't right there, waiting in the wings... ...to take over the world!

 

(and the scary thing is...

 

there's far, far more of them than there are Muslims! )

 

be afraaaaid... be very afraid...

 

*muah-hah-hah....*

 

 

*Aaaaaaachoooooo* !

Here, have a bit of flu.

 

I used to get a lot of Irish jokes too when I told them I was born in N. Ireland.

[Grahame]

*Aaaaaaachoooooo* !

Here, have a bit of flu.

 

I used to get a lot of Irish jokes too when I told them I was born in N. Ireland.

 

That's funny. Bye.

[Bago]

Well just to say that I don't know you Bago and I am sorry if you have had to wait outside church, I think that is awful and I think your attitude is so refreshingly different and nice.

*ahem* Erm, I shall rephrase that. I just re-read what I wrote. I mean, I have not been asked to not attend the church so far, touch wood. Yet, IF anybody in church will ask me not to attend because I was not a believer, I will oblige also.

 

I remember a pastor obviously asking who was a Christian or not in the service, and I duly held up my hand, and be stared at.

 

I still enjoy singing the hymns though, cos I was brought up with hymn singing in assemblies. There is something nice about it, this is true. However, I may be kicked out if I told them that I was there for the singing only... >.<

 

I do listen to their sermons though. I remember one dynamic speech from a banker in a London church service. Some are uqite interesting which gets one to think, but to be honest. If a person sits down and think about things, you will reach the same conclusion.

[Grahame]

*ahem* Erm, I shall rephrase that. I just re-read what I wrote. I mean, I have not been asked to not attend the church so far, touch wood. Yet, IF anybody in church will ask me not to attend because I was not a believer, I will oblige also.

 

I remember a pastor obviously asking who was a Christian or not in the service, and I duly held up my hand, and be stared at.

 

I still enjoy singing the hymns though, cos I was brought up with hymn singing in assemblies. There is something nice about it, this is true. However, I may be kicked out if I told them that I was there for the singing only... >.<

 

I do listen to their sermons though. I remember one dynamic speech from a banker in a London church service. Some are uqite interesting which gets one to think, but to be honest. If a person sits down and think about things, you will reach the same conclusion.

I will let you into a secret Bago, there was a time in my teens when I lost interest in church but I went to the young peoples meeting on a Monday evening because there was a girl there who I fancied.

 

We never made anything of it, and it wasn't the best reason for going to church, but I am so glad I did.

[Bago]

I will let you into a secret Bago, there was a time in my teens when I lost interest in church but I went to the young peoples meeting on a Monday evening because there was a girl there who I fancied.

 

We never made anything of it, and it wasn't the best reason for going to church, but I am so glad I did.

LOL. Oh dear !

 

I am sure that there is a problem in non-believers just seeing the church as a dating service. That's quite a common thing in HK's Christian churches you know... lol... I'm fairly sure that the pastors are a little bit smarter than that now.

[Wildcat]

<snip>

 

[Added]A good example of whether one can truly be themselves is when I cooked something from my own culture.

Just some red beans with in water with some sugar. It's considered as a dessert in chinese culture. I shall never forget the horrified look from the vegetarian in my flat when I told her that this is a good veggi meal. She looked horrified and then stared at me and said "no". I was ever so embarrassed. >.< Yet, she's willing to try polenta because fashionable and is from Italy?

 

<snip>

 

I know I am way off topic, but I am intrigued by your recipe.

 

Is it basically this ?

 

http://www.chinesefood-recipes.com/chinese_desserts_appetizers_%20recipes/red_bean_soup_recipe.php

 

I think your veggie friend was rather rude to turn their noses up at the food you offered them. Even if they don't like it, the only way they can tell is to try it. I suppose it might come from the ignorance of their parents not understanding that Veggie food was more than just the same as everyone else is eating except without the meat... but all the same if you are a veggie you won't last long unless you are prepared to experiment and try out other people's recommendations. Besides its bad etiquette.

[Bago]

I know I am way off topic, but I am intrigued by your recipe.

 

Is it basically this ?

 

http://www.chinesefood-recipes.com/chinese_desserts_appetizers_%20recipes/red_bean_soup_recipe.php

 

I think your veggie friend was rather rude to turn their noses up at the food you offered them. Even if they don't like it, the only way they can tell is to try it. I suppose it might come from the ignorance of their parents not understanding that Veggie food was more than just the same as everyone else is eating except without the meat... but all the same if you are a veggie you won't last long unless you are prepared to experiment and try out other people's recommendations. Besides its bad etiquette.

Yes. It's just mushy red beans with sugar, but it is a very typical dessert. Some people adopted the name of "sweet soup".

 

To be honest, it's okay not to like it, as I'm likely to give her room as she doesn't know what it is. You can see this being offered for free in one or two restaurants around in town.

 

I brought that example up to demonstrate the point that, not all other ethnic minorities have integrated solely and adopted everything as such. I still feel that there are things which you are so used to, and is very much likely to follow still. Just as an ex-colleague whom I met and had never tasted a foreign dish. He still has good old steaks or home-made food by his wife. Which is fine as well.

 

For me, I wish I'd follow my parents' generation of offering food as an ettiquette, but sadly that is not always a done thing. I just see it as an extension of someone's personality. What they are used to, and how they behave, and what they follow is all a part of them. I don't necessarily see this "one style" for all. If people are supposed to integrate, how much of integration is enough? What exactly is enough ? Plus, what is not? Where exactly is that goal post?