January 29, 2013
Subject: Re: נתניהו בלחץ! עוד מאמץ אחד ודי, נגמר הסיוט
Hello Avner
Thank for mailing me the Emails in regards to the last election in Israel.
It was very interesting.
I have been thinking to mail you for quite sometime, and during this period elections have taken place both in Israel and the US. So now we can see what we have gotten for the next few years. One reason for my slowness is that I do not want to mail from home, due to privacy issues, and the computer time in the library is limited, and in addition I am not sure what I would like to write because things change so quickly.
Your blog: As I can see, you are a very angry man! It is not clear to me if this is because of Israel policy in the west bank or the way Israelis behave. So I look forward for a clarifications. I had the opportunity to be for few weeks in service in the reserve. It was in Sinai desert, in one of the settlements. So I do have my unhappy impressions, and that is why I want to better understand what is bothering you.
I was surprised to find out that Israel has a yearly deficit of about 39 Billion (dollars or shekels?). The US borrows from China. Who is Israel borrowing from? Why is Israel not more diligent in developing the gas fields?--does it not has the potential to get ecological self sustainability for Israel? I think that once Israel becomes economically sustainable, the mindset of the Arab countries and the Palestinians will dramatically change. In the US there is not clear in fact what is happening economically--it is a mixed bag, and I think that a main reason for this is that our "experts" do not have a good understanding of the high tech industry, without which the US economy can not improve.
More of this in the future. What is happening in this respect is Israel? As I can see, PM Netanyahu is the guy that people love to hate. Is this why he seems to get reelected so easily?
The weather here has gone crazy, much like in Israel. Do you happen to visit here sometimes?
I have to end because the computer time will be soon up. Write to you more.
How is Mazy and your sons doing?
Regards
Abshalon
Hi Abshalon,
I am so busy every day, that I don't have much time to write.
I hope there will not be much natural gas for Israel, or this will be the end of this country. I don't want to be like Saudi Arabia. The real asset of Israel is it's talent, in science and technology, and we are losing this edge quite quickly.
There will be a "new" government here this week, and some people think that things have really changed. Netanyahu is much weaker, and that's good news. But he is an old political fox, so he managed to turn many people around his pinkie. I think that some of the "new kids in the hood", such as Lapid who will be the next minister of finances, will be history soon. Mostly, we will see more of the same, so I'm not very optimistic about this country.
I truly hope that I am totally wrong. We shall see.
Take care,
Cheers,
Avner E.
May 7, 2013
Hello Avner
I apologize for the long delay in my response. Hard to believe, but I am also somehow quite busy, and many times I was intending to write to you, but after I finish doing all the urgent once, I am too tired. I go to bed like 2am.
I wish you would write some more, because I am always interested to have your views. I never had a good understanding about Israeli politics, and many times it looked to me that the reason for so many parties is that there are many politicians that can not agree about anything, so the solution for them is to have their own party. Not a good enough reason. Here, it is becoming gradually similar: there are only two parties, but they are divided internally, which many times leads to a do nothing government. I was reading your blogs for a while, before the elections. So looks like Nethanyahu is the guy that everybody loves to hate, so he always will get elected. You just can not do without him. So what are your specific hatred for him about?
I am not sure that you are right about the natural gas resources: to implement talent, you need money. Therefore I do not understand why you think that the gas finding is bad. Money is not corrupt: people are, so it depends of how Israel will use it. So by now, you should have cheaper electricity, which is good for everybody. I think that the best example to corruption and money is Russia: they have a lot of talent and a lot of money, but no high tech, apart in the military sector, and that is because of massive corruption. So I hope Israel will be different. But do not blame the money: it is the people who call the shots.
If you think that what happens in the US is not relevant for you, think again! In may view, the US is badly broke, and I thing that the main nightmare for president Obama is to have to involve the US in any serious war. He tries to fill in for that by many aggressive declarations, but the rest of the work are not fooled. In particular the Iranian government. It looks to me, that they are progressing exactly according to their plan in regards to nuclear weapons, and that is going to cause a lot of trouble. As I understand, Obama plan is the try to sell a lot of sophisticated military stuff to the UAE and Saudi-Arabia, and Israel, so he could claim that they could take care of Iran by themselves. This is not really a good idea, because as we already know, they are politically unstable. So let us hope.
It looks to me that the US is crumbling under the unruly immigration: those guys who immigrate now are different than those who came here like 30-40 years ago: they do not like to integrate, and do not have the respect for the law and for other people: more like everybody for himself, which gradually has a negative effect on the quality of life here. So it looks to me that Israel has to realize, that they need to be self sustainable as soon as possible.
It seems to me that I have written enough for one time. So now it is your turn: I look forward to learn about what you are doing, what keeps you so busy, and what is new in Israel.
How is your blog doing ?
Please pass my regards to Mazy, and I look forward to hear from you soon!
Abshalon
May 14, 2013
Hi Abshalon!
I understand perfectly, so don´t worry. I don´t know what the problem with the speller is. It works for me fine.
Regarding gas, I think that it only corrupts Israel. People are fighting over the question how much royalties the gas companies should pay, and everybody is getting more and more greedy. Israel is becoming more and more like a 3rd world country, little by little. The gap between rich and poor people is enlarging, people only care about making money (not everybody, but more and more); education is deteriorating (although there are upsides too, but the general picture is bad), Israeli students are doing poorly on international tests; on the other hand, many times Israeli youngsters win gold medals in international talent competition, such as robotics or math, but nobody cares but their parents. As if it is a private matter. When an Israeli athlete wins some bronze medal somewhere, the prime minister will call to cheer up, on prime time TV; but when a young student wins a GOLD medal in math, nobody will call to salute here, not even the security guard of the parliament. This is what this society values: glamour, money, celebrities.
Therefore, gas is bad for Israel. We are going to loose our advantage over the rest of the world, which is our talent, genius, creativity.
Regarding nuclear Iran, it seems that we disagree again (which is fine, in a democratic society; not so much so here in Israel, but you and I can disagree and still be friends). If Israel is entitled for the atomic bomb, then Iran is too. Personally, I think that neither is. But you can´t posses the Bomb and deny it from any other country. The Iranian society is far more complicated that being the Islamic Devil that we portray, but we refuse to see the complication, because it´s easier for us to divide the world to Bad and Good guys. I´d like to remind, that so far the only country which made use of the Bomb, in the most brutal and unjust manner, is the US, ¨the greatest Democracy on earth¨. People think that the Iranian leadership is irrational, but they forget how stupid and irrational and disconnected from reality the leaders of Israel and the US can be. Israeli government, all of them so far including ¨the Labor party¨, live in the dream that they can keep the Occupation forever. How rational is this?...
Regarding the immigration issues, I´m afraid that we are in disagreement again, but this time I am not sure, because I don´t live in the US and you are. In short, I think that all societies are based on immigration, which always bring new values, new ideas, new culture and languages; and all the more so the US, which has been based on immigration from the inception. The English language has been the formal language for the last 240 years only, while prior cultures existed longer (buy of course, they have been eliminated by the powerful).
I think that this discussion is very interesting! Keep it going.
By they way, I´m interested to know what you are so busy with at night.
As for myself, I don´t like my job so much, so I keep myself busy with hobbies, such as: history, popular science, and Wikipedia, in which I write and read a lot.
Keep this conversation going!
Cheers,
Avner E.
May 28, 2013
Hello Avner
I enjoyed reading your message. I also think that we should continue this exchanges. I find that the fact that do not agree on many issues is just making it more interesting.
I think that I need not necessarily respond to all the issues, just few at a time.
I would like to mention now the subject of education: as you probably remember, in the US there is a network of public schools, that can be quite good in some regions, and it's free. So I wonder how it compares to the one in Israel. The HS in Mountain View that I tutor, the school is graded the best (or second) in the area, and quite high in the country. I am amazed in the system of students evaluation, that first relays only on some testing, and as I understand, mainly on the teachers (personal) evaluation. It seems to me, that putting less weight on exams generates better relation between the students, and I can see many times student helping each other, much more so than it was in my time. In example, students can get credit my serving as tutors in the tutoring center. Are there tutoring centers in Israel HS? Yet, they are doing quite well. They do not have a thorough final exam, like the "Bagrut" exam (matriculation?) as in Israel, and in addition, the students have to learn only one major subject in science, like physics, or chemistry or biology. So one can graduate without having a thorough course in chemistry, or physics. So I wonder how it is now in Israel. Are there public schools, and how is the level there. I recall, that my parents payed a lot for my education.
I saw on the web (ynet-Ma'ariv) that there was a loud outcry about the math exam this year. Was it really so difficult? As you know, math problems may be quite tricky, so it may also be a mater of luck. So what is your view and experience about this? The exam were put on the web, so I saved them. Can I find also the exams in physics, chemistry and biology?
Subject change: I just wonder what is the job you have, since I thought that you were quite happy with it, so what has changed? What have you been writing in Wikipedia?
Last subject for now: I wonder of your idea about the Israeli occupation: I think we should remember what happened in the six day war: I remember very well that I was worried: Israel was surrounded by Arab counties from all sides, with very little support, with armies that counted ten fold more than the Israeli army, including the reserves, many of whom have not been training regularly. I am quite sure that if Israel would have lost, the Arab countries would not tend to do so. I do agree that Israel made many bad mistakes in treating the Palestinians, as I have already written, but I wonder if you take this subject too "simplistically". I think that getting out of the west bank would generate another Gaza, but with much longer border and much closer to Israel soft belly. Even with Egypt, the peace is kept mainly due to the US influence, especially in the military. Do you think it would be a good thing to return the Golan heights? In summary, I feel that the question is complicated. May be a federation with Jordan, in which part of the west bank would be Palestinian? In any event, I do not see why there could not be some percentage of Jewish people in Palestine, like there are Arabs in Israel? There have been a large Jewish minority in all the Arab countries, that have disappeared. It seems to me that the world had become used to that, but this is not right. Let us change this,and agree that there would be a Jewish minority in Palestine. I suspect, that the current Palestinian leadership are not yet interested in two state solution, and they may be feeling, that with the decline in the US status, time is on there side in the international arena. They may have a point there, but about the situation in the US, this is for the next letter.
Well, I guess you are red hot now, and should put me in my place!
So now it is going late, and I need to leave some issues for the next message.
How is Mazy doing?
Best regards
Abshalon
Hi Abshalon,
Replying to your last 2 emails:
Regarding education, I think it's the opposite he in Israel. Exams are everything. There is a lot of investments on education, but not in a wise fashion. They don't invest on the most important thing, which is - the teacher. They put a lot of money on technology, and achievements which they can measure - tests and marks. But not on values or real "education".
In the past, when there were real educators, they could concentrate on one subject throughout the year, and feel that they were teaching the students how to learn, and not any one particular "subject". That this not the case any more.
Almost all schools are "public", but none are free. Only the Orthodox education system is free, and we the non-orthodox pay for it, because they don't work and don't have the money.
I don't know about the math exam, I didn't see it.
Here it is:
http://www.geva.co.il/exam_809.html
Chemistry:
http://www.ankori.co.il/files/bagrut/s13/Chem3pS013.pdf
Physics test is today.
Regarding my job, I don't like what I do. But, my profession is in a great need in Israel (and the US), so, I can be quite flexible and be my own boss, have flexible hours, etc. It is very convenient and easy, but still, I'm not good at it and I don't like it, so I will quit in a few years. What I really have passion for is teaching, in high school. And this is what I will do with in 2-4 years.
Occupation: if some crazy Jews would like to live in Palestine, and obey the Palestinian law, then good luck. I don't care, as long as my boys wont have to protect them and risk their lives for them. I don't think that the problem is the Palestinian leaders - we have now the most easy going Palestinian government, they hold the terror at the lowest rate ever, they are real partners for Israel - but the Israeli government is the one not willing to make peace. Netanyahu never really meant what he said about a Palestinian state, he is a liar.
Here is a list of articles that I wrote or edited in Wikipedia:
This is one thing that I enjoy A LOT, much more than my job...
Yes, a scientist can be religious in my view. These are totally separate realms.
Regarding immigration: I don't think that fundamentally, immigrants here or anywhere are different. They are all humans. Even if they do want to change the culture of the hosting country, then they have the right to think so! Immigrants came to the US from England, Sweden, Ireland, and change the culture of the native America forever. Is this good or bad? This is the reality.
Who says that Europe must be Christian only? For around 700 years, between the centuries 11th to 18th, Christianity was deteriorating the culture to fundamentalism, scientific retardation, religious persecutions, oppression and injustice, while the Muslim culture made the greatest advances. For the European colonies around the world, this misery continued even longer - until the 20th century.
Today it's the other way around, but who says that the "western" cultures will be enlightened forever? Every new culture has the right to make a change in any country, as long as it is not done by force.
I recall a stand-up comedian who told the audience: "I think that we are too tolerant to immigrants. I don't like it when telephone systems give you the option to communicate in Spanish. This is the USA, and the language here is English. If you can't speak it - get out!" The ignorant dude didn't learn his history, and he didn't know or forgot that English was brought to the USA by - immigrants!
"La vérité en marche" (Emile Zola)
Cheers,
Avner E.
Subject: Re: נתניהו בלחץ! עוד מאמץ אחד ודי, נגמר הסיוט
Hello Avner
Thank for mailing me the Emails in regards to the last election in Israel.
It was very interesting.
I have been thinking to mail you for quite sometime, and during this period elections have taken place both in Israel and the US. So now we can see what we have gotten for the next few years. One reason for my slowness is that I do not want to mail from home, due to privacy issues, and the computer time in the library is limited, and in addition I am not sure what I would like to write because things change so quickly.
Your blog: As I can see, you are a very angry man! It is not clear to me if this is because of Israel policy in the west bank or the way Israelis behave. So I look forward for a clarifications. I had the opportunity to be for few weeks in service in the reserve. It was in Sinai desert, in one of the settlements. So I do have my unhappy impressions, and that is why I want to better understand what is bothering you.
I was surprised to find out that Israel has a yearly deficit of about 39 Billion (dollars or shekels?). The US borrows from China. Who is Israel borrowing from? Why is Israel not more diligent in developing the gas fields?--does it not has the potential to get ecological self sustainability for Israel? I think that once Israel becomes economically sustainable, the mindset of the Arab countries and the Palestinians will dramatically change. In the US there is not clear in fact what is happening economically--it is a mixed bag, and I think that a main reason for this is that our "experts" do not have a good understanding of the high tech industry, without which the US economy can not improve.
More of this in the future. What is happening in this respect is Israel? As I can see, PM Netanyahu is the guy that people love to hate. Is this why he seems to get reelected so easily?
The weather here has gone crazy, much like in Israel. Do you happen to visit here sometimes?
I have to end because the computer time will be soon up. Write to you more.
How is Mazy and your sons doing?
Regards
Abshalon
Hi Abshalon,
I am so busy every day, that I don't have much time to write.
I hope there will not be much natural gas for Israel, or this will be the end of this country. I don't want to be like Saudi Arabia. The real asset of Israel is it's talent, in science and technology, and we are losing this edge quite quickly.
There will be a "new" government here this week, and some people think that things have really changed. Netanyahu is much weaker, and that's good news. But he is an old political fox, so he managed to turn many people around his pinkie. I think that some of the "new kids in the hood", such as Lapid who will be the next minister of finances, will be history soon. Mostly, we will see more of the same, so I'm not very optimistic about this country.
I truly hope that I am totally wrong. We shall see.
Take care,
Cheers,
Avner E.
May 7, 2013
Hello Avner
I apologize for the long delay in my response. Hard to believe, but I am also somehow quite busy, and many times I was intending to write to you, but after I finish doing all the urgent once, I am too tired. I go to bed like 2am.
I wish you would write some more, because I am always interested to have your views. I never had a good understanding about Israeli politics, and many times it looked to me that the reason for so many parties is that there are many politicians that can not agree about anything, so the solution for them is to have their own party. Not a good enough reason. Here, it is becoming gradually similar: there are only two parties, but they are divided internally, which many times leads to a do nothing government. I was reading your blogs for a while, before the elections. So looks like Nethanyahu is the guy that everybody loves to hate, so he always will get elected. You just can not do without him. So what are your specific hatred for him about?
I am not sure that you are right about the natural gas resources: to implement talent, you need money. Therefore I do not understand why you think that the gas finding is bad. Money is not corrupt: people are, so it depends of how Israel will use it. So by now, you should have cheaper electricity, which is good for everybody. I think that the best example to corruption and money is Russia: they have a lot of talent and a lot of money, but no high tech, apart in the military sector, and that is because of massive corruption. So I hope Israel will be different. But do not blame the money: it is the people who call the shots.
If you think that what happens in the US is not relevant for you, think again! In may view, the US is badly broke, and I thing that the main nightmare for president Obama is to have to involve the US in any serious war. He tries to fill in for that by many aggressive declarations, but the rest of the work are not fooled. In particular the Iranian government. It looks to me, that they are progressing exactly according to their plan in regards to nuclear weapons, and that is going to cause a lot of trouble. As I understand, Obama plan is the try to sell a lot of sophisticated military stuff to the UAE and Saudi-Arabia, and Israel, so he could claim that they could take care of Iran by themselves. This is not really a good idea, because as we already know, they are politically unstable. So let us hope.
It looks to me that the US is crumbling under the unruly immigration: those guys who immigrate now are different than those who came here like 30-40 years ago: they do not like to integrate, and do not have the respect for the law and for other people: more like everybody for himself, which gradually has a negative effect on the quality of life here. So it looks to me that Israel has to realize, that they need to be self sustainable as soon as possible.
It seems to me that I have written enough for one time. So now it is your turn: I look forward to learn about what you are doing, what keeps you so busy, and what is new in Israel.
How is your blog doing ?
Please pass my regards to Mazy, and I look forward to hear from you soon!
Abshalon
May 14, 2013
Hi Abshalon!
I understand perfectly, so don´t worry. I don´t know what the problem with the speller is. It works for me fine.
Regarding gas, I think that it only corrupts Israel. People are fighting over the question how much royalties the gas companies should pay, and everybody is getting more and more greedy. Israel is becoming more and more like a 3rd world country, little by little. The gap between rich and poor people is enlarging, people only care about making money (not everybody, but more and more); education is deteriorating (although there are upsides too, but the general picture is bad), Israeli students are doing poorly on international tests; on the other hand, many times Israeli youngsters win gold medals in international talent competition, such as robotics or math, but nobody cares but their parents. As if it is a private matter. When an Israeli athlete wins some bronze medal somewhere, the prime minister will call to cheer up, on prime time TV; but when a young student wins a GOLD medal in math, nobody will call to salute here, not even the security guard of the parliament. This is what this society values: glamour, money, celebrities.
Therefore, gas is bad for Israel. We are going to loose our advantage over the rest of the world, which is our talent, genius, creativity.
Regarding nuclear Iran, it seems that we disagree again (which is fine, in a democratic society; not so much so here in Israel, but you and I can disagree and still be friends). If Israel is entitled for the atomic bomb, then Iran is too. Personally, I think that neither is. But you can´t posses the Bomb and deny it from any other country. The Iranian society is far more complicated that being the Islamic Devil that we portray, but we refuse to see the complication, because it´s easier for us to divide the world to Bad and Good guys. I´d like to remind, that so far the only country which made use of the Bomb, in the most brutal and unjust manner, is the US, ¨the greatest Democracy on earth¨. People think that the Iranian leadership is irrational, but they forget how stupid and irrational and disconnected from reality the leaders of Israel and the US can be. Israeli government, all of them so far including ¨the Labor party¨, live in the dream that they can keep the Occupation forever. How rational is this?...
Regarding the immigration issues, I´m afraid that we are in disagreement again, but this time I am not sure, because I don´t live in the US and you are. In short, I think that all societies are based on immigration, which always bring new values, new ideas, new culture and languages; and all the more so the US, which has been based on immigration from the inception. The English language has been the formal language for the last 240 years only, while prior cultures existed longer (buy of course, they have been eliminated by the powerful).
I think that this discussion is very interesting! Keep it going.
By they way, I´m interested to know what you are so busy with at night.
As for myself, I don´t like my job so much, so I keep myself busy with hobbies, such as: history, popular science, and Wikipedia, in which I write and read a lot.
Keep this conversation going!
Cheers,
Avner E.
May 28, 2013
Hello Avner
I enjoyed reading your message. I also think that we should continue this exchanges. I find that the fact that do not agree on many issues is just making it more interesting.
I think that I need not necessarily respond to all the issues, just few at a time.
I would like to mention now the subject of education: as you probably remember, in the US there is a network of public schools, that can be quite good in some regions, and it's free. So I wonder how it compares to the one in Israel. The HS in Mountain View that I tutor, the school is graded the best (or second) in the area, and quite high in the country. I am amazed in the system of students evaluation, that first relays only on some testing, and as I understand, mainly on the teachers (personal) evaluation. It seems to me, that putting less weight on exams generates better relation between the students, and I can see many times student helping each other, much more so than it was in my time. In example, students can get credit my serving as tutors in the tutoring center. Are there tutoring centers in Israel HS? Yet, they are doing quite well. They do not have a thorough final exam, like the "Bagrut" exam (matriculation?) as in Israel, and in addition, the students have to learn only one major subject in science, like physics, or chemistry or biology. So one can graduate without having a thorough course in chemistry, or physics. So I wonder how it is now in Israel. Are there public schools, and how is the level there. I recall, that my parents payed a lot for my education.
I saw on the web (ynet-Ma'ariv) that there was a loud outcry about the math exam this year. Was it really so difficult? As you know, math problems may be quite tricky, so it may also be a mater of luck. So what is your view and experience about this? The exam were put on the web, so I saved them. Can I find also the exams in physics, chemistry and biology?
Subject change: I just wonder what is the job you have, since I thought that you were quite happy with it, so what has changed? What have you been writing in Wikipedia?
Last subject for now: I wonder of your idea about the Israeli occupation: I think we should remember what happened in the six day war: I remember very well that I was worried: Israel was surrounded by Arab counties from all sides, with very little support, with armies that counted ten fold more than the Israeli army, including the reserves, many of whom have not been training regularly. I am quite sure that if Israel would have lost, the Arab countries would not tend to do so. I do agree that Israel made many bad mistakes in treating the Palestinians, as I have already written, but I wonder if you take this subject too "simplistically". I think that getting out of the west bank would generate another Gaza, but with much longer border and much closer to Israel soft belly. Even with Egypt, the peace is kept mainly due to the US influence, especially in the military. Do you think it would be a good thing to return the Golan heights? In summary, I feel that the question is complicated. May be a federation with Jordan, in which part of the west bank would be Palestinian? In any event, I do not see why there could not be some percentage of Jewish people in Palestine, like there are Arabs in Israel? There have been a large Jewish minority in all the Arab countries, that have disappeared. It seems to me that the world had become used to that, but this is not right. Let us change this,and agree that there would be a Jewish minority in Palestine. I suspect, that the current Palestinian leadership are not yet interested in two state solution, and they may be feeling, that with the decline in the US status, time is on there side in the international arena. They may have a point there, but about the situation in the US, this is for the next letter.
Well, I guess you are red hot now, and should put me in my place!
So now it is going late, and I need to leave some issues for the next message.
How is Mazy doing?
Best regards
Abshalon
Hi Abshalon,
Replying to your last 2 emails:
Regarding education, I think it's the opposite he in Israel. Exams are everything. There is a lot of investments on education, but not in a wise fashion. They don't invest on the most important thing, which is - the teacher. They put a lot of money on technology, and achievements which they can measure - tests and marks. But not on values or real "education".
In the past, when there were real educators, they could concentrate on one subject throughout the year, and feel that they were teaching the students how to learn, and not any one particular "subject". That this not the case any more.
Almost all schools are "public", but none are free. Only the Orthodox education system is free, and we the non-orthodox pay for it, because they don't work and don't have the money.
I don't know about the math exam, I didn't see it.
Here it is:
http://www.geva.co.il/exam_809.html
Chemistry:
http://www.ankori.co.il/files/bagrut/s13/Chem3pS013.pdf
Physics test is today.
Regarding my job, I don't like what I do. But, my profession is in a great need in Israel (and the US), so, I can be quite flexible and be my own boss, have flexible hours, etc. It is very convenient and easy, but still, I'm not good at it and I don't like it, so I will quit in a few years. What I really have passion for is teaching, in high school. And this is what I will do with in 2-4 years.
Occupation: if some crazy Jews would like to live in Palestine, and obey the Palestinian law, then good luck. I don't care, as long as my boys wont have to protect them and risk their lives for them. I don't think that the problem is the Palestinian leaders - we have now the most easy going Palestinian government, they hold the terror at the lowest rate ever, they are real partners for Israel - but the Israeli government is the one not willing to make peace. Netanyahu never really meant what he said about a Palestinian state, he is a liar.
Here is a list of articles that I wrote or edited in Wikipedia:
This is one thing that I enjoy A LOT, much more than my job...
Yes, a scientist can be religious in my view. These are totally separate realms.
Regarding immigration: I don't think that fundamentally, immigrants here or anywhere are different. They are all humans. Even if they do want to change the culture of the hosting country, then they have the right to think so! Immigrants came to the US from England, Sweden, Ireland, and change the culture of the native America forever. Is this good or bad? This is the reality.
Who says that Europe must be Christian only? For around 700 years, between the centuries 11th to 18th, Christianity was deteriorating the culture to fundamentalism, scientific retardation, religious persecutions, oppression and injustice, while the Muslim culture made the greatest advances. For the European colonies around the world, this misery continued even longer - until the 20th century.
Today it's the other way around, but who says that the "western" cultures will be enlightened forever? Every new culture has the right to make a change in any country, as long as it is not done by force.
I recall a stand-up comedian who told the audience: "I think that we are too tolerant to immigrants. I don't like it when telephone systems give you the option to communicate in Spanish. This is the USA, and the language here is English. If you can't speak it - get out!" The ignorant dude didn't learn his history, and he didn't know or forgot that English was brought to the USA by - immigrants!
"La vérité en marche" (Emile Zola)
Cheers,
Avner E.
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