“Those who can make you believe absurdities can make you commit atrocities.”
Voltaire
With the horrendous bloodshed currently taking place in most of the Middle East, hordes of asylum seekers will undoubtedly knock at the doors of the US and many European countries.
It is understandable.
But what also need to be understood by refugees are the new rules of the game.
Many would-be immigrants hail from countries where religion reigns supreme.
Adapting to surroundings where secularity trumps religion might be a very difficult but an absolutely necessary step.
Everybody needs to understand that clerics should always be subservient to state, and not vice-versa.
“Men never do evil so completely and cheerfully as when they do it from religious conviction.” Blaise Pascal
When seeking shelter in the West, immigrants must abjure many practices and prejudices of their homeland and embrace the laws and customs of their new home.
A dog is not “unclean”, Jews are not enemies of Allah and Gays are not to be whipped or stoned anymore.
Sticking to anachronistic practices would be like recreating the toxic environment that forced them to flee their country in the first place.
Refugees must learn the language of the land and abide by its customs and its judicial system.
Erroneous beliefs and harmful practices are to be renounced forever.
No more “honor” killings, Female Genital Excisions, son preference over daughter, female infanticide, early marriage and dowry.
Immigrants should strive to dress according to the prevailing dress code and reject niqabs, hijabs and all overtly foreign or religious symbols.
When in Rome, do as the Romans do. Behave as those around you.
Any immigrant (like me) should always feel grateful and indebted to a country that took him in its bosom, and refrain from hateful speeches and deeds disparaging the country that offered him sanctuary in the first place.
Doing otherwise would be like biting the hand that fed him.
Alain